Army Criminal Investigation Command wants YOU to try your hand as a special agent.

First lieutenants and captains looking for that kind of career change have until May 18 to submit a packet to go warrant officer and become CID agents, according to a Tuesday news release.

This is the third year in a row that CID has offered the transfer, which is open to officers from any MOS.

“It’s a unique model because company grade officers have a great deal of leadership training early in their career versus a great depth of technical training and our warrant officers have an extensive amount of technical proficiency,” according to the release. “This blend between the commissioned and warrant officers is viewed as synergistic because those junior agents can share lessons of both leadership and technical work with the newly transitioned officers.”

Photo Credit: Jeffrey Castro, USACIDC A CID Special Agent uses an alternate light source while processing a crime scene.

CID has seen record recruitment from the enlisted ranks in recent years, spokesman Christopher Grey told Army Times on Wednesday, but reaching out to the officer pool is still a priority.

“This is just another program we offer periodically to increase experience, diversity and leadership within our agent ranks,” he said, adding that the command fields about 10 transition inquires a week from officers.

The Army casts a wide net to recruit special agents because the turnover can be high. Experience in a military investigation command can fast-track a service member to a similar position at places like the FBI.

“Our agents are also highly sought after by other federal agencies due to their experience and significant investigative training,” Grey said. “We are always looking for qualified applicants and opening this up to officers is just another avenue for us to recruit the highest caliber Soldiers out there who want to become federal law enforcement agents.”

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The experience could boost the resumé of someone looking to make a civilian transition, but the move is a major pay cut: An 0-3 with six years in service pulls in about $5,800 a month in basic pay, while a warrant officer 1 with that experience earns $3,800.

“Yes, it is a pay cut, but being a Soldier and CID special agent is not about the money, it’s about being able to serve the Army community and keep it safe as a federal agent,” Grey said. “We are very up front about that part and applicants have to have the burning desire to become a special agent investigating felony-level crime.”

Interested officers’ applications will go before the warrant officer accession board in July, the release said. If selected, they’ll go to the CID Special Agent Course and MOS 311A Warrant Officer Basic course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. An appointment to warrant officer comes with a six-year service obligation, as well.

To get the process going, soldiers should visit their local CID offices, or visit Army Recruiting Command for more information.


Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.

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