- Joined
- Feb 1, 2009
- Messages
- 827
I know its a dumb question but do cadets who branch into MI ever have a chance to see action?
Long story short, officers of any kind rarely see action.
Unlikely. Depends on the branch. AF? No. Army? Probably not. Navy? No, because its a restricted rating. USMC? Probably highest chance, but still slim.
I don't know where youre getting this info. But intel is one of the AF's highest-tempo career fields in terms of deployments. During my last base visit i spent a few hours with their intel shop and the officer i shadowed told us that normally there were five officers assigned to them. At that point, three of them were currently deployed...in combat zones.
The two officers that were there (1 major and 1 capt) had both just returned from combat deployments. One was filling an army billet in Iraq and the other was on a PRT in Afghanistan. They both got shot at.
And if you dont believe me, here's on intel officer who unfortunately did see action.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/05/ap_cadet_award_052510/
He is generally correct. The majority of AF intel does not get deployed in the manner you saw.
I'm not out to discount what anyone is saying here. Im just relaying information i got straight from the horse's mouth. The active duty intel officers I spoke with made it perfectly clear that they deploy as much as anyone in the Air Force. And they deploy to combat zones.
This information was again confirmed when i talked to the officers at my det about my own interest in going intel.
Do they go out on patrols hunting insurgents like Army Rangers? Obviously not. But I think its pretty clear that in the current types of operations the military is in, anyone who steps outside the wire is at risk.
I think this discussion may be quickly headed in the direction that caused Bruno to re-post the rules of etiquette.
I would advise you that, in this forum, you are in the company of many who have (literally) multiple years of experience in joint operations in the current theaters. What you may "think" you know about "current types of operations," or the knowledge you have constructed in your mind from visiting an Air Force base in the continental US, is sure to be quite far from reality. That's not your fault. It happens to every servicemember. It is something that can only be cured by a deployment. Or two. Or three.
There is a HUGE difference between deploying to a combat zone and being in combat. The gulf is almost indescribable. The average intelligence officer, especially USAF intel, will not depart from the confines of his or her FOB/COB. It's not how the system is designed.
As I said Im not trying to discount anyones information here. Ive never deployed and youre right; what I think doesnt matter.
I have immense respect for anyone willing to deploy in service for this country. That includes you. But that also includes the few active duty intel officers i happened to come across. I just thought their sentiments would be useful in response to the original question of: "Do intelligence officers ever see combat?"
After what I was told, and as i thought the link explained, the answer to that question is yes. Thats all I meant to get across.
No need to re-post etiquette rules. Not trying to offend anyone. If my posts arent clear, please PM me and Ill try to elaborate on what i intended them to mean. Thank you for your service.
The discussions ran its course but I meant to ask about ARMY intelligence, not AF. So let me reiterate - do ARMY intelligence officers see the kind of combat an infantry officer might see?