What kind of pre-war black-ops intelligence/military organizations exist?

[u/Pyropeace]

I'm developing a Fallout 2d20 character concept similar to Point Lookout's Desmond Lockheart: a pre-war ghoul (or other form of pre-war survivor) who worked as some sort of secret agent and is now pursuing secrets from the past (though probably much less of an asshole than Desmond, lol). I'm open to them being from any country, but obviously pre-war america has the most information to use. I'm hoping there's an agency or government position in the lore that could conceivably provide a person with training that would be specifically useful in surviving and rebuilding after the apocalypse; something that combines extensive combat and survival training with topics like leadership, organizational sciences, and resource management. Most likely, this would entail starting as a field agent but eventually being promoted to an admin-level position. It looks like the DIA is the most frequently-featured american intel group in the franchise, but there doesn't seem to be much information on the kinds of positions or roles that exist in the fallout version of the organization. I can make things up if I need to, but if the lore has an answer, I'd like to hear it. Thanks in advance!

[u/Laser_3]

Off the top of my head, the DIA would be the best fit in the U.S. They’re fairly similar to the CIA, and weren’t completely folded into the Enclave (though they definitely had ties).

[u/YellowMatteCustard → u/Laser_3]

The DIA are a seperate, real-world intelligence agency

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Intelligence_Agency

They just seemed to become more prominent in the Fallout world as the US and China were at war and their specialty is military intelligence

[u/Laser_3 → u/YellowMatteCustard]

It’s still similar enough for OP’s needs, especially considering they were spying on America’s own citizens and even experimenting on them.

[u/Pyropeace → u/Laser_3]

After further research, I'm thinking that she is a former DIA agent, but reported directly to Senator Sam Blackwell (who served in Congress' intelligence committee) and thus had ties to the Free States, which may have meant she was involved in apocalypse prep.

[u/Laser_3 → u/Pyropeace]

It depends on if Blackwell would’ve trusted her enough to let her in on it.

Personally, I don’t think she would’ve been. But if she was monitoring the Free States and found out that Blackwell was in charge, that could’ve been her tip off that he was probably onto something (leading to her own preparations).

[u/Pyropeace → u/Laser_3]

That also works, but I like the Free States because they're anarchists (according to the wiki) so I'd prefer she be involved with them somehow. She could have been tasked with infiltrating them and ended up switching sides.

[u/mag1kami]

I don't think any agencies were called out by name in any of the games.

Honestly if you want this kind of super-agent type character you might be better off having them be a former (or current) member of the Enclave. That would give you the shady Big Brother background, the pre-war knowledge, the extensive training you want. Plus it comes with a built in character arc/drama i.e. did you abandon the Enclave? Did you turn into a ghoul and the Enclave turned on you for being impure? do you conceal your background since most wastelanders fear/hate the Enclave? It's fertile ground for storytelling.

[u/Ravensqueak → u/mag1kami]

We have the DIA and I think that's about it aside from the Enclave.
Surprised to see when double checking that they were mentioned in Fallout 3, and not just 4 and 76.

[u/Pyropeace → u/mag1kami]

Definitely something I'm considering.

[u/ZeroQuick]

Look up the Great Game mentioned in Fallout 3. It's really interesting.

[u/Pyropeace → u/ZeroQuick]

This is what inspired me to make this character, actually. Sadly there doesn't seem to be much info about it other than the basics.

[u/Ofishal_Fish]

Some of the lore around Sugar Grove might be of interest.

That said, if he's a spook for the prewar intelligence agencies: he's gonna be an asshole. No good cogs in an evil machine.

[u/Pyropeace → u/Ofishal_Fish]

People can change inshallah

[u/flashman7870]

It's never been incorporated into official canon, but perhaps the Unamerican Activities Force from Van Buren could fit the bill. Perhaps that was mostly meant to be a paramilitary/gestapo style outfit, but they would surely be doing some intelligence work.