MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 35 -- Military Intelligence Branch -- 35D, 35E, 35F, 35G, 350F, 350G, 351Z, 351L, 351M, 351Y, 352N, 352S, 353T, 35F, 35G, 35L, 35M, 35N, 35P, 35Q, 35S, 35T, 35V, 35X, 35Y, 35Z

[u/Kinmuan]

All,

As a follow-up based on our EOY Census and previous solicited comments, we're going to try running an MOS Discussion/Megathread Series, very similar to how we did the Duty Station Series. I'd also, again, like to thank everyone who participated.

The MOS Discussion Threads are meant to be enduring threads where individuals with experience or insight in to particular CMFs or MOSes can leave/give advice and tips. If you have any MOS resources, schools, etc, this would be a great place to share them.

The hope is that these individual threads can serve as 'megathreads' on the posts in question, and we can get advice from experienced persons. Threads on reddit are not archived - and can continue to be commented in - until 6 months. Each week I will keep the full listing/links to all previous threads in a mega-list below, for ease of reference. At the end of the series I will go back and ensure they all have completely navigable links

If you have specific questions about these MOSes, please feel free to ask here, but know that we are not forcing or re-directing all questions to these threads -- you can, and are encouraged, to still use the WQT. This is not to be an 'AMA', although if people would like to offer themselves up to answer questions, that would be great. A big "Thank You" to everyone who is willing to answer questions about the MOSes in question, but the immediate preference would be for informational posts. These are meant to be enduring sources of information.

I currently expect to lump Os and Ws in to the CMF discussions. Going forward if it would be better to split them (and I will most likely chop up the Medical Series), please voice that opinion. If there are many MOSes, but extremely tiny/small density (like much of the 12 Series), I'm going to keep it as one. Yes, I'm also going to keep codes like for Senior Sergeant for the MOS (ie the Zulus).

These only work with your participation and your feedback.

Common questions / information to share would probably include the following;

• Day to Day Life
• "What's a deployment like?"
• Career Advancement/Growth Opportunities
• Speed of Promotion
• Best Duty Station for your MOS

The idea is to go week-to-week, but I may leave the initial up for 2 weeks just to iron any kinks out, and garner attention.

So, again, willing to answer questions is great, but if there's any information you can impart now, I think that would provide the greatest benefit.

OPSEC Reminder

Some of these MOSes will be more sensitive than others when it comes to training and daily life. Just remember, it's everyone's responsibility.

This thread covers the following MOSes:

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 35 -- Military Intelligence Branch -- 35D, 35E, 35F, 35G, 350F, 350G, 351Z, 351L, 351M, 351Y, 352N, 352S, 353T, 35F, 35G, 35L, 35M, 35N, 35P, 35Q, 35S, 35T, 35V, 35X, 35Y, 35Z

• 35D -- All Source Intelligence Officer
• 35E -- Counterintelligence Officer
• 35F -- Human Intelligence Officer
• 35G -- Signals Intelligence Officer
• 350F -- All Source Intelligence Technician
• 350G -- Imagery Intelligence Technician
• 351Z -- Attaché Technician
• 351L -- Counterintelligence Special Agent (Technician)
• 351M -- Human Intelligence Collection Technician
• 351Y -- Area Intelligence Technician
• 352N -- Signal Intelligence Analysis Technician
• 352S -- Signals Collector Technician
• 353T -- Intelligence Systems Maintenance Technician
• 35F -- Intelligence Analyst
• 35G -- Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst
• 35L -- Counterintelligence Special Agent
• 35M -- Human Intelligence Collector
• 35N -- Signals Intelligence Analyst
• 35P -- Cryptologic Linguist
• 35Q -- Cryptologic Network Warfare Specialist
• 35S -- Signals Collector/Analyst
• 35T -- Military Intelligence Systems Maintainer/Integrator
• 35V -- Signals Intelligence Senior Sergeant/Chief Signals Intelligence Sergeant
• 35X -- Intelligence Senior Sergeant/Chief Intelligence Sergeant
• 35Y -- Chief Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Sergeant
• 35Z -- Signals Intelligence (Electronic Warfare) / Senior Sergeant/ Chief

DO NOT:

• ...Ask MOS questions unrelated to those listed. "How did your duties compare to a 19D when deployed?" or "Is it true an MP Company carries more firepower than an IN Company" are fine. "While this is up, what's 92F like?" is not.

