Army Intelligence careers

Prepswimmom

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2013
Messages
375
All - can any one out there speak to Army Intelligence careers? My DS was not accepted to USNA and is entertaining future options. Of all the schools he applied to, his favorite turned out to be the only one without NROTC. But it is in DC and part of the Hoya Battalion. His interest lies in intelligence - he always thought Navy, but he would love to learn about Army.
 
It may be better that he is looking to Army for an MI career. As far as I know it is harder to secure an intel position in the Navy, as that is a restricted line and only a very small percentage of naval officers (something like 5%?) are within that parameter, and most if not all are Mid level to Senior Officers. As for the Army, upon commissioning a good portion of new 2nd Lieutenants in MI end up in Infantry roles, until they are Captains. A small portion of newly commissioned MI are directly sent to MI units. However, I think the only job available to 2nd Lieutenants in these units is All Source Intel. Human Int, Sig int, and the rest all require O3 (Captain) or higher rank before you can apply. Hope this helps, I am an aspiring future MI Officer myself so any input will be gladly received!
 
MI

All - can any one out there speak to Army Intelligence careers? My DS was not accepted to USNA and is entertaining future options. Of all the schools he applied to, his favorite turned out to be the only one without NROTC. But it is in DC and part of the Hoya Battalion. His interest lies in intelligence - he always thought Navy, but he would love to learn about Army.

Sounds like AU....MI is a tough branch to get I think 2-3 from the Hoya battalion each year, but doable.
+1 to websurfer234
 
MI

There are quite a few Platoon Leader jobs for MI LTs. Less than there are for Infantry, Artillery, Air Defense Artillery, Military Police, but about the same as for Aviation, Ordinance, Quartermaster and a lot more than for Finance and Adjutant General. I was an infantry officer in an MI battalion for a short bit (Long Range Surveillance XO). The infantry (and other branches) needs less and less officers as you progress in rank (five companies in a BN, 3 BNs in a Bde, etc... - pyramid). MI and other branches need more higher ranking officers percentage wise (upside down pyramid). The Army "branch details" officers to the heavy LT branches for the first 3-4 years (or until their advanced course). Are these detailed officers at a disadvantage? Not that I've seen. They actually are very strong due to their intense leadership experiences in the combat arms arena. My last job in the Army was with the NSA. I was not MI but computers as a functional area. Many officers pick up functional areas after @7 years. These sometimes include grad school. So you can be a infantry officer for @7 years and then go be a geek (or TAC or whatever). Plenty of opportunities in the Army.
 
Really?

There is no i in Ordnance. :)

I did say I was an Infantry Officer. I never dealt with an Ordnance officer and really could care less how it's spelled. :) As long as I had my ammo, I was happy.
 
I did say I was an Infantry Officer. I never dealt with an Ordnance officer and really could care less how it's spelled. :) As long as I had my ammo, I was happy.

You may not have dealt with any directly, but you could not have done your job without the Ordnance Corps. And I'm not talking only about your ammo. :)
 
Thank you all so much for your responses. I'll have DS read thru them and post questions if he has them.


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
Sounds like AU....MI is a tough branch to get I think 2-3 from the Hoya battalion each year, but doable.
+1 to websurfer234

DS is actually going to Catholic University. He met with someone from Hoya at accepted students day and liked what he heard. How do you know it is 2-3 for MI each year? Do you know a lot about the Hoya Battalion?
 
It may be better that he is looking to Army for an MI career. As far as I know it is harder to secure an intel position in the Navy, as that is a restricted line and only a very small percentage of naval officers (something like 5%?) are within that parameter, and most if not all are Mid level to Senior Officers. As for the Army, upon commissioning a good portion of new 2nd Lieutenants in MI end up in Infantry roles, until they are Captains. A small portion of newly commissioned MI are directly sent to MI units. However, I think the only job available to 2nd Lieutenants in these units is All Source Intel. Human Int, Sig int, and the rest all require O3 (Captain) or higher rank before you can apply. Hope this helps, I am an aspiring future MI Officer myself so any input will be gladly received!

DS also speaks Chinese, has taken 4 years in high school and tested into 3rd year at Catholic U. He will be fluent by graduation and will also study Arabic. I assume this will help with his chosen field?
 
Prepswimmom,

One additional benefit to a career/training in Military Intelligence is that it sets you up nicely, either after a 5-year service obligation or the full 20, for a job with one of the USG's three-letter agencies. Those aren't bad jobs. All the benefits that civil service carries. DS could do his 5-years then apply to the FBI, CIA, NSA whatever. That's not all it will take to get in, but it's almost certainly a leg up for those types of agencies.
 
Prepswimmom,



One additional benefit to a career/training in Military Intelligence is that it sets you up nicely, either after a 5-year service obligation or the full 20, for a job with one of the USG's three-letter agencies. Those aren't bad jobs. All the benefits that civil service carries. DS could do his 5-years then apply to the FBI, CIA, NSA whatever. That's not all it will take to get in, but it's almost certainly a leg up for those types of agencies.


He wants military for longer than the 5 years but definitely wants one of the agencies you mentioned when he's done. That would be his dream. Thank you for your input.


Sent using the Service Academy Forums® mobile app
 
DS also speaks Chinese, has taken 4 years in high school and tested into 3rd year at Catholic U. He will be fluent by graduation and will also study Arabic. I assume this will help with his chosen field?
Really? That's awesome! I speak Chinese (mandarin) fluently myself :shake:. To be perfectly honest I am unsure. According to a rising firstie I was fortunate enough to speak to, the Army has begun to take languages, interviews e.t.c into consideration, but ultimately it is your GPA/rank/grade that will determine where one is assigned. However, I am sure knowing another language fluently, particularly Chinese, Russian, Arabic e.t.c will be a boon when choosing MI. I hope this helps, but alas I have much to learn and not enough experience to give anyone a definitive answer :biggrin:.
 
Back
Top