Posted on Apr 22, 2014
CPT Battalion Intelligence Officer (S2)
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I am slotted to take a key developmental (KD) position in May. An opportunity to attend MIlitary Intelligence Captain's Career Course in July just opened up for 2011 YG LTs. I can attend MICCC ahead of most peers, or knock out a year of KD where I am. Advice please?
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CPT Assistant Professor Of Military Science
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I am not MI but my buddy is and he chose to go to MICCC ahead of his peers. I will ask his permission to link you up with him, so he can share his experience with you and give you some point of view. I will contact you through private message once he gives me the go signal.
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CPT Battalion Intelligence Officer (S2)
CPT (Join to see)
10 y
Sounds great, thank you very much. Anyone that has "been there" would be a huge help.
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CPT All Source Intelligence
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Ok, so 2LT Farnsworth is essentially correct, but so what?  The MICCC is really designed for prep for an S2 position so the logical progression is MICCC, S2 time, then a broadening assignment.  What is the eagerness to put the cart before the horse?  

The MICCC will always be in the way of something and CPT time is very long.  My two cents is if you are not totally in love with the KD position, go to the MICCC.  Another KD position will be staring you right in the face when you graduate and you won't have the MICCC hanging over your head.

For those in the Guard/Reserves, this goes triple.  I still haven't gone (but I have been SIGINT PL, BN S2, BDE AS2, Corps G2 Assistant Planner and now DIV ISR Ops Officer) and I have no idea how I will fit it in and I am running out of pavement fast.  If you can get a slot and it fits with your work life, jump on it!  
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CPT Christopher F.
CPT Christopher F.
10 y
Ma'am, I think some people view it as a way to manage their CPT time. If you're starting your KD time before you even pin, it frees up some CPT time to do other things.

 I am personally going to try to get my S-2 knocked out before the MICCC. But that is because I would like to be to go for dual command if the opportunity presents itself, and I won't have to turn it down because I haven't served as a BN S-2 yet. 
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CPT All Source Intelligence
CPT (Join to see)
10 y
Maneuver commanders often do not value the advice of their S2s. In general, they find that they know less about MI than they do. In all of the other CCC courses and ILE, they teach IPB, threat assessment, and and other MI essentials. Typically, their S2 becomes only valuable for their JPAS login because he/she has little to offer beyond their BOLC training and time running an MFT. They fail to be able to even discuss the BDE level ISR mission sets with any competence. CPT time is long and getting longer. The days of it being just 4 years to MAJ will be over long before you get that first look. It is not that what you are saying is wrong, it's just not setting yourself up well for a long MI career. Lots of MI officers tell me they want to avoid staff time. My advice: re-branch. MI is largely a staff role. There are not that many company commands (and will be fewer when the BfSB concept dies) and it goes down from there. Life is hard for an MI MAJ with only company and platoon time. Look at the positions for MAJs to see what I mean. Again, not impossible, but in my opinion you would be at a distinct disadvantage. The goal shouldn't be to check the block.
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
CPT Aaron Kletzing
10 y
CPT W, yes -- I agree on the point you made on the way Maneuver Cdrs perceive their S-2s.  I def saw a lot of this down range...too much of it (note: I was not MI).
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
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If I was in your position, I would absolutely attend CCC early.  No question in my mind.  I was YG 2006 and several of my friends who attended CCC early did really well for themselves -- though I should note that they were excellent performers anyway.  Go to CCC ahead of your peers, get that significant block taken care of, and move on to your next duty station and network your way into an exciting, challenging KD position.  If I can be helpful in any way, feel free to email me at: [login to see] -- perhaps I can reach out to some of my YG 2006 friends who may have thoughts on this.  Good luck!
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