Let the government pay for your education, representatives of the National Security Agency told students at a recruitment fair last week in the Student Services Building.

The NSA offers scholarship programs, opportunities to work overseas and other benefits to its employees, said recruiter Carol Stephenson Bullock. “There are many paid incentives to working for us,” she said. “For example, NSA paid for my master’s degree.”

The agency provides foreign signals intelligence to U.S. policymakers, military commanders and Intelligence Community members.

Recruiters were seeking participants for the agency’s Language Enhancement Program, which can take up to three years to complete and offers signing bonuses of up to $7,500 to those who do well in the program.

Bullock said the organization is particularly interested in individuals who are proficient in Asian or Middle Eastern languages-especially less-commonly taught languages.

Some students felt as though the organization’s recruiting techniques have improved dramatically.

“NSA has improved its sale pitch. Back in 1992, they were so secretive that they were nicknamed ‘No Such Agency,'” said Mike Murrell, graduate student in Middle East studies. “I think they were allowed to add more information and not be so secretive, making their recruitment seminar more effective.”

Many students in attendance submitted applications and inquired about interviews.

Ian Chandler, senior in Chinese, said he is seriously considering the foreign language career field of NSA because he is fluent in three languages. “I am for sure applying,” he said.

H. Rachelle Graham