Navy VS Army Intel

gbritto98

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Aug 15, 2016
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Hey guys. So this is kind of like a pros and cons for both. I have always wanted to go Navy. I think they just have a lot of tradition and they have a lot of science research going on and a lot of innovative research. With that being said, my school only has army ROTC so I am thinking about it. I really want to be an intelligence officer or cryptology.
Just about everyone I've talked to ( active duty and retired army ) have told me that going into the army is a mistake and stay away as far as possible and to either do Air Force or navy. A lot of the reasons are that navy and Air Force have better locations and the officers are treated better and they have more science based jobs.
A lot of people have also said that the navy has a way better Intel community.
Is it really that bad? Who do you think has better Intel opportunities and just overall lifestyle
 
Intel in the Navy is considered restricted line. I could explain restricted line vs unrestricted line but I am going to let you google it first then ask questions. It is not a warfare selection that many can get in their first tour. Most Intel are something else first such as SWO then cross over to Intel.
 
Intel in the Navy is considered restricted line. I could explain restricted line vs unrestricted line but I am going to let you google it first then ask questions. It is not a warfare selection that many can get in their first tour. Most Intel are something else first such as SWO then cross over to Intel.
Would that mean 4 years SWO then 4 for Intel?
 
Not usually. It usually means earn your SWO pin and then apply. The regs can change in requirements. It's usually somewhere at the 3-4 year mark most apply. Some have to apply multiple time. It's also not automatic you will get selected. Depends on the needs of the service, but some years there could be a few spots with dozens of applicants. Commitment time can vary. Usually 3-4 years minimum.
 
Not usually. It usually means earn your SWO pin and then apply. The regs can change in requirements. It's usually somewhere at the 3-4 year mark most apply. Some have to apply multiple time. It's also not automatic you will get selected. Depends on the needs of the service, but some years there could be a few spots with dozens of applicants. Commitment time can vary. Usually 3-4 years minimum.
SWO is like controlling submarines and nuclear reactors right? So most of the time you'd be stationed to a ship?
 
if someone were to do that would they spend most of their time on ships

If they're based on a ship..... yes, they would spend most of their time on ships.

BUT, people do rotate in and out of positions.
 
Check the following links out:
Navy Intel Community: https://www.usna.edu/CyberCenter/_files/documents/idc/Navy_Intelligence_Community_Overview_2012.pdf
Navy Cryptologic Community (note this community was formerly called Information Warfare, so the document still bears that name): https://www.usna.edu/CyberCenter/_files/documents/idc/1810_IW_Community_Info_Sheet.pdf

As NavyHoops said, you cannot go directly Intel if you are medically qualified for unrestricted line. However, you do have an opportunity to go directly into the Cryptologic community directly from USNA.
 
If you school (I assume College) only has Army ROTC, then Army via ROTC is your only option. If you want Navy NUPOC https://www.navy.com/joining/college-options/nupoc.html could be a Navy scholarship option. But your first warfare community would most likely be a sub with a few going Nuc on an aircraft carrier. Your other option would be OCS for Navy or the Air Force equivalent.

IMHO if you are a tech/stem type of person Navy or Air Force would be a better fit than Army.
 
If you school (I assume College) only has Army ROTC, then Army via ROTC is your only option. If you want Navy NUPOC https://www.navy.com/joining/college-options/nupoc.html could be a Navy scholarship option. But your first warfare community would most likely be a sub with a few going Nuc on an aircraft carrier. Your other option would be OCS for Navy or the Air Force equivalent.

IMHO if you are a tech/stem type of person Navy or Air Force would be a better fit than Army.
Thanks. Ya my degree is in biology and neuroscience so both science fields. The recruiter I talked to mentioned NUPOC a lot and honestly it looks great but I just don't know if I'd really be interested in nuclear power.
 
Check the following links out:
Navy Intel Community: https://www.usna.edu/CyberCenter/_files/documents/idc/Navy_Intelligence_Community_Overview_2012.pdf
Navy Cryptologic Community (note this community was formerly called Information Warfare, so the document still bears that name): https://www.usna.edu/CyberCenter/_files/documents/idc/1810_IW_Community_Info_Sheet.pdf

As NavyHoops said, you cannot go directly Intel if you are medically qualified for unrestricted line. However, you do have an opportunity to go directly into the Cryptologic community directly from USNA.
Is that just for academy people or people who do ROTC and OCS as well? It seems like a huge majority of naval officers are SWO. Is there any reason for that ?
 
I believe the SWO option program (SWO first...then Intel or cryptologic) is available for URL medically qualified candidates for both NROTC and OCS....direct accessions into those same communities might only be for medically disqualified NROTC and OCS candidates.

If you are enrolled with AROTC...might be very hard to go Navy.
 
I believe the SWO option program (SWO first...then Intel or cryptologic) is available for URL medically qualified candidates for both NROTC and OCS....direct accessions into those same communities might only be for medically disqualified NROTC and OCS candidates.

If you are enrolled with AROTC...might be very hard to go Navy.
I'm not enrolled in anything yet, was just thinking about doing rotc.
 
idk if anyone will know the answer to this but since SWO is under the NUPOC program would it be possible to do that and take the scholarships then a few years in try to switch to intel?
 
Let's take a look at paths. If you go Army ROTC, you can compete and get selected for Military Intelligence upon commissioning. I'll leave that to the Army types to say if you'll actually be doing intel work or working as a 2LT in a leadership position.

If you want navy and you're in a civilian college, you'll have to get warfare qualified first. That means at least two years in the fleet on either ships or subs. You can go intel from aviation, but you won't be able to transfer to intel until after your squadron tour, so about five to six years from commissioning.

The two commissioning sources that you have are NUPOC and OCS. If you get NUPOC (not a guarantee), you'll get a commission, then off to Nuclear Power school for a year (graduate level nuclear physics), then reactor (six months, I believe), then either sub school or SWO school. If you go OCS, then off to SWO school after commissioning (in an ideal world), then to your ship. Transfer to intel in any case isn't guaranteed, since you have to apply for a warfare community transfer, which could get real competitive if there is an era of cutbacks (I know, I tried back in 93).

As far as the intel job itself, both services pretty much are the same...army intel is stuck in tents or buildings doing analysis, and navy is stuck on ships or buildings doing analysis. I would think you have two questions....how quickly do I want to start doing analysis, and whether I prefer either camping or floating.
 
Is that just for academy people or people who do ROTC and OCS as well? It seems like a huge majority of naval officers are SWO. Is there any reason for that ?
uh, it is the Navy? They operate on the water? Ships come in very handy, keeps your shoes dry.
 
I would add there are a lot more ships than subs. While there are more airplanes, there are only 1-2 officers per plane and many many more aboard a ship.
 
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