Defense Criminal Investigative Service The Defense Criminal Investigative Service is the criminal investigative arm of the Office of the Inspector General , U . S . Department of Defense . DCIS protects military personnel by investigating cases of fraud , bribery , and corruption ; preventing the illegal transfer of sensitive defense technologies to proscribed nations and criminal elements ; investigating companies that use defective , substandard , or counterfeit parts in weapon s systems and equipment utilized by the military ; and stopping cyber crimes and computer intrusion s . Background . DCIS serves as the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense Inspector General . DoD IG was created in 1981 by an amendment to the Inspector General Act of 1978 . Responsibilities . It is the obligation of the DoD Inspector General to " initiate , conduct , and supervise such . . . investigations in the Department of Defense ( including the military departments ) as the Inspector General considers appropriate " ( IG Act Sec . 8 ( c ) ( 2 ) ) and to " provide leadership and coordination and recommend policies for activities . . . to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in . . . [ DoD ] programs and operations ( IG Act Sec . 2 ( 2 ) ) . " Priorities . DCIS ' current investigative priorities include : Significant fraud and corruption impacting crucial DoD operations , with particular emphasis upon schemes impacting DoD operations in Southwest Asia , and matters that potentially affect the health , safety , welfare , or mission ‐ readiness of U . S . troops . Significant procurement and acquisition fraud , corruption , and other financial crimes which result in multi ‐ million dollars losses , thus depriving DoD of critically ‐ needed funds that would otherwise be utilized to finance vital national defense initiatives . Defective , substituted , counterfeit , or substandard products introduced into the DoD acquisition system , with particular emphasis upon allegations involving troop safety and / or mission ‐ readiness . Illegal theft , export , diversion , transfer , or proliferation of sensitive DoD technology , systems , weapons , and equipment , with particular emphasis upon allegations involving targeted foreign nations , organized international criminal organizations , or potentially hostile entities apt to utilize said items in furtherance of assaults against U . S . military forces . Health care fraud committed by providers that involves ( a ) quality of care , unnecessary care , or failure to provide care to TRICARE ‐ eligible service members , retirees , dependents , or survivors ; or ( b ) significant direct loss to DoD ’ s TRICARE Management Activity . Computer intrusions and other cyber crimes that result in ( a ) serious compromises of the Global Information Grid ; ( b ) exfiltration of sensitive DoD data or large volumes of personally identifiable information pertaining to civilian DoD employees or service members ; or ( c ) potential contractual violations on the part of a DoD contractor . Organization . DCIS is led by the Deputy Inspector General for Investigations . The Deputy Inspector General for Investigations is cross - designated as the Director of DCIS . DCIS Headquarters is organized into three functional branches . Each branch is managed by an Assistant Inspector General who is cross - designated as a Deputy Director of DCIS . Locations . DCIS is headquartered in Alexandria , Va , and maintains a presence in approximately 60 separate domestic and international locales . Field offices are situated in the following locations : Each field office is responsible for overseeing multiple subordinate resident agencies and posts of duties located throughout the United States . At present , DCIS maintains a presence in the following international locations : Special Agents . DCIS is composed of special agent s who have full law enforcement authority ; they make arrests , carry concealed weapons , execute search warrants , serve subpoenas , and testify in legal proceedings . Selection and training . To be considered for a DCIS special agent position , an individual must : Be a U . S . citizen , age between 21 and 37 years , pass screening , background investigation and have exceptional communication skills . DCIS special agent candidates initially receive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center located in Glynco , Georgia . They attend FLETC ' s basic training course for special agents , the Criminal Investigator Training Program , which lasts about 13 weeks and represents the beginning or basic training received by DCIS special agents . Later , agents may return to FLETC to attend specialized training in contractor fraud , money laundering , computer crimes , advanced interview techniques , etc . Appearance in Popular Culture . The 2010 film " The A - Team " depicts a fictional DCIS unit that investigates the disappearance of US money plates from Baghdad , which Hannibal ' s team has allegedly stolen . It is led by Captain ( then First Lieutenant ) Charissa Sosa , performed by Jessica Biel , an ex - girlfriend of Face . In the film , the DCIS unit has all - military personnel .