Intel-is it boring or exciting

[Venge03]

Just talked to my recruiter extensively about MOS choices. and I was almost positive I would pick intel up until I did my own research and came across the intel posts here. intel marines saying things like "you sit in a windowless concrete room all day" and "you come back from a deployment with pale skin", "you dont get dirty enough in intel" etc etc. My recruiter doesn't seem to want to give me any answers on whether intel is a desk job or not. I have high line scores(can get any job) and want to make use of them but I also want to see action. So my question is will I really be going over 400 pages of breifing a day in a bunker? or will I regularly be able to go out with recon and grunts to gather intel (if i choose to). I know about counter intelligence and that is not available to me atm. I've also read that 0203 marines can become scout snipers-how common is that. Since my recruiter doesn't feel like helping me out with jobs too much maybe you guys can help me. My ideal MOS would be one with a 70-30 ratio of action/combat/missions/outside and the 40 being paperwork/maintenance/etc. Does anyone know of a good MOS that would fit.

[Lisa 23]

I can't help you with your questions, but when using the word Marine on this site, it will be capitalized at all times. It's in the rules.

[0231Marine]

Just talked to my recruiter extensively about MOS choices. and I was almost positive I would pick intel up until I did my own research and came across the intel posts here. intel marines saying things like "you sit in a windowless concrete room all day" and "you come back from a deployment with pale skin", "you dont get dirty enough in intel" etc etc. My recruiter doesn't seem to want to give me any answers on whether intel is a desk job or not. I have high line scores(can get any job) and want to make use of them but I also want to see action. So my question is will I really be going over 400 pages of breifing a day in a bunker? or will I regularly be able to go out with recon and grunts to gather intel (if i choose to). I know about counter intelligence and that is not available to me atm. I've also read that 0203 marines can become scout snipers-how common is that. Since my recruiter doesn't feel like helping me out with jobs too much maybe you guys can help me. My ideal MOS would be one with a 70-30 ratio of action/combat/missions/outside and the 40 being paperwork/maintenance/etc. Does anyone know of a good MOS that would fit.

Part of your statements are true...there are some times when you'll be working in a classified facility. If that's not something you can handle, then don't consider Intel. The safe guarding of classified materiel requires that it's housed in a secured facility per the guidlines of the United States Government and there is no way around that so being in Intel requires the use of said facilities. Even the counter-intel Marines work in the SCIF part of the time.

Now, per your guidlines of a 60-40 ratio of action/paperwork as you so eliquently put it. I would recommend going infantry and then surviving until you pick up Gunny. Then you can go outside the wire and deal with all the paperwork for your Marines.

0203 is an Intelligence Ground Officer and since you're asking about enlisted MOS's, I'd forget that one.

[Venge03]

I apologize for not capitalizing Marine, sir.

Thanks for the advice, 0231Marine. I'm going to discuss infantry with my recruiter at the next function. I have a few more questions about Intel. As a basic Intelligence Marine, will it be all desk work? Will I ever have the chance to go into the field?

[Lisa 23]

I apologize for not capitalizing Marine, sir.


Do I look like a Sir to you? :mad:

[Venge03]

No Ma'am. If you don't mind me asking, your profile says you entered the Marine Corps in 1988 and exited in 1989. How did you manage that contract? No disrespect just curiosity.

[Lisa 23]

I didn't manage a contract like that, I got hurt and had to get out.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Run a search here for "0231". There are several active and prior with more recent experience in the MOS than I had who have made a great thread about what to expect and what you do as an 0231.

[hussaf]

For the most part, 0231's will only get out of the wire when going to intel or joint intel meetings....or if they get attached to a counterintelligence team (a temp billet). Other than that, there are a variety of things you will be doing, most of them on a major base and involving a lot of typing and pushing pins in a map.

Infantry is a dangerous and rough life, but it's also the most important job in the Marine Corps.

If you want to get out in the field, yet still learn some kind of additional skill-sets you may want to consider the following; ANGLICO, Radio Reconnaissance, Radio Operator, I'm sure there are more. Any kind of transportation-based MOS will likely have you going out on patrols during deployment, as well. I'm not sure if you can pick up ANGLICO or Rad Recon out of bootcamp though...you might need to be an NCO first. Worth looking into though.

There are many more combat MOS's than infantry though, LAR, Combat Engineers, Tanks, any air MOS would probably be cool (air crew, etc).

[0231Marine]

For the most part, 0231's will only get out of the wire when going to intel or joint intel meetings....or if they get attached to a counterintelligence team (a temp billet). Other than that, there are a variety of things you will be doing, most of them on a major base and involving a lot of typing and pushing pins in a map.

Infantry is a dangerous and rough life, but it's also the most important job in the Marine Corps.

If you want to get out in the field, yet still learn some kind of additional skill-sets you may want to consider the following; ANGLICO, Radio Reconnaissance, Radio Operator, I'm sure there are more. Any kind of transportation-based MOS will likely have you going out on patrols during deployment, as well. I'm not sure if you can pick up ANGLICO or Rad Recon out of bootcamp though...you might need to be an NCO first. Worth looking into though.

There are many more combat MOS's than infantry though, LAR, Combat Engineers, Tanks, any air MOS would probably be cool (air crew, etc).

Pushing pins in a map??? I don't think intel Marines have done that since the Gulf War.

