Air Force Fusion Analyst (1N4X1): Career Profile

Wars are not won just by having sophisticated equipment on the battlefield.

That’s because even if the United States has vastly superior equipment in the air, on the seas, and on the ground at its disposal, it will not do the commanders of those units any good if those assets are not properly positioned.

That’s where having good intelligence information comes into play and can be a huge difference-maker in any conflict zone.

Air Force Fusion Analysts are charged with gathering up all the intelligence information at their disposal, interpreting it, and then getting it to those commanders that can best put that intelligence information to good use.

Related Article – Cyberspace Operations Officer: Pay, Training, And More

That’s why Air Force Fusion Analysts perform such a critical role in both peace and wartime.

If they do their job right, it can be a game-changer in a conflict — and if they get it wrong, it can make objectives in a conflict zone much harder to achieve.

So Fusion Analysts fill not only a demanding role in the US Air Force Intelligence community; what they do impacts all branches of the military and the federal government decision making process as well.

That means this Air Force job comes with some pressure but can also be extremely rewarding at the same time.

Air Force Fusion Analyst Requirements and Qualifications

Air Force Fusion Analyst at work. Image: Defense.gov

Here the prerequisite requirements that must be met in order to enter into technical training to become an Air Force Fusion Analyst.

ASVAB Requirements

Minimum ASVAB Score of 62 in the general category or 57 on General and 60 on the Cyber Test section

Additional Qualifications

Be between the ages of 17 and 39
High school diploma or GED
Must speak clearly without any noticeable deficiencies
Successfully complete a polygraph test
Having background knowledge of electronics is much desired but not required
Having a high school curriculum that included computer application, high-level math, and high-level English courses is desired but not required
Successful completion of 8.5 weeks of Air Force Basic Military Training held at Joint Base Lackland in San Antonio, TX (Not required of those with prior military experience or training)
Completion of a current Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) that leads to a Top Secret level security clearance

Training and Career Path to Become an Air Force Fusion Analyst

Here is the training it takes to be able to perform the duties that are required of an Air Force Fusion Analyst.

Air Force Technical Training Information

The Air Force technical training to educate future Air Force Fusion Analysts takes place at the Air Education and Training Command facility located at Goodfellow Air Force Base near San Angelo, Texas.

At four months in duration, this is one of the longer Air Force Tech Schools for enlisted personnel.

During their time spent at this training facility, new recruits will learn such things as the different intelligence platforms that the US Air Force uses, the various ways to interpret that intelligence, and how to support intelligence-related briefings.

They will also learn how to put together and analyze intelligence data that has been collected and how to then pass the reports generated to those in the chain of command who need it.

On the Job Training

The tech school environment to become an Air Force Fusion Analyst is great for providing the basics but, unfortunately, it is not a highly secure facility that grants its students access to the latest intelligence-gathering techniques.

That makes on the job training critical to any Air Force recruit that enters into this specialized career field.

A recruit can expect to spend three to four months training on the job before filling an assigned role on an Air Force Fusion Analyst team.

How Much Are Air Force Fusion Analyst Paid?

No matter what an enlisted person’s job is in the Air Force, they will always be paid based on their rank and the number of years of service.

Related Article: Air Force Ranks And Pay

Those who are new to the military and acting as an Air Force Fusion Analyst will most likely start out as an Airman Basic (E-1).

Recruits who possess prior knowledge or schooling that will benefit them in their time in this Air Force job may initially start out as an Airman (E-2) or Airman First Class (E-3).

Here is the current pay-table for Air Force enlisted personnel:

Insignia	Pay Grade	Rank	Abbreviation	2023 Minimum Monthly Pay
N/A	E-1 +4 months	Seaman Recruit	SR	$1,917.60
	E-2	Seaman Apprentice	SA	$2,149.20
	E-3	Seaman	SN	$2,259.90
	E-4	Petty Officer Third Class	PO3	$2,503.50
	E-5	Petty Officer Second Class	PO2	$2,730.30
	E-6	Petty Officer First Class	PO1	$2,980.50
	E-7	Chief Petty Officer	CPO	$3,445.80
	E-8	Senior Chief Petty Officer	SCPO	$4,957.20
	E-9	Master Chief Petty Officer	MCPO	$6,055.50
	E-9	Command Master Chief Petty Officer	CMDCM	$6,055.50
	E-9	Master Chief Petty Officer Of The Navy	MCPON	$6,055.50

Miscellaneous Pay, Allowances, and Incentives

Other forms of pay that Air Force members are entitled to at certain times include:

Housing allowance for those that live off base (BAH)
Subsistence allowance (Food – BAS)
Temporary duty pay
Hazardous duty pay
Flight pay

Health care for Air Force personnel is always 100% paid for.

