Differences between Cyber Operations (Officer) and Military Intelligence (Officer)?

2018-09-16T16:46:50-04:00

My main motivation for writing this post is to learn the differences between cyber operations and military intelligence. What are their specific duties? How are they different from each other? Which requires a higher security clearance? Could one be favored over the other based on obvious superiority? Does one offer more promotion opportunity than the other? What would my daily tasks look like in each?

I ask these questions because I intended to commission into the Army as a Military Intelligence Officer. Then, I learned of the Direct Commission program for Cyber Operations. While commissioning in with a 24-month head start is surely seducing, I'm not going to base my career choice off of that alone. So, I'd like to know the differences between the two, to find out if I'd actually like Cyber Ops over Military Intel.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2018 4:56 PM

2018-09-16T16:56:01-04:00

They are radically different careers. Both require a Top Secret clearance level, but they aren’t in related fields.
Military Intelligence uses trend analysis, signals, image, and human sources to develop a picture of what the enemy is doing, likely to do, and/or disposition of their forces. They brief commands and help with IPB.
Cyber conducts offensive and defensive network operations, preventing enemy incursion into friendly networks or fining access to enemy networks. The Army is newer to having a cyber branch, the Air Force has been doing it a little longer as a distinct branch, but both still are defining where Cyber starts/ends when related to signal.
The concept of intelligence is inherantly support of maneuver forces, cyber is considered a new maneuver realm of warfare.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2018 4:57 PM

2018-09-16T16:57:28-04:00

Military Intelligence is split into several different Moss's and this MOS's are split into different responsibilities and roles. Cyber Operations from my understanding is just one MOS (17C) and split into different responsibilities. They both have TS clearences and their roles can be found on the army website. I'm bias but I think MI is better because of the different options in jobs and the opportunities in duty stations, units and schooling. Good luck.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 16 at 2018 5:25 PM

2018-09-16T17:25:33-04:00

Private RallyPoint Member , two vastly different skill sets.

Cyber Summary: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/browse-career-and-job-categories/computers-and-technology/cyber-operations-officer.html

MI Summary: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/browse-career-and-job-categories/intelligence-and-combat-support/military-intelligence-officer.html

MI officers help the commander visualize the battlefield and interpret what the enemy is doing, what they want to do, what they are likely to do. This really comes in to play with the Military Decision Making Process which drives operations through a process called Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield.

Cyber is focused on offensive and defense operations in the cyber domain.

I guess the commonality between the two is a narrow band in electronic warfare...it's a narrow sliver of overlap in MHO.

Cyber Operations Officer (17A)

Cyber Operations Officers are responsible for network security and dealing with threats within the cyberspace domain.