There are several programs such as Falcon View or C2PC that negate the need for hardcopy maps with pins. The only exception I ever saw was an infantry bn ops center where the watch officer updated movement as it was called in on the radio. Even then, that's the watch officer, not a 0231 PFC.

[Venge03]

Thanks for the response, Marines. Intel isn't what I'm looking for. I'll have to ask my recruiter about ANGLICO and the others mentioned. Aircrew as it was described to me was everything to do with the jet/helicopter, from the control systems to weapon testing to mechanics. Would you say that is an accurate description? What do these marines spend most of their time doing? Can I go to the parachute and dive schools being in Aircrew?

[scifguard]

I'm not sure if you can pick up ANGLICO or Rad Recon out of bootcamp though...you might need to be an NCO first.


For Radio Recon you just need to be at your duty station. Most of the Marines that I know in RRT got there right out of MOS school. I know we have RRT Platoons at 1st Radio Bn and 2nd Radio Bn (none here at 3rd Radio). Although I'm not sure if there are any HUMINT guys there. All I know about are us SIGINTers.

[hussaf]

Yeah, there is more in the intel field than just analysts. SIGINT, TOPO, even Ground Sensor Platoon (although I really don't know what they do these days. About the hardcopy maps, every unit I've seen, both US and Iraqi, have had physical SITMAPS...in addition to the software suites analysts use.

[RecruiterDan]

One great reason to move into Intel or another line of work that gets you a Secret or Top Secret clearance is that after getting at least 4 years of experience under your belt, civilian companies will hire you for great pay in a heartbeat. My company is actually looking to hire almost 200 each of HUMINT, SIGINT, All-Source, and Collections Managers to deploy to Afghanistan for 12 months, and the pay will likely start from $80,000- $120,000 without a college degree. Practically no other jobs outside of the military can pay like that. The hiring will start in Sept and continue for the next 2 years. Drop a line if interested.

[Lisa 23]

RecruiterDan, in case you haven't noticed, this thread is almost a year old.

[0231Marine]

Also, for anyone looking for a civilian intel job after the service, there are plenty that pay better than what he's offering and in better loactions than Afghanistan. $80,000 for deploying to Afghanistan is laughable.

[RecruiterDan]

Yes, good advice.Only $80k for someone with years of Intel experience IS very low. But what I sent you stated that the salary is starting at $80,000. It goes up to $150,000 or more. The only reason for the $80,000 is for people with nothing but a Secret clearance to enter data. And that doesn't include the hazard pay differential of 35-70% of your pay, so total of $100-200k. Only laughable to someone making much more. There are lots of folks working for much less or even unemployed. We are also looking at getting folks that have expired clearances re-newed. What is that worth to a person that let their clearance expire? What amounts have you found to be common for a deployed Intel position?

[tarlobo1]

I know that this thread is pretty old, but I just got into the mix here. In your message you have MOS: 26XX, if that is so than that is a lot different than straight Intel Marine. Your MOS is going to be as a SIGINT Marine. As a SIGINT Marine you will have plenty of opportunities to go outside the wire on Collection Teams and work in the field. All you'll have to do is ask for a Radio BN. I see there are a few SIGINT Marines on here and I spent 20 years as a SIGINT Marine and did plenty of field time. If your still around and have questions let me know.

[Venge03]

Yup, I'm still here. My MOS will be crypto-linguist, not sure of the number or if that is the same as SIGINT. My recruiter told me today I won't be behind a desk alot, if thats true, its good news for me. I still can't believe that kind of pay for some cushy job like entering data. I'm assuming those salaries are if you are contracted in the private sector and basically have to live deployed. Re-enlistment bonus is only 90k, thats alot for re-enlisting for only like 3 years, but couldn't an intel marine make more than that in a year in private sector?

[scifguard]

You will be part of SIGINT as crypto-linguist is still a 26XX billet. You will probably also be sitting around at a desk. If you go to MCSB (Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion) then that's pretty much all you'll do. If you go to a Radio Battalion then you have a chance of being put on a collections team and go outside the wire. If your an Analyst though, you'll sit at a desk. You could also go Radio Recon if you want. We just set up a platoon for that here at 3rd Radio.

[Venge03]

Hmmm, I'll just have to do my best to show my commanding officers I'm capable physically as well. Can't Cryptolinguist also double as translators if needed? Radio Recon, what is it?

[scifguard]

Linguists can double as translators but it really depends on your language and where you go. While we still had some Pashtu linguists in Afghanistan we only used native speaking terps. Radio Recon is almost just like regular recon, you still go through BRC, SERE, Jump school, etc..., and you also go out with the recon guys but you do SIGINT.

[MGySgtSki]

Hmmm, I'll just have to do my best to show my commanding officers I'm capable physically as well. Can't Cryptolinguist also double as translators if needed? Radio Recon, what is it?

If you'd like some straight scoop about your occ field (MOS field), drop me a PM and I'll get back to you.

[Venge03]

Thats exactly what I'm looking for scifguard. Would Radio Recon be a viable option or is it hard to get a radio recon battalion? Also, all those schools, jump school etc have to be completed before you are assigned?

[Sgt0231]

Pushing pins in a map??? I don't think intel Marines have done that since the Gulf War.

There are several programs such as Falcon View or C2PC that negate the need for hardcopy maps with pins. The only exception I ever saw was an infantry bn ops center where the watch officer updated movement as it was called in on the radio. Even then, that's the watch officer, not a 0231 PFC.

I dont remember ever pushing pins on a map? :banana: