After spending over 7 years in the US Marine Corps, I have decided I want to be a Computer Security Specialist. I am currently enrolled in a local community college in IT, and am set to start this spring semester, 2005 and my next step is to chose my electives. I want to do what ROn1n does, work for a large security consultance protecting companys databases, or work for the government, tracking down terrorists groups or cyber-terrorists. I plan on taking 2 years at this local community college to get my associates degree then transfering on to a 4-year college, for my bachelors, and then take any further schooling neccassary for me to accomplish my objective.

My question is, what computer information systems/related curriculum should I take (i.e. CIS 121 Microsoft Office, CIS 225 Andvance Java Programming, CSC (Computer Science) 214 Signal and Immaging Processing, and CSC 215 Introduction to Linux. And what IT sequences should I take (i.e. CIS 110 Building and Maintaining the PC and CIS 208 Visual Basic Programming, or CIS 225 Advance Java Programming and CSC 206 Digital Computer Organization) in order for me to get to and be what I want to be and do what I want to do in the Computer Security field? And what other electives should I take that to help gear me toward that profession? Like should I take psychology, forensic psychology, criminology, etc.?

I have a fairly good knowledge of Windows, but am not certified in anything. I have a very basic knowledge of networking and used to use these little laptop-type computers to process fire missions and talk to other scout teams where we had to set up the other teams addresses and create files in the computer to talk digitally to them over encrypted frequencies that we had to establish.

Any and all information, input, comments, suggestions or responses would be very greatly appreciated and helpful, and if ROn1n is reading this, I would very much appreciate anything you have to say about this, as well, or anyone else who does what he does or works along those lines, working for a large, or any size security consultancy. Thank you very much for your time and consideration to anyone who take the time to read this and especially to those who respond.