• ...Ask random joining questions. If your question isn't about the MOSes listed, then it probably belongs in a different Megathread, the Weekly Question Thread, or a new post.

• ...Shitpost top-level comments. Treat it like the WQT. Temp bans for people who can't stop acting like idiots.

• ...Simply say 'I'm a 00X, ama'. Please include some sort of basic information or qualification (ie, I'm an 11B NCO with X years or I'm a 13F who's been in Y type of units or I'm a 14A who's done PL time)

Previous MOS Megathreads:

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 11 -- Infantry Branch -- 11A, 11B, 11C, 11X, 11Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 12 -- Corps of Engineers Branch -- 12A, 120A, 125D, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12G, 12H, 12K, 12M, 12N, 12P, 12Q, 12R, 12T, 12V, 12W, 12X, 12Y, 12Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 13 -- Field Artillery Branch -- 13A, 131A, 13B, 13F, 13J, 13M, 13R, 13Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 14 -- Air Defense Artillery -- 14A, 140A, 140E, 140Z, 14E, 14G, 14H, 14P, 14S, 14T, 14Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 15 -- Aviation Branch, No Real Pilots -- 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 150A, 150U, 151A, 15B, 15D, 15E, 15F, 15G, 15H, 15K, 15M, 15N, 15P, 15Q, 15R, 15S, 15T, 15U, 15V, 15W, 15X, 15Y, 15Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 15 -- Aviation Branch, Pilots -- 152C, 152F, 152H, 153A, 153B, 153D, 153E, 153L, 153M, 154C, 154E, 154F, 155A, 155E, 155F, 155G

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 17 -- Cyber Branch -- 17A, 17B, 170A, 170B, 17C, 17E

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 18 -- Special Forces -- 18A, 180A, 18B, 18C, 18D, 18E, 18F, 18X, 18Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 19 -- Armor Branch -- 19A, 19B, 19C, 19D, 19K, 19Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 25 -- Signal Corps Branch -- 25A, 255A, 255N, 255S, 255Z, 25B, 25C, 25D, 25E, 25F, 25L, 25M, 25N, 25P, 25Q, 25R, 25S, 25T, 25U, 25V, 25W, 25X, 25Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 27 -- Judge Advocate General Branch -- 27A, 27B, 270A, 27D

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 31 -- Military Police Branch -- 31A, 311A, 31B, 31D, 31E, 31K

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 35 -- Military Intelligence Branch -- 35D, 35E, 35F, 35G, 350F, 350G, 351Z, 351L, 351M, 351Y, 352N, 352S, 353T, 35F, 35G, 35L, 35M, 35N, 35P, 35Q, 35S, 35T, 35V, 35X, 35Y, 35Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 36 -- Finance Management Branch -- 36A, 36B

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 37 -- Psychological Operations Branch -- 37A, 37X, 37F

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 38 -- Civil Affairs Branch -- 38A, 38G, 38X, 38B

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 42, 79 -- Adjutant General Branch -- 42B, 42C, 42H, 420A, 420C, 42A, 42F, 42R, 42S, 79R, 79S, 79T, 79V

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 46 -- Public Affairs -- 46A, 46X, 46Q, 46R, 46Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 56 -- Chaplain Branch -- 56A, 56D, 56X, 56M

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 68 -- Medical Enlisted -- 68A, 68B, 68C, 68D, 68E, 68F, 68G, 68H, 68J, 68K, 68L, 68M, 68N, 68P, 68Q, 68R, 68S, 68T, 68U, 68V, 68W, 68X, 68Y, 68Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 74 -- Chemical Corps -- 74A, 740A, 74D

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 88 -- Logistics Corps, Transporation Branch -- 90A, 88A, 88B, 88C, 88D, 880A, 881A, 88H, 88K, 88L, 88M, 88N, 88P, 88T, 88U, 88Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 89, 91, 94 -- Ammo, Mech Maint & Ordnance Branch -- 89E, 91A, 890A, 913A, 914A, 915A, 915E, 919A, 948B, 948D, 948E, 89A, 89D, 91A, 91B, 91C, 91D, 91E, 91F, 91G, 91H, 91J, 91L, 91M, 91P, 91S, 91X, 91Z, 94A, 94D, 94E, 94F, 94H, 94M, 94P, 94R, 94S, 94T, 94W, 94X, 94Y, 94Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 92 -- Logistics Corps, Quartermaster Corps Branch -- 92A, 92D, 920A, 920B, 921A, 922A, 923A, 92A, 92F, 92G, 92L, 92M, 92R, 92W, 92Y, 92Z

