Interested in a career in national security? DCSA is offering a paid internship: the DCSA Student Experience (DSE) '26 Cohort. Open to undergraduate and graduate students with a 3.0+ GPA, students must maintain full-time status through October 2027. The program runs 1 OR 15 June - 21 August 2026, requiring a minimum of 10 weeks of participation.
This is a temporary position NTE 1 year from appointment.
The DCSA Student Experience is looking for a Social Science Student Trainee (Intelligence) to join our team to perform the following duties:
- The incumbent performs routine, standardized assignments in support of counterintelligence collections activities and provide routine CI Functional Services.
- Assists higher-level personnel who are performing projects in order to develop competence and expertise. Assignments will progress in difficulty as experience is gained.
- Receives formal on-the-job training as well as developmental assignments.
- Periodically rotates the assignments to develop an understanding of the overall CI function.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Table of Content
Summary
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Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits.
Requirements
- Must be a US citizen
- Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. For more information http://www.sss.gov
- Resume and supporting documents received by 11:59PM EST will be considered
- This is a Drug Testing designated position
- Position is a (DCIPS) position in the Excepted Service under U.S.C. 1601
- Work Schedule: Full Time
- Overtime: Occasionally
- Tour of Duty: Flexible
- PCS (Permanent Change of Station): Not Authorized (Relocation expenses or housing will NOT be provided by the agency)
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non-Exempt
- Financial Disclosure: Not Required
- Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible but is not a full-time telework position. The incumbent will be required to report to the office on a routine basis.
- If selected, the incumbent must obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as indicated in job announcement.
- Must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program with a full-time course load at the time of application, for the semester prior to the Summer Cohort, and following participation in the Summer Cohort.
- Selected students must maintain full-time enrollment through October 2027.
- Must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
- The DSE Summer ’26 Cohort runs from June through August with start dates of 1 or 15 June. The end of cohort is officially 21 August. Students are required to complete a minimum of 10 weeks in the cohort
- Students selected for the internship program must send an official transcript with spring 2026 semester/quarter grades and proof of full-time student status to Student Programs prior to their onboarding date.
- This is not a developmental career ladder opportunity - this position will be filled at the GG-05 or GG-07 depending on applicant qualifications and organizational requirements.
Qualifications
To qualify at the GG-05 level, you must meet the criteria specified below:
- Completion of 1 full academic year of post-high school study by May 2026 (spring quarter/semester);
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at time of application. A GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained throughout the duration of the program; and
- Maintain a full-time student status (as defined by your university or college) through October 2027.
To qualify at the GG-07 level, you must meet the criteria specified below:
- Completion of 4 academic years of post-high school education leading to a bachelor's or equivalent degree (expected graduation date of May 2026 or earlier); and
- Enrolled as full-time student in a graduate program for Fall 2026; and
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at time of application. A GPA of 3.0 or higher must be maintained throughout the duration of the program; and
- Maintain a full-time student status (as defined by your university or college) through October 2027.
Students who successfully complete the Summer 2026 Cohort may be considered for participation with the Summer 2027 Cohort, pending educational qualification status. Students graduating prior to October 2027 from their current college/university must intend to continue their education and be enrolled as full-time students through October 2027. Proof of this enrollment and full-time status will be required prior to returning for the Summer 2027 Cohort.
Education: All applicants must submit college or university unofficial transcripts as proof of enrollment in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program, current enrollment in a full-time course load and to confirm GPA requirements. See below for further instructions on transcripts.
Selection Process
Specifically you will be evaluated on the following competencies:
- Communication: Written and oral communication techniques sufficient to develop and deliver briefings, project papers, status/staff reports and correspondence to managers to foster understanding and acceptance of findings and recommendations
- Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations
- Teamwork: Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals
- Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; uses sound reasoning to arrive at conclusions; finds alternative solutions to complex problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical judgments
- Attention to Detail: Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail
- Ability to research, analyze and present information.
Relocation expenses or housing benefits are NOT offered for our student positions. This position does not offer remote work. If you are selected, you will have to report to the office throughout your internship and be living within commuting distance of the office during the summer program.
Application Documents
Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
The following documents are REQUIRED:
1. Your resume:
- All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages showing all relevant experience. Your resume must address your qualifications for the position, and it may not exceed two (2) pages. Your 2-page (or less) resume must be in PDF format, with no smaller than a 0.5" margin and no smaller than a 10-point font. If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration.
- If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed. The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent."
- If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you will not be considered for this vacancy.
- Narrative responses in the assessment questionnaire do not replace content in your resume or vise a versa. Experience must be described in both places for qualification determinations.
- Resumes should NOT include: Classified information/SSN/Photo of yourself/personal information (gender, religion, affiliation etc., Encrypted digitally signed docs). Resumes with this prohibited information will be automatically ineligible for consideration.
- For qualifications determinations your resume must contain the dates of employment (i.e., Month/Year to present. Hours per Week).
- If your resume does not clearly outline details for each position as noted, you may be deemed "not referred" for this position.
- For additional information see: What to include in your resume.
2. Transcripts
- This position has a degree or education requirement, so you are required to submit a copy of your transcript. We accept unofficial transcripts, but they must contain your name, the name of the school, the date and degree that was awarded (if applicable), classes, GPA and credits earned. Unofficial transcripts may be obtained by your registrar's office and uploaded as a PDF document.
NOTE: Do not provide links, screenshots, or pictures of your transcript.
3. Veteran's Documents
- If applying for Veteran's preference, please provide a copy of your DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty.
NOTE: Active duty military members are not eligible for appointment unless currently on terminal leave.
4. SF-50:
- All current and former Federal employees must submit a copy of your latest SF50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your tenure, grade and step, and type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive); or similar Notification of Personnel Action documentation, i.e., Transcript of Service, Form 1150, etc. Failure to provide latest SF50 will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.
The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc.).
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Application Deadline
Not SpecifiedHow To Apply
Are you qualified and interested in this opportunity? Kindly go to
US Government on www.usajobs.gov to apply
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package as described in REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.
Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
- Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents.
- Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application.
- Applications must be received by the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.
To preview the questionnaire, please go to https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12807216.
For more information, kindly visit US Government webpage.
