Counter, human intel MOS opens to female Marines

[thedrifter]

Counter, human intel MOS opens to female Marines
Lance Cpl. Stefanie C. Pupkiewicz

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa (September 12, 2008) -- The counterintelligence and human intelligence military occupational specialty has opened to female Marines.

The MOS was formerly closed to females because CI/HUMINT specialists were embedded directly with combat units, but changes in warfare and strategy have made the exclusion of females obsolete.

"There is no real reason to keep them out," said the Okinawa CI recruiting officer in charge. "We can work it so they don't have to do that combat mission."

The opening of the MOS has been talked about and coordinated for a year. It was only last month that the field opened officially, said the recruiter.

The field will support a nine percent female workforce, according to the OIC.

CI specialists interrogate detainees and suspected terrorists and secure evidence within conflict areas so it can be used later in court, he said.

Females will have most of the responsibilities as male CI specialists except males will embed with infantry units, the CI recruiter said.

Marines can enter the field from any MOS if they meet the requirements, he said.

Marines interested in becoming a CI specialist must be 21 years old by the end of the CI school and be a corporal, sergeant or staff sergeant. A staff sergeant cannot have completed more than two tours of duty.

Marines need to have a level of maturity to be in counterintelligence because they deal with highly classified material and play a vital role in the war theater, the CI recruiter said.

Personality is a large part of working in counterintelligence, he added. Applicants need to be personable and able to speak easily to people. They also need to be accepting of other cultural views because they will be dealing with people from different cultures.

Other requirements include U.S. citizenship and a minimum general technical score of 110 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, said the CI recruiter.

After the requirements are met and a preliminary background screening is completed, the Marine will go before a formal board to determine the Marine's suitability for the MOS.

Typically, the Marine will receive orders and familiarize themselves with their unit before attending a 17-week school, said the recruiter.

After school, specialists can expect to attach to teams heading to Iraq and Afghanistan as there is no real substitute for the operational experience, said the CI recruiting OIC.

For more information please call 623-7450 or 623-5003.

Ellie

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Human Intel MOS Opens to Female Marines
September 16, 2008
Marine Corps News|by LCpl. Stefanie C. Pupkiewicz

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan — The counterintelligence and human intelligence military occupational specialty has opened to female Marines.

The MOS was formerly closed to females because CI/HUMINT specialists were embedded directly with combat units, but changes in warfare and strategy have made the exclusion of females obsolete.

"There is no real reason to keep them out," said the Okinawa CI recruiting officer in charge. "We can work it so they don't have to do that combat mission."

The opening of the MOS has been talked about and coordinated for a year. It was only last month
that the field opened officially, said the recruiter.

The field will support a nine percent female workforce, according to the OIC.

CI specialists interrogate detainees and suspected terrorists and secure evidence within conflict
areas so it can be used later in court, he said.

Females will have most of the responsibilities as male CI specialists except males will embed with infantry units, the CI recruiter said.

Marines can enter the field from any MOS if they meet the requirements, he said.

Marines interested in becoming a CI specialist must be 21 years old by the end of the CI school and be a corporal, sergeant or staff sergeant. A staff sergeant cannot have completed more than two tours of duty.

Marines need to have a level of maturity to be in counterintelligence because they deal with highly classified material and play a vital role in the war theater, the CI recruiter said.

Personality is a large part of working in counterintelligence, he added. Applicants need to be personable and able to speak easily to people. They also need to be accepting of other cultural views because they will be dealing with people from different cultures.

Other requirements include U.S. citizenship and a minimum general technical score of 110 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, said the CI recruiter.

After the requirements are met and a preliminary background screening is completed, the Marine will go before a formal board to determine the Marine's suitability for the MOS.

Typically, the Marine will receive orders and familiarize themselves with their unit before attending a 17-week school, said the recruiter.

After school, specialists can expect to attach to teams heading to Iraq and Afghanistan as there is no real substitute for the operational experience, said the CI recruiting OIC.


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[Enigmatic]

My wife started foaming at the mouth when I told her about this. She's been itching to do counter-intel but never could try out until now. Thank you for the info. Semper Fi.

[PaidinBlood]

Try out? This isn't a football team and there is no room for the second string. Affirmative action and political correctness will only get us so far and then it will get Marines killed. Live it up now while you can.