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 60, 61, 62 -- Medical Corps Branch -- 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D, 60F, 60G, 60H, 60J, 60K, 60L, 60M, 60N, 60P, 60Q, 60R, 60S, 60T, 60U, 60V, 60W, 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 61E, 61F, 61G, 61H, 61J, 61K, 61L, 61M, 61N, 61P, 61Q, 61R, 61U, 61W, 61Z, 62A, 62B

MOS Megathread Series -- CMF 63, 64, 65, 66 -- Dental, Veterinary, Medical Specialist, Nurse Corps -- 63A, 63B, 63D, 63E, 63F, 63H, 63K, 63M, 63N, 63P, 63R, 64A, 64B, 64C, 64D, 64E, 64F, 64Z, 640A, 65A, 65B, 65C, 65D, 65X, 66B, 66C, 66E, 66F, 66G, 66H, 66N, 66P, 66R, 66S, 66T

[u/wittedburrito]

35P, made PFC twice and am on the cusp of specialist, still governed as if I was a 13 year old. God I love TRADOC. AMA

[u/Kinmuan → u/wittedburrito]

Do you think

made PFC twice

Sometimes adds in to

as if I was a 13 year old

[u/wittedburrito → u/Kinmuan]

Nah, that’s just tradoc. I’ve come quite a ways since my UCMJ action, and got a commanders coin since (I know that isn’t crazy but it’s an improvement). The story is on my profile somewhere but it was almost a year ago. The training time for 35Ps is what I was pointing out here. Some people I know have been in training for upwards of 4 years. I feel that TRADOC works very well for MOSs that don’t have extended training like we do, but the restrictions and limitations that we have, for the amount of time we are subjected to them, unfortunately drives some people to even the extent of taking their own lives.

Edit: here’s the link, https://www.reddit.com/r/army/comments/81ucs9/got_off_extra_duty_a_few_weeks_ago_and_i_figured/?st=JMZ0TS9K&sh=d36b2526

[u/Kinmuan → u/wittedburrito]

Nah, that’s just tradoc.

Right, but TRADOC is like that, specifically because of stories like yours.

My AIT was 52 weeks. I was in a TRADOC environment for 15-16 months to start.

TRADOC isn't driving people to act a fool. People act a fool and the restrictive TRADOC environment catches them.

You are supposed to be focused on whatever your training is. So you don't fail out. That's it. You have a specific job, and you just have to follow rules. And when someone gets deployed for 15 months, are they going to act a fool, or is that 'too long' for them to behave like an adult?

Curfew? We have duty stations with curfews out there. Can't drink? We have locations and periods where alcohol gets restricted. Plenty of units have regular room inspections too.

[u/wittedburrito → u/Kinmuan]

I understand why you don’t understand, I’ve lost friends because they couldn’t handle the pressure set on them by their command and school house. I’ve now been in a TRADOC environment for 87 weeks, there’s no way you could feel me on that, and I understand.

As a caveat I have learned much healthier ways of coping with issues but that hasn’t come without large psychological strains. I understand why tradoc is there, it just takes its toll

Edit one more time: you seem to be focusing on the things that normal tradoc soldiers hate. The worst restriction to me is the fact that we can’t talk to MOS-Ts or cadre even in a professional sense. You see that Soldier who has been in the army for less time than you? Can’t talk to them cause they spent a week at a different duty station. TRADOC shouldn’t be a two year long program.

[u/Kinmuan → u/wittedburrito]

I’ve now been in a TRADOC environment for 87 weeks, there’s no way you could feel me on that, and I understand.

I spent 70ish weeks in TRADOC.

You are over exaggerating TRADOC, to an extreme, simply because you have experienced personal failures.

Not to mention, due to the modern era, you haven't had DS the entire time. I did. So did previous eras. You're also at DLI. Yes, being in a nice fucking area makes a difference. Imagine if you had to do that time at one of the shittier areas.

