AFOSI Special Agent study guide
AFOSI Special Agent · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) Special Agent Selection Process is the hiring pipeline through which the U.S. Air Force recruits civilian and military special agents for its federal law enforcement and counterintelligence mission. The AFOSI Special Agent study guide has 9 sections and about 2,684 words.
01Criminal Investigation and Evidence Handling
This domain tests how an agent protects a scene, lawfully seizes evidence, and maintains integrity from collection through disposition. Expect questions on chain of custody, search authority, packaging, and documentation.
326 words, about 2 min02Federal Criminal Law and Procedure
This domain tests substantive federal offenses and the procedural limits on investigation, search, seizure, arrest, and prosecution. AFOSI cases may involve UCMJ offenses, federal statutes, or both; the exam expects you to identify the right legal framework and preserve rights.
340 words, about 2 min03Counterintelligence and National Security Investigations
This domain tests recognition, reporting, and investigation of foreign intelligence, espionage, insider threat, and security compromises. The focus is early detection, containment, and coordination rather than ordinary criminal charging alone.
302 words, about 2 min04Cyber and Technology-Enabled Crime Investigation
This domain tests digital evidence preservation, lawful access, forensic integrity, and investigation of network intrusions, identity theft, online fraud, and technology-facilitated offenses. Preserve data in order of volatility: memory and network connections before disks; logs before overwrite.
310 words, about 2 min05Fraud, Economic Crime, and Procurement Integrity
This domain tests detection and proof of fraud against the government, procurement improprieties, bribery, conflicts of interest, and financial record analysis. Expect questions on elements, indicators, and coordination with auditors and prosecutors.
295 words, about 1 min06Interviewing, Interrogation, and Source Operations
This domain tests lawful, effective questioning and the recruitment, handling, and corroboration of human sources. The exam distinguishes witness interviews from custodial interrogation and tests documentation of voluntariness.
264 words, about 1 min07Report Writing and Case Documentation
This domain tests clear, accurate, and defensible case documentation. Reports must let a reader who was not present understand what happened, what was done, what evidence exists, and what remains unresolved.
274 words, about 1 min08Air Force and Department of Defense Organizational Knowledge
This domain tests how AFOSI fits within the Department of the Air Force and DoD, who commands and supports investigations, and how jurisdiction and coordination work. Expect questions on chain of command, investigative authority, and interagency relationships.
304 words, about 2 min09Professional Standards, Ethics, and Integrity
This domain tests the conduct expected of a federal law enforcement agent: truthfulness, impartiality, lawful use of authority, protection of sensitive information, and avoidance of conflicts. Integrity issues can end a case and a career.
269 words, about 1 min