About the role#
The Cooperative Education Program at the United States Department of War offers students professional work experience within the intelligence community. You will participate in a 52-week program that alternates between semesters of school and work. During work tours at Fort Meade, you will work a 40-hour week. This position is part-time and paid, with compensation ranging from $42,063 to $48,251 per year depending on credits completed.
What you'll do#
- Collect, analyze, and produce foreign signals intelligence.
- Provide cybersecurity solutions and guidance to protect critical national infrastructure.
- Work on real-life projects.
- Utilize agency labs, equipment, and advanced technologies.
What you'll need#
- U.S. Citizenship.
- Status as a second semester college freshman or a college sophomore.
- Enrollment in a degree program for Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Mathematics, or Artificial Intelligence.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred.
- Eligibility to be granted a TS/SCI security clearance, which requires a background investigation, a full-scope polygraph, and a psychological evaluation.
- Availability within the U.S. for interviews and processing between November 2026 and March 2027.
- Ability to pass random drug testing.
Location & details#
- Location: Fort Meade, Maryland.
- Modality: On-site.
- Benefits: Includes annual leave, sick leave, paid federal holidays, and tuition reimbursement for one technical course per semester up to $2,500. Subsidized student housing and travel entitlements are provided if you live over 75 miles from the work site.
About United States Department of War
The United States Department of War maintains military forces to protect national security. It manages defense operations across land, sea, air, and space while supporting active duty personnel, veterans, and their families. The organization operates from the Pentagon in Washington, DC, which was constructed in 1941. It functions as a large employer of both military and civilian staff.
How to get in at United States Department of War
Applying early for positions at the Department of War gives you a distinct advantage before the applicant pool grows too large. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your criteria is published, ensuring you can submit your materials among the first candidates. This timing often determines whether your application is reviewed before the pile becomes unmanageable. Reaching out to the recruiters behind these roles directly is a more effective strategy than waiting in a queue. Intern Insider surfaces the specific contacts for Department of War roles, allowing you to ask relevant questions or request a referral. This direct approach often improves your response rate compared to standard application methods.