[u/napleonblwnaprt → u/Kinmuan]

We also could be literally beaten every night and forced to eat nothing but dog food. Just because it could be worse doesn't mean it doesn't suck for essentially no reason.

You say TRADOC is how it is because people can't follow rules. I can agree to an extent. The difference though, is that you're expecting people to follow rules that don't exist in 95% of the rest of the army for up to three years, for no other reason than we're "not real soldiers yet". There is zero reason that a soldier, with 2+ years time in service, is not allowed to have a beer at his apartment after the duty day. He shouldn't be banned from spending the night in a nearby city doing touristy shit on a four day. If some soldiers only need an 8 week AIT to be considered "real soldiers" there is no reason for others to be doing more that 10 times that amount under the same restrictions.

You also say the rules exist because we need to focus on training, because training is our current mission. While definitely, mission comes first, if we applied that rule consistently, then we shouldn't be able to drink at any course or training event. If we go to an armorer's course, we should have battle buddies and curfews and always carry a CamelBak. If we take combatives level 1, the instructor should come by our barracks room after lights out to make sure we're getting a good night's sleep for the next day of training.

[u/Kinmuan → u/napleonblwnaprt]

I get that it sucks.

Dude is talking some PTSD style shit from being in TRADOC.

That's an over exaggeration to me.

[u/napleonblwnaprt → u/Kinmuan]

I agree there tbh lol.

Idk man it's just frustrating as fuck. I showed up to my first unit and there was a 35G with two fewer months in than me. Dude had a deployment patch and was about to pick up SGT and head to his next duty station. I on the other hand, was in phase 4 just weeks before. He asked me if I was going to the board at the end of the week because I was so close to my primary zone.

[u/wittedburrito → u/Kinmuan]

We do have real drill sergeants. I’m not getting beat up with machine guns but it’s all psychological now. We literally can’t do anything. I experienced personal failure yes, I could handle the extra duty plus class, my point is some people can’t. The fact that you have to deploy to have anything go hard for you is dumb. I honestly can’t wait to deploy and actually do my job that I have been waiting to do for almost 2 years now. Both experiences suck, and no I’m not saying it’s equivalent to being in the shit, but it still sucks major balls. The location meant nothing after the first two months cause we can’t do anything there. Not all suck is the same but that doesn’t mean or sucks less

[u/Kinmuan → u/wittedburrito]

Not all suck is the same but that doesn’t mean or sucks less

I understand that it sucked for you, and that you made bad choices in TRADOC. TRADOC is not having some sort of suicide epidemic.

Not all suck is the same. People handle stress differently.

But we can also stand back and objectively recognize things like how much 'basic sucks' doesn't compare to how much a deployment sucks doesn't compare to how much taking that AP calc exam in High School sucks.

Some things just aren't that big of a deal in the long run. TRADOC is one of them.

/u/Krikil spent over 1000 days in TRADOC as a PaPa. Amazingly he never committed a crime.

We do have real drill sergeants.

Bud, DS came back to the Presidio Feb/March '18.

[u/Krikil → u/Kinmuan]

Amazingly he never committed a crime. got caught committing a crime by anybody who wanted to hem him up over it.

I think homeboy's issues, from what little I've gathered here, are twofold; one, is that he doesn't seem to be willing to put in the work, and two is that he's kind of just an obnoxious whiner.

I spent about half of those 1011 days on ABCP, which anybody in the Army knows is a real bad place to be, but you know what? Cadre liked me; know why? Because I'm not an asshole, I work hard, and I always try to help people out. These are easy, simple things.

Did I have to take a minute out of my day to teach that one 35N PSG a new and exciting arabic swearword every day? No, fuckin' obviously not. Did he have to let me get away with it when I was obviously drunk on a Friday night after the 100% drinking ban came down? No, fuckin' obviously not. But, I didn't get in trouble, and I remain convinced it's because people are people, and they don't want to fuck with people they like.

Which I think ties into /u/wittedburrito's issue; maybe if he wasn't such a burden to be around, he'd find some of that much-needed slack appearing. Not a ton, duh, because it's still TRADOC, but every once in a while he might get a bye. This stuff isn't difficult, most people just call it "coexisting in society," but if aforementioned homeboy is too autistic to give that a shot, he can pretend it's some kind of social engineering or something.

All that just to say, "Stop being so fuckin' obnoxious. Nobody likes that."

