Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Encyclopedia
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service is the criminal investigative arm of the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense
. DCIS protects military personnel by investigating cases of fraud
, bribery
, and corruption; preventing the illegal transfer of sensitive defense technologies to proscribed nations and criminal elements; investigating companies that use defective parts in weapon
s systems and equipment utilized by the military; and stopping cyber crimes and computer intrusions.
Significant fraud and corruption impacting crucial DoD operations throughout Southwest Asia, with particular emphasis upon schemes that potentially affect the health, safety, welfare, or mission‐readiness of U.S. troops assigned to theater.
Significant procurement and acquisition fraud, corruption, and other financial crimes which result in multi‐million dollars losses, thus depriving DoD of critically‐needed funds that would otherwise be utilized to finance vital national defense initiatives.
Defective, substituted, counterfeit, or substandard products introduced into the DoD acquisition system, with particular emphasis upon allegations involving troop safety and/or mission‐readiness.
Illegal theft, export, diversion, transfer, or proliferation of sensitive DoD technology, systems, weapons, and equipment, with particular emphasis upon allegations involving targeted foreign nations, organized international criminal organizations, or potentially hostile entities apt to utilize said items in furtherance of assaults against U.S. military forces.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act‐related fraud, waste, and abuse involving funds allocated to DoD, with particular emphasis upon criminal activity involving projects designed to improve the quality of life of service members and their families.
Health care fraud committed by providers that involves (a) quality of care, unnecessary care, or failure to provide care to TRICARE
‐eligible service members, retirees, dependents, or survivors; or (b) significant direct loss to DoD’s TRICARE
Management Activity.
Computer intrusions and other cyber crimes that result in (a) serious compromises of the Global Information Grid; (b) exfiltration of sensitive DoD data or large volumes of personally identifiable information pertaining to civilian DoD employees or service members; or (c) potential contractual violations on the part of a DoD contractor.
DCIS operates field offices in the following locations:
In addition, DCIS is located overseas in the following locations:
s who have full law enforcement authority; they make arrests, carry concealed weapons, execute search warrants, serve subpoenas, and testify in legal proceedings.
DCIS special agent candidates initially receive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center located in Glynco, Georgia. They attend FLETC's basic training course for special agents, the Criminal Investigator Training Program, which lasts about 13 weeks and represents the beginning or basic training received by DCIS special agents. Later, agents may return to FLETC to attend specialized training in contractor fraud, money laundering, computer crimes, advanced interview techniques, etc.
Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense
The Department of Defense Inspector General is an independent, objective agency that provides oversight related to the programs and operations of the Department of Defense...
. DCIS protects military personnel by investigating cases of fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
, bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
, and corruption; preventing the illegal transfer of sensitive defense technologies to proscribed nations and criminal elements; investigating companies that use defective parts in weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s systems and equipment utilized by the military; and stopping cyber crimes and computer intrusions.
Background
DCIS serves as the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense Inspector General. DoD IG was created in 1982 by an amendment to the Inspector General Act of 1978.Responsibilities
It is the obligation of the DoD Inspector General to "initiate, conduct, and supervise such...investigations in the Department of Defense (including the military departments) as the Inspector General considers appropriate" (IG Act Sec. 8(c)(2)) and to "provide leadership and coordination and recommend policies for activities...to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in...[DoD] programs and operations (IG Act Sec. 2(2))."Priorities
DCIS current investigative priorities include:Significant fraud and corruption impacting crucial DoD operations throughout Southwest Asia, with particular emphasis upon schemes that potentially affect the health, safety, welfare, or mission‐readiness of U.S. troops assigned to theater.
Significant procurement and acquisition fraud, corruption, and other financial crimes which result in multi‐million dollars losses, thus depriving DoD of critically‐needed funds that would otherwise be utilized to finance vital national defense initiatives.
Defective, substituted, counterfeit, or substandard products introduced into the DoD acquisition system, with particular emphasis upon allegations involving troop safety and/or mission‐readiness.
Illegal theft, export, diversion, transfer, or proliferation of sensitive DoD technology, systems, weapons, and equipment, with particular emphasis upon allegations involving targeted foreign nations, organized international criminal organizations, or potentially hostile entities apt to utilize said items in furtherance of assaults against U.S. military forces.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act‐related fraud, waste, and abuse involving funds allocated to DoD, with particular emphasis upon criminal activity involving projects designed to improve the quality of life of service members and their families.
Health care fraud committed by providers that involves (a) quality of care, unnecessary care, or failure to provide care to TRICARE
TRICARE
TRICARE, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services , is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. TRICARE provides civilian health benefits for military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents,...
‐eligible service members, retirees, dependents, or survivors; or (b) significant direct loss to DoD’s TRICARE
TRICARE
TRICARE, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services , is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. TRICARE provides civilian health benefits for military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents,...
