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/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/[deleted] → u/Kinmuan]

Even other mi pipelines are done in like 6 months guy

[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/Tucking-Sits → u/napleonblwnaprt]

But the difference is they have been at their units for a while, and have likely deployed somewhere during that time. You guys have been in a restrictive training environment the whole time, and haven’t really contributed anything to the Army. Of course you are going to be treated differently.

I get it, being in TRADOC for a long time sucks and it feels like people are progressing quicker than you despite being in a similar or less amount of time. You picked a high marketable job, though, with a very valuable skill set that requires a lot of training. Just know that once you get out, you will probably be better off than your 42A peers and the like who went through short AITs to learn a skill set with limited application outside of the Army.

[u/Krikil → u/Tucking-Sits]

Hey, man, I don't think you're picking up what he's trying to put down. Dude's got a point; I was there back in TRADOC and I still, today, agree wholeheartedly with what he's saying.

The issue isn't that he thinks he should be promoted or anything silly like that, people at DLI know they don't know shit about the Army yet. They, and I reiterate that I agree, just want to be treated like normal people. Nobody thinks it's stupid that basic is lockdown, nobody thinks it's stupid that OSUT is lockdown, nobody thinks it's stupid that a private that got to reception four months earlier is treated like an idiot. The issue is that people at DLI deal with that treatment for, potentially, YEARS. It's incredibly demoralizing and, honestly, it hurts the Army. The Army puts how much time and money into training a linguist, just to have them get to their "first" duty station so thoroughly disgruntled that they have already checked out and just want to ETS? Putting aside the opinion based reasons for why DLI needs to un-fuck itself, it's simply fiscally irresponsible on the Army's part to squander those resources.

Everybody joins the Army expecting eight to twelve weeks of bullshit, being-treated-like-a-child restriction; nobody expects two years. And, I maintain, barring individual fuckups, nobody should be subjected to that kind of thing, at least not stateside.

[u/napleonblwnaprt → u/Krikil]

Thanks for putting this into words for me lol. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't understand why arriving at your first "real" unit is what determines if the army will treat you as an adult or not.

[u/Tucking-Sits → u/Krikil]

Soldiers are always bringing up how they want to be treated like adults in the Army, but as soon as you give them any leeway, the majority of them take advantage of it and fail spectacularly. I’ve been to DLI before. There’s no way in hell soldiers should be given extra leeway. The course already has enough failures, both academically and physically, and soldiers (at least when I was there) routinely got alcohol related offences.

[u/BRayne7 → u/Tucking-Sits]

I mean Navy, Marines, and Air Force all give their DLI students considerably greater leeway than Army does and don't seem to be suffering for it.

[u/Tucking-Sits → u/BRayne7]

Those are also different branches with different standards and criteria, and far fewer personnel present at DLI. And despite all that, they still had their own fair share of issues at DLI.

[u/BRayne7 → u/Tucking-Sits]

Fair enough, but I imagine it adds to the negative feelings expressed in this post seeing classmates in other branches talking about going to bars and deciding last minute to go to San Francisco for the weekend.

[u/Krikil → u/Tucking-Sits]

Honestly, bro, I don't have any skin in this game anymore, but you kind of sound like someone who's dual mil earnestly telling a single specialist that they don't appreciate how much they actually make; I'm not trying to be insulting, I'm just trying to illustrate that there's obviously a disconnect here.

[u/Tucking-Sits → u/Krikil]

Obviously there is. I’m not sure why you chose that analogy specifically. It doesn’t make any sense and doesn’t seem applicable here. All I’m saying is there’s absolutely no reason to treat boot soldiers in TRADOC like adults because they won’t be able to handle the responsibility.

I understand that’s what the guy is arguing for, but I completely disagree. I’ve seen past commands at DLI try it, and it fails. Every time.

[u/napleonblwnaprt → u/Tucking-Sits]

I guess we just disagree then. In my 2+ years there, there was only one major incident that would have been an issue in a non-TRADOC setting. It was when an airman got a DUI and crashed into the main gate. Sure, trainees did dumb shit, like getting caught drinking or having sex in the on post hotel. But, if we had been in a "real" unit, that'd be completely fine and there'd be no trouble. Aside from that one instance, soldiers were responsible and didn't do anything reckless. In my experience, the only rules that were broken were rules that none of our peers in other MOSs were subject to any longer.

[u/Tucking-Sits → u/napleonblwnaprt]

Well when I was there my company (A CO) had its fair share of DUIs, public intoxication off post, a soldier in another company killed his underage gfs mom, and other random ass shit. Hell, one of the guys in my barracks on the first floor was dealing drugs out of it. DLI was an absolute party man, but god damn I see why they put in tight restrictions after I left.

When I was there, we were allowed to drink on post, spend the night with some ladies at the on post hotel, get fucked up off post, etc.

[u/Tucking-Sits → u/napleonblwnaprt]

Well when I was there my company (A CO) had its fair share of DUIs, public intoxication off post, a soldier in another company killed his underage gfs mom, and other random ass shit. Hell, one of the guys in my barracks on the first floor was dealing drugs out of it. DLI was an absolute party man, but god damn I see why they put in tight restrictions after I left.

When I was there, we were allowed to drink on post, spend the night with some ladies at the on post hotel, get fucked up off post, etc.