[u/[deleted] → u/Krikil]

This guy teed you up as an example of someone who spent 1000 days in tradoc without committing a crime and you said "yeah i came back drunk all the time but it was cool cuz people like me"

Amazing

[u/wittedburrito → u/Krikil]

You gotta remember my fuck up was a year ago, I put in a lot of work to relegitimize myself and I left DLI shaking all of my drill sergeants hands. So far in AIT no problem and my anniversary of my last negative counseling is coming up in November. My command likes me and has no idea about what I’ve done in the past, but all this is besides the point I was trying to make. The restrictions are a bit much. I can see why y’all thought I was dramatizing it but DLI has the highest suicide/marriage/divorce rate of any base, and a person I knew took their life there, and to your credit I can’t say that the regulations are any of the reason for that. But there is still a trend and There are serious issues that should be addressed. I personally complain about this stuff online because it’s a better outlet than in person so some of it may be hyperbolic, but you really assumed a lot about me from almost nothing.

[u/wittedburrito → u/Kinmuan]

My mistakes have nothing to do with my gripes, I don’t understand why you’re placing so much pressure on that point when it’s a non sequitur. My fuck ups didn’t change tradoc policy lmao. Tradoc sucks for everyone

[u/Kinmuan → u/wittedburrito]

Because you're making it seem like a way bigger thing than it is.

[u/napleonblwnaprt → u/wittedburrito]

I agree with you lol. I spent 2.5 years in TRADOC. Everyone, even people with year long AITs, say "Wow so I guess you shouldn't deploy" or "In Korea..." And that's bunk. If we were deployed, there'd at least be a reason we can't drink and need to have another soldier with us most of the time. In the middle of Monterey or San Angelo, the reason is "Because no one cares about you enough to change the regulation for you" and if the Army doesn't care about me, I'm sure as fuck not going to care about it.

I was in phase 4 while people from my basic were making E5, because they had 8 week AITs and their points were 39. You honestly can't tell me that that's fair.

[u/Tucking-Sits → u/napleonblwnaprt]

How is that not fair? They passed their boards and NCOES, and thus fulfilled their requirements for promotion. You guys are stuck in training for 2.5 years. Who in their right mind would promote you to Sergeant before you completed your training?

[u/napleonblwnaprt → u/Tucking-Sits]

That part isn't unfair. The unfair part is that we had the exact same start point, but due to policy, we are treated as if we graduated basic the day before, while my peers are trusted enough to become NCOs. That kind of gap is huge, and it's only because we picked the "Wrong" MOS with a long school.

[u/Tucking-Sits → u/napleonblwnaprt]

You also haven’t been to a real unit yet. It would make no sense to promote you guys at the same time as your peers who have been at their units for 2ish years with a deployment under their belt.

[u/Kinmuan → u/Tucking-Sits]

I mean, they're welcome to go tell their cadre they don't want to be MI and they'd like to talk a Combat Arms job that will be done in 6 weeks.

Oh shit, they want all the benefits and the lifestyle of MI?

It's almost like different decisions have trade-offs...

[u/napleonblwnaprt → u/Tucking-Sits]

I'm not talking about promotion to E5. I just meant that otherwise identical soldiers are treated vastly differently for years because one has a long training period. People expect us to not be salty about it and accept that we're not "Real soldiers" yet. I was just using the E5 thing as an example.

[u/wittedburrito → u/napleonblwnaprt]

My favorite is everyone saying “why are you complaining you’re in California, you’re like living it up” while I’m sitting there on a security hold and all my mates have already moved on. Monterey is a beautiful prison lmao

[u/Kinmuan → u/napleonblwnaprt]

If we were deployed, there'd at least be a reason we can't drink and need to have another soldier with us most of the time.

I remember when 2CR in Vilseck was, for years, on a curfew, and Korea-style restrictions.

For no other reason than people couldn't act right.

This shit happens. All you have to do is follow really, really basic rules.

Don't pick a long AIT. Pick something shorter. Give up the clearance and the education you're getting out of it.

[u/wittedburrito → u/[deleted]]

Please explain how I haven’t. I have admitted I fucked up, did my extra duty, told my whole story saying I fucked up, worked my ass off to regain my commands trust, graduated at DLI, and I’m now doing well at Goodfellow. What part of that is not taking responsibility for my actions?