They have around 2,000 personnel, with more than 1,000 serving as Federal Special Agents. It’s a unique agency for the military as it’s civilian-run and is headed by a civilian law enforcement professional who reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy. They operate in approximately 191 locations, in more than 41 countries. NCIS frequently gets involved in crimes where local, state, or foreign law enforcement agencies have primary jurisdiction, so they’re seen as an effective resource.
NCIS is often the first federal law enforcement agency on the scene when U.S. interests overseas are affected. In addition to serving at major naval commands around the world, NCIS Special Agents deploy aboard all Navy aircraft carriers and with amphibious task forces. NCIS agents routinely visit ports before our ships arrive and work with domestic and foreign counterparts to identify and mitigate security threats. NCIS also conducts protective service operations for senior naval officials and visiting dignitaries.
Many of the television show’s episodes are based on true stories and they’ve got a lot to work with such as a Navy officer dying at sea from what they thought was a heart attack but then they found that his wife had been sending him cookies laced with arsenic. She said she didn’t want to be married to him anymore because he was no fun; she was around 15 years younger than him. It’s a sick world out there.