Party Bus to the CIA

Knowing that we would need to arrive at the CIA in a bus, my colleagues and I unknowingly approached the PARTY bus that would take us on the wildest tourist adventure of the summer. With the fun lights and perfect set-up for conversation (everyone sitting in the oval shape facing each other), we all laughed and enjoyed the views of the Lincoln Memorial, Pentagon, Washington Monument, etc as we made our way to the CIA.

Upon arrival, dogs had to sniff our (party) bus while we waited inside and had our IDs verified. After a pretty intense screening, we finally entered the recognizable CIA lobby that many of us are familiar with due to TV shows. During our introduction, the tour guide explained to us that each fallen Secret Agent is represented by a star on the wall and only some of their names are ever made available to the public. What are they doing that's so secretive that even in death they must remain confidential? I'm not sure, but it is definitely fun to imagine.

We had a very moving tour of recovered objects from the 9-11 attacks and of soldiers' uniforms in the War on Terror. One story that was particularly moving was of a Navy man being saved by a Marine Corps man after the attack on the Pentagon, and to thank the Marine, the Seaman named his child after him. To commemorate this heroic event, the Seaman's ribbons are displayed in the CIA museum.

In addition to memorials and war displays, the museum had endless fascinating examples of spy gear used by the Soviet Union in the Cold War. Among the most interesting were cameras on cigarettes, lighters, camera inside a camera, shirt buttons, and a faux dragonfly which was ultimately not used due to being so light that it could be carried away in the wind. The newest technology on display was about 5o years old, so imagine what they have now!

After hearing about the employment opportunities in the CIA, I think it's fair to say that nearly our whole group left the building ready to apply. The intrigue of secrecy and the honor of working for such a well-known and important organization won us over, but it was the allure of their training and education that really struck me. They prefer undergrads because they can train us the way they want! How novel! I have to admit, getting paid to learn languages, travel abroad, and work for the CIA does sound pretty attractive.

After an incredibly unique day of being tourists, the Glenn Fellows boarded the party bus and headed back to reality. One suggestion: next time, let's bring some bubbly! Just kidding... kinda ;)

SHF