Defense Intelligence Agency Given Joint Meritorious Unit Award

 

With the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) recently marking its 50th anniversary, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta recently honored it with the Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA) for "exceptional achievement from August 1, 2008, to July 31, 2011," according to a release.

In recognizing the DIA, Panetta stressed the rapid response element of its personnel, particularly during a time of significant intelligence gathering.

"The extraordinary dedication of agency personnel was directly responsible for the identification, pursuit, and capture or death of key adversaries, as well as the provision of vital information essential to maintaining our national security," read the award citation from the secretary.

The release notes that the JMUA award is the eight such recognition give to DIA over its 50-year existence, with an additional 20 having been given to the agency's subordinate organizations in that time.

Professionals working in the Defense Intelligence Agency are typically required to have security clearance, which can be obtained through a number of steps including undergoing a lifestyle polygraph test.