Do good Intel officers need to have combat experience?

2018-05-10T18:24:17-04:00

Hoping to go into MI after commissioning, but I have some interest in Branch Detailing a combat MOS, likely Armor or Artillery. I was wondering what are the pros/cons of straight Intel or detailing.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2018 7:08 PM

2018-05-10T19:08:04-04:00

I would highly recommend a branch detail as there is very little leadership opportunity for a 2LT in MI, when compared to a stint in Armor or Infantry.
What does a 2/1LT in the MI corps do, well they sit around and make coffee, unless they are fortunate enough to get a rare platoon slot.
Go the detail route, you won't regret it later in your career.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 10 at 2018 7:22 PM

2018-05-10T19:22:54-04:00

I'm merely curious, not that you or most others here might likely think this question terribly relevant...also, I was pure noncombat, I never got to go, I did try for Gulf One in 90, I was unfortunately too ill, I'm total perm disabled now...I was just wondering though, what major your bachelors is in, with what GPA? Not that such details would alter what you'd do, certainly, I was just curious about your degree and coursework relative to which branch you'd ultimately try for, I have an interest in such questions, that's all, honest...I obviously envy you your opportunity, certainly...I realize as I'd said, such details might seem extraneous, initially, I was just wondering, e.g., if you wee doing a STEM major, wanted grad school, if so, what major for that as well...as I'd said, such details tend to rather interest me, the whole question of degree major, background, and interests, vs. which svc someone opts for, or, in a given svc, which branch, if you could elaborate at all, I'd just be most curious, many thanks...I was orig Army ROTC, then went USAF OTS instead....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 10 at 2018 7:24 PM

2018-05-10T19:24:17-04:00

http://www.mors.org

I just thought this particular group might interest you, given your interests....

Military Operations Research Society

Response by SPC Thomas Smith made May 10 at 2018 8:16 PM

2018-05-10T20:16:51-04:00

I think that is a stupid question and I am sure I am wrong. But if they have not clue about what combat is. Like myself that how do they know what's good Intel.I could give you great information to get the task done. But not knowing combat itself I could leave out life saving information such as roaming guards be amount of guards. Saying there are ten guards is good info but not realizing that four of them are not stationery could get you killed. Just my opinion

Response by PO1 Richard Nyberg made May 10 at 2018 8:26 PM

2018-05-10T20:26:13-04:00

My Dad was in Counter Intelegence Corp when he was in the Army. He top in his field and didn't have Combat experience. He did 3 tours in Germany, he spoke 3 Languages. Hungarian, Bulgarian and German. He did some interrogations of people who defected to our side. I wanted to be it too but it was full when I sent in the Army in 66. I went go Vietnam, he retired when I was in Vietnam in 67

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2018 8:51 PM

2018-05-10T20:51:33-04:00

At the JO ranks, unless you are a lucky ducky and get with scouts, you aren't going to do much besides push paper. Regardless of where you go, and what you do, master your job and become the SME.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2018 9:59 PM

2018-05-10T21:59:52-04:00

I think it is a good idea for an intel officer to be branch detailed to a combat arms branch during their Lieutenant years. As a combat arms officer, you will have a lot more leadership opportunities than you would as an MI LT. Second, your time as a combat arms officer will serve you well after you graduate from the Captains Career Course and find yourself as the Battallion S2 of a manuever battalion. You will be able to speak, and think like a manuever officer which will be key as you play the role of the enemy commander during MDMP.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2018 11:51 PM

2018-05-10T23:51:42-04:00

All the S-2 and G-2 officers I met, were all Vietnam veterans, and came from the infantry.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 11 at 2018 7:17 PM

2018-05-11T19:17:40-04:00

It is not required, but it should be and would tone down the seeming dumb questions that ask on de-briefs.

Response by CPT Samuel Carlson made Jun 2 at 2018 4:28 AM

2018-06-02T04:28:48-04:00

Cadet SGT Clifton Sutherland …. I think your idea of first being in the real Army around real soldiers as an MI officer is a good one. I was first an enlisted infantryman and later defected to MI (counter and area intelligence). I sought assignment to MI units within combat arms units as much as I could. I got a lot more duties dealing with the troops. I was commissioned MP very late in life but was given a CI secondary... and continued working MI/CI stuff. Some of my fellow MI LTs and CPTs who spent most of their time hiding in a SCIF (drinking coffee) or in an INSCOM unit and avoiding troop leadership positions had a difficult time when it finally came to deal with troops and letting them do their jobs when they were deployed. Hope this helped and didn't confuse you.

Response by CW2 Michael Bodnar made Aug 18 at 2018 9:19 AM

2018-08-18T09:19:46-04:00

A good MI officer is able to multi-task, apply critical thinking, understands their Soldiers strengths and weaknesses, and can understand their enemy's TTP's. I think you shouldn't go straight into the Intelligence field as a junior LT. Gain some experience by branch detailing and work to understand how the military works at all levels. I currently sit a the Division level where we have LT"s straight out of BOLC that do not fully understand what their roles are. When you do finally decide to branch MI, find yourself a 350F (if the unit has one) and pick their brains. That Warrant will be the mentor you need to be a successful MI Officer. Don't be afraid to make mistakes but learn from them. It's going to happen. Trust and empower your NCO's to work the problems and provide you with answers. Don't be afraid to let them fail and learn from it - it will make them better as NCO's.