What’s Life Like as an Air Force Fusion Analyst?

This is a fast-paced job that requires most enlisted personnel that do it to wear several different hats in the intelligence community.

There are times when the hours can be long, and there is also the constant possibility that an enlisted member may be summoned to work on short notice at any time of the night or day.

There are some temporary duty assignments that Air Force Fusion Analysts are asked to take on, but those requests usually only happen occasionally.

Here are some of the direct responsibilities that fall under the title of US Air Force Fusion Analyst

Gather and interpret technical, geographical, and operational intelligence information
Analyze the intelligence material that is presented to them to help determine adversarial threats and intentions
Provide geopolitical and operational intelligence to both national government reporting agencies and military command authorities
Produce and present high-interest current intelligence briefings to all levels of command
Identify and interpret real-time threat warning data
Advise commanders on force protection and intelligence information
Use global communications to support a vast array of Computer Network Operations

These two YouTube videos go into more detail as to what Air Force Fusion Analysts do:

Job Reviews

Here is what three former Air Force enlisted members had to say on the website Indeed.com about their time spent working as Fusion Analysts:

Air Force Fusion Analyst Civilian Career Opportunities

Although there is not an abundance of civilian jobs in the U.S. for former Air Force Fusion Analysts, there are some good opportunities if one takes the time to look.

Perhaps the best way for those former Air Force Fusion Analysts who enjoyed their work to gain fulfilling and good-paying civilian jobs is to go to work for the federal government.

There are several government agencies that like to hire ex-military intelligence community members to fill positions.

These include:

Defense Intelligence Agency – Washington, D.C.
National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) – Springfield, Virginia
Department of Homeland Security – Washington, DC

They hire Ex-military members not only for their job skills but because of the fact they already have active Top secret security clearances.

A big bonus that former Air Force Fusion Analysts get when going to work for the federal government is that their military time counts toward retirement and for the number of vacation days an employee is entitled to each year.

Here are some civilian companies that are known to hire Ex-Air Force Fusion Analysts partly because of the security clearance that they possess:

Boeing Aerospace Company – Chicago, IL
General Dynamics Corporation – Falls Church, VA
Raytheon Company – Waltham, MA
Rand McNally – Chicago, IL

Other civilian companies that need the experience that former Air Force Fusion Analysts have include:

Celestar Corporation – Cuba, MO
General Dynamics Information Technology – Tampa, FL
BAE Systems – Fort Belvoir, VA
LinQuest Corporation – Washington, DC

References:

Air Force

Air Force Reserve

Author
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Craig S.

Craig spent many years on active duty service in the Air Force stationed in such places as Okinawa, Japan and SAC Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. While in the military, he spent time analyzing imagery from a variety of aircraft such as the SR-71. He was also one of the first enlisted members in the Air Force to experience working with near real time satellite imagery. Craig currently resides in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and runs his own business.

General FAQ

What do Air Force fusion analysts do?

USAF fusion analysts gather, interpret, and disseminate intelligence data, including geographical and operational information, regarding potential threats. They produce and present intelligence briefings to government agencies and military command authorities.

What ASVAB score do you need for fusion analyst?

To become an Air Force Fusion Analyst, you’ll need a minimum score of 62 in the General category or 57 on General and 60 on the Cyber Test sections of the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery.

How long is tech school for fusion analyst?

Tech school to become an Air Force Fusion Analyst is one of the longest, lasting four months and held at Goodfellow AFB, TX.

How much does a fusion analyst make?

USAF Air Force Fusion Analysts are paid accord to rank and time in service, like other military personnel. There may be retention bonuses for this position, however.

What can an Air Force Fusion Analyst do in the civilian world?

After separation or retirement, many Air Force Fusion Analysts find work with major aerospace companies or other contractors. They also can find employment with government agencies like the Department of Homeland Security or the National Imagery and Mapping Agency.