The CIA wants to hire super-fit agents — but only if you can do this many sit-ups in a minute

Taylor Knight
·2 min read
The Central Intelligence Agency is seeking candidates for an agent role that has a significant fitness component.
The Central Intelligence Agency is seeking candidates for an agent role that has a significant fitness component.

If you can’t keep up, sit this one out.

The Central Intelligence Agency is seeking candidates for an “executive protective agent” role who are patriotic, trustworthy and, most importantly, fit enough to complete 27 sit-ups and 18 push-ups in just 1 minute.

An executive protective agent “provides 24/7/365 armed protection for Intelligence Community leaders world-wide. You will serve on teams at foreign and domestic sites, liaise with foreign security officials, operate armored security vehicles, analyze threats in order to modify protective profiles, and utilize issued weapons and equipment,” the job posting read.

The CIA requires applicants who are physically fit, as well as willing to work weekends and holidays.
The CIA requires applicants who are physically fit, as well as willing to work weekends and holidays.

The high-caliber position requires candidates to ace a grueling physical fitness test for selection, plus an annual one to keep the role.

And this isn’t any regular physical fitness assessment.

Besides the sit-ups and push-ups, the test requires applicants to finish a 1.5-mile run in under 15 minutes 20 seconds, a 300-meter dash in under 1 minute 8 seconds, and a 180-pound dummy drag in under 2 minutes.

In addition to meeting the fitness guidelines, the contender has to be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen willing to move to the Washington, DC, area, registered for the Selective Service, and able to complete security and medical evaluations, Jam Press reported.

Candidates also must finish a 1.5-mile run in under 15 minutes and 20 seconds, a 300-meter dash in under 1 minute and 8 seconds, and a 180-pound dummy drag in under 2 minutes. Jam Press
Candidates also must finish a 1.5-mile run in under 15 minutes and 20 seconds, a 300-meter dash in under 1 minute and 8 seconds, and a 180-pound dummy drag in under 2 minutes. Jam Press

Although the physical requirements could deter applicants, at least those who can make it through have “opportunities for domestic and foreign travel.”

The full-time position offers candidates a salary range of $66,654 to $122,459, though a “higher starting salary” is possible depending on experience level.

However, accepting a career in this field eliminates chances of having a social life because the job requires agents to work weekends, holidays and evenings, plus log overtime hours.

While the job has many restrictions, the CIA wants to remind applicants of the greater good the role serves.

“As a CIA employee, you’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing your work is part of something bigger than yourself,” the site stated. “Our work is driven by one mission: to keep our Nation safe.