Management Activity.
Computer intrusions and other cyber crimes that result in (a) serious compromises of the Global Information Grid; (b) exfiltration of sensitive DoD data or large volumes of personally identifiable information pertaining to civilian DoD employees or service members; or (c) potential contractual violations on the part of a DoD contractor.
Organization
DCIS is lead by the Deputy Inspector General for Investigations and organized into three functional branches. Each branch is managed by an Assistant Inspector General.- Investigative Operations
- International Operations
- Internal Operations
Locations
DCIS is headquartered in Arlington, Va.DCIS operates field offices in the following locations:
- Central Field Office, Missouri
- Mid Atlantic Field Office, Virginia
- Northeast Field Office, Pennsylvania
- Southeast Field Office, Georgia
- Southwest Field Office, Texas
- Western Field Office, California
In addition, DCIS is located overseas in the following locations:
- Bagram Air BaseBagram Air BaseBagram Airfield, also referred to as Bagram Air Base, is a militarized airport and housing complex that is located next to the ancient city of Bagram, southeast of Charikar in Parwan province of Afghanistan. The base is run by a US Army division headed by a major general. A large part of the base,...
, Afghanistan - BaghdadBaghdadBaghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Iraq - Kuwait CityKuwait City-Suburbs:Although the districts below are not usually recognized as suburbs, the following is a list of a few areas surrounding Kuwait city:Al-Salam ""السلام"" -Economy:...
, Kuwait - WiesbadenWiesbadenWiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, Germany
Special Agents
DCIS is composed of special agentSpecial agent
Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency....
s who have full law enforcement authority; they make arrests, carry concealed weapons, execute search warrants, serve subpoenas, and testify in legal proceedings.
Selection and training
To be considered for a DCIS special agent position, an individual must:- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be between 21 and 37 years of age
- Pass the complete applicant screening process, which includes an interview battery, drug screening, medical exam, and a physical fitness test
- Pass an extensive background investigation
- Possess exceptional communication skills
DCIS special agent candidates initially receive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center located in Glynco, Georgia. They attend FLETC's basic training course for special agents, the Criminal Investigator Training Program, which lasts about 13 weeks and represents the beginning or basic training received by DCIS special agents. Later, agents may return to FLETC to attend specialized training in contractor fraud, money laundering, computer crimes, advanced interview techniques, etc.
DCIS in media
- In the 2010 film The A-TeamThe A-Team (film)The A-Team is an American action film based on the television series of the same name. It was released in cinemas in the United States on June 11, 2010, by 20th Century Fox. The film was directed by Joe Carnahan and produced by Stephen J. Cannell and the Scott brothers Ridley and Tony...
, the character Charissa Sosa is a DCIS agent. - On the SyFySyfySyfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
channel television series AlphasAlphasAlphas is an American science fiction dramatic television series created by Zak Penn and Michael Karnow. The series follows a group of people with superhuman abilities, known as "Alphas", as they work to prevent crimes committed by other Alphas....
, the main characters work under the auspices of the DCIS. - In P.T. Deutermann's novel, Zero Option (1999), DCIS special agent David Stafford investigates the theft of a container of a deadly biological nerve gas stolen from an Army base.
- In Brian HaigBrian HaigBrian Haig is an American thriller author and Fox News military analyst.-Early life and family:Haig's father was former U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig ; his mother is Patricia . He has a brother Alexander and a sister Barbara.-Military life:Haig graduated from West Point in 1975 and was...
's novel, The Capitol Game (2010), DCIS special agent Mia Jenson investigates a scheme involving a contractor that develops a polymer coating that can be used on military equipment to provide a protective layer impenetrable to modern weaponry.
See also
- United States Department of DefenseUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
- Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of DefenseOffice of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of DefenseThe Department of Defense Inspector General is an independent, objective agency that provides oversight related to the programs and operations of the Department of Defense...
- Department of Defense Whistleblower Program
- United States Army Criminal Investigation Command
- U.S. Army CounterintelligenceU.S. Army Counterintelligence Special AgentUnited States Army Counterintelligence conducts counterintelligence activities to detect, identify, assess, counter, exploit and/or neutralize adversarial, foreign intelligence and terrorist threats to United States national security, as well as other intelligence activities as directed by United...
- Naval Criminal Investigative ServiceNaval Criminal Investigative ServiceThe United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the primary security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement agency of the United States Department of the Navy...
- U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations
- Federal Law Enforcement Training CenterFederal Law Enforcement Training CenterThe Federal Law Enforcement Training Center serves as an interagency law enforcement training organization for 90 United States government federal law enforcement agencies.-Location:...
- Law enforcement agencyLaw enforcement agencyIn North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
- Inspector GeneralInspector GeneralAn Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...