[PaidinBlood]

Suppose I ought to qualify that. I don't hate women and don't wish to see their careers subject to any glass ceilings. I have seen these Marines hard at work and just because we wish the whole world would allow these ladies a crack at it doesn't make it so. They might be slightly less effective at best, and downright counter-productive at worst. Having said all that, my two cents hardly matters, so forget about it.

[Enigmatic]

Like you said, your two cents. No sweat off my nuts.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Everyone has their opinion about this, but as far as it goes, if they can pack the gear to be a Marine, then they have every right (now) to 'try out' for the job as anyone else.

'Trying out' is just that. You 'try out' for recon by going through RIP, you 'try out' for Airborne by PT'ing and going to the school. Hell, you 'try out' for the Marine Corps by completing recruit training.

The women in CI thing has been a long time coming, it's not some "new and improved" idea that some PC dork at HQMC just dreamed up. While we can debate the merits until we are blue in the face, if women want to give it a shot, then let em.

Cpl G, I'll tell ya this, if your wife makes it, you'll never see her LOL. OpTempo more this field is probably higher than a line grunt BN or Helo squadron. Know that goin in....

[PaidinBlood]

I figured somebody would get rubbed wrong and that wasn't the intent. I ain't about to climb up your stack and argue. Just saying I have more recent experience working alongside CI (outside lookin in, mind you) and I know for a FACT that the nature of the job, at least in the Middle East precludes these ladies from most of the entry level assignments (OIF/OEF). Having said that, there will be two ways to field brand new CI ladies and that will be moving them up to higher echelons with no field experience or being used solely for preventative AT maintenance (i.e. Telling the MEF general to put one more barrier out front of his office to ward off truck bombs) The former is downright dangerous, but I suppose the latter would free up some hard chargers for field work. Efficient but hardly fair. I guess I'll leave this be and go take care of the only lady's approval I need... Honey-do, honey-do, where you at?

[Enigmatic]

Believe me, Sgt Lep, if she were to make it, I'd know full well what we'd both be getting ourselves into. She recently gave me her blessing to go back in and lat move to infantry, who am I to tell her she can't do this? And I agree with everything about your post. S/F

[Sgt Leprechaun]

PB, I wasn't all fired up about it. And, likely you are correct, in that many of the entry level things that CI is doing 'over there' might preclude the use of female Marines. However, it's CI's job to 'think outside the box', and the females who pass will help them do that.

I didn't mean to question anything you were saying as far as where you were coming from CI wise.

Just throwing out another perspective, that's all. :0

[0231Marine]

Ok, so this is a unique situation for me as well because although I was an 0231 by trade, I deployed to Ramadi with two seperate Counter-Intel teams in support of 3/8 and 3/7. My wife (also an 0231 who recently re-enlisted) is seriously contemplating this opportunity. Because of the people both she and I know who are already operators within this MOS, she would be a shoe in if she decides to go for it. We're still weighing the pros and cons but I will tell you from first hand experience that with the exception of serving with an infantry bn (that just can't happen for obvious reasons) there is no reason a female Marine shouldn't be allowed into this MOS. There are seperate echelons within the CI community while deployed going from individual teams at the infantry battalions up to the regiment level handling the detention facilities and then up to MEF HQ. The last two units are certainly viable and accomodating to females and would likely be the places that these women will be deployed to. I think this is a great opportunity for any female willing to embark on this journey and should be seriously considered by those who qualify.

On a personal note, I'm attempting to disuade my wife from taking this opportunity because it's almost set in stone that after obtaining that 0211 MOS (CI) you're looking at multiple deployments to begin your career in that field. Between her and I, we've got 7 deployments to Iraq and I'm trying to get her to submit her WO package!

[sakoelker]

Cpl G, I'll tell ya this, if your wife makes it, you'll never see her LOL. OpTempo more this field is probably higher than a line grunt BN or Helo squadron. Know that goin in....

I just put in my lat move package to go to 0211. With my hubby being a CCT, let's just say we won't be needing any birth control cause there's no way there's gonna be any interaction for a while.

Just know going into it that you're willing to deal with the long times apart. The hubby knew before we got married what I was planning on doing. We have an agreement and we have a system for long times apart. Just be able to work out a good system to remain close.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Good luck....and keep us up to date if you can.