0211 / 0231 LAT Move

[Devillpupp]

Greetings gents,

I'm coming up to the time when reenlistment calls. I am making the LAT move to the intel field, provided they accept me after the interviews and such, and I have also spoken with Marines first-hand from the 0231 (Intel Specialist) and 0211 (CI/HUMIT) fields, as well as read multiple forums. I have seen and researched the many benefits of these occupations. However, at the moment I'm looking for the negative aspects. I'm trying to take into account all things before I waist too many people's time.
With my first enlistment I've realize that a lot of the Corps "is what you make of it" but some things you can't escape.

Whether it's personal unclassified stories or unfortunate baggage that comes with with the trade, it's all greatly appreciated.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Expect to deploy....a LOT if you go CI/Humint. I mean....a LOT. When I interviewed with them, they flat out told me their average was 235-250 days deployed out of the year. And that was in 1999.

I loved 0231, which was what I did most of the time in the Corps. Great MOS. Negatives? If you aren't good at public speaking....it's miserable. If you aren't good at writing and researching, same thing.

With either, you'll have to learn to keep your mouth shut when people ask your opinion on things, even stupid stuff. Remember, you'll be 'privy' to information the general public won't be (although more often than not it's just quicker and you know more names, addresses, etc). You'll hear lots of 'wrong' stuff from family, friends, the TV, internetz....and you won't be able to comment on squat.

It will be assumed you are a 'secret squirrrrl' and privy to all sorts of information, like aliens at Area 51, the Kennedy coverup, 9/11, and WMD's. Your refusal to agree with the various conspiracy theorists, or to confirm/deny things, even if you have no knowledge of diddly squat, will be fun as well as annoying to all concerned. It will then be assumed you are working for the 'gummint' and are therefore a mindless drone brainwashed by 'the man'.

MOST of what is classified you'll look at and go "WTF??" I just READ this in (Fill in the blank of unclassified website, newspaper etc). Yeah, it's like that some days.

Depending on where you are stationed, go and talk to your '2 shop and see what they have to say.

Good luck!

[devilbones2]

Why not lat move to 0261?

[chulaivet1966]

Sgt Lep.....

That's some thorough, detailed advice.

In reading between the lines I don't think getting married or impregnating a significant other would be advisable.

I always believed 'Intel' would be an interesting MOS.

Later...

[Devillpupp]

Unfortunately Devilbones, I had looked into that and came to the conclusion it was not for me. Not to say there is something wrong with the MOS, nor am I trying to insult Marines in that field, it's simply not for me.

[HardJedi]

Can't speak to the intel field in the Corps, I was infantry there. BUT! I am Intel in the National Guard currently (humit). I quite enjoy it, personaly

[DMartinez]

Im a LCpl. coming up on my 3 year mark, im an 0311 who deployed to Afghanistan. I meet all the criteria for a lat move into the 0211 field except im not a Corporal. I have heard that they are taking senior lances now but what I was wondering is if I should bother contacting someone in 1st Intel BN to inquire as to if I can go through the screening process already or do I need another deployment before they will even consider me?

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Thanks, CV. I loved my 0231 job, believe me. Had a ball and you get to do some interesting and unusual stuff....and aren't really restricted as to where (unit wise) you can go. From Infantry to Wing to Support, everyone has an Intel shop.

LCpl Martinez, contact them! The worst that can happen is they tell you 'No'. But, yeah, the 0211's are ALWAYS looking for quality Marines to lat move, and exceptions ARE made for the motivated, intelligent, and 'right' fitting person. If you think you are 'that guy' then go for it.

[DMartinez]

Thanks for the kick in the ass Sgt. I suppose I will have to shoot them an email today

[jwilcox27]

Im a reservist looking at lat moving to 0211 and need to find out who to contact to get screening info, unfortunatly noone at my unit knows who I need to talk to.

[devilbones2]

You will need to find a unit in your area that has 0211s. Do you want to try to go AD?

[Sgt Leprechaun]

DB is correct, and there may not be any nearby. Start with your career planner and go from there.

LCpl Martinez, go for it! Let us know how it works out as well. Good luck!

[jwilcox27]

Well we don't have a career planner at the moment he got out, and yes I'm working on going AD I submited the paperwork for it a few months ago and havent heard anything else yet. And I tried getting onto the 1st Intel BN site and it won't let me on any site not even usmc.mil or the I MEF site, and my admin is clueless as to who I should contact.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Getting on from where? Home? If that's the case you probably can't due to the non military IP address.

[devilbones2]

If you send me a PM with some info I will put you in contact with some people. Just let me know what you want to do and an email address and I will get you everything you need.

[artymarty814]

rah gents, lately i have been heavily researching for info on 0211/humint and i have found alot of good info. I understand that i will be deployed alot/attending various schools, which i am fine with. Just had a question about daily life, not asking anything specific i know how this goes.. also wondering how relaxed it is such.. uniform wear and the Marine Corps' traditional idea of a 'professional look'. (Not saying in any way that this is going to deter me from the job) I am just wondering because I have been with an artillery unit for 3 years now, and as anybody familiar would know, artillerymen love looking good and correcting discrepancies. I guess to get to the point, the question being is: Do they dress like say, a Recon or MARSOC operator would, or is it more like traditional Marine Corps

[Mawtini]

No, they don't dress any differently than any other Marines and are not MARSOC/Recon. The primary job of 0211s is to collect human intelligence (HUMINT) information. That means they conduct source meets with tribal leaders, insurgent sympathizers, and others to get that information, at a secure location. They spend hours talking with one another, then the 0211 writes an intelligence information report (IIR) based off of what they talked about. He then sends it off to an 0231 so the information can be crossed with other reports to be processed into actual intelligence, not just information...ideally. Commanders in some units are notorious for having IIRs directly fed to him without having 0231s look at them, resulting in single source reporting which is never good.

When 0211s aren't doing that, they're coordinating with NCIS and CID on counterintelligence matters to ensure spies and terrorists aren't successful in their missions, this is done through security, briefings, debriefs, investigations, etc.

It's a people MOS and if you don't like being sociable and outgoing, this isn't the MOS for you because the person will be the collection tool. Just to get in, you already have to be a top notch Marine and fairly smart. Don't let any of them at the Intel Bn make you think they are James Bond though, because they are not. They spend a lot of time talking to people and writing reports, a good one isn't going on raids and playing grunt like some would have you believe. Just as many 0211s have been killed in combat in the last decade as Marines in other intelligence specialties. Most 02s deploy very frequently, so don't go into this field if you're looking at having a stable home life.