Posted on Jun 30, 2018
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I'm 21 and a college junior. Thought I'd be a journalist all my life (and have an impressive resume for it), but I want to make a bigger difference. And intel genuinely interests me.

But that gives you an idea of my skill set. I'm humanities/communication oriented, but I don't know any foreign languages [yet]. I'm an excellent student and want to pursue my Master's eventually. Much down the line, I think I want to apply to the Foreign Service. This would obviously be after my military career.

The Air Force has worked harder to recruit me, and my grandfather served. I have a preference for the Air Force, but I'm afraid a more technical job might not align with my skills or goals.
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SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint
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In some HUMINT jobs you can not work as a journalist. So, maybe look at USAF, although Army also has a program for Public Affair Offices.
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C/Amn (Pre-Commission)
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If I go the Intel route, I wouldn't pursue journalism anymore.
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LTC Self Employed
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Don't forget about psychological operations. In my last Canadian exercise Maple resolve in June of 2018, psychological operations Personnel pose as reporters to get Intel on the enemy. Here, a three-star Army Reserve Federal was checking out there psychological operations Intel headquarters.
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LTC Self Employed
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LTC (Join to see) Major General Luckey not federal. The three-star General the chief of the Army Reserve was checking out this unit. Many military intelligence people go into psychological operations group. Some are active duty but most are Army Reserve. This unit you are also Airborne qualified
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1LT Quartermaster Officer
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Edited 6 y ago
This is a great question. One of the greatest opportunities in Signals Intelligence when I served, is that the schools were consolidated. So my first school after basic (AIT Advanced Individual Training), was located at Corry Station, a Naval Base in Pensacola. All service branches attended the same school, and the cadre were from all service branches. So we had some insight into the different branches. Then, when I reenlisted, I became an analyst and went to school at Goodfellow AFB and again had the opportunity to discuss all four service branches. IT was a great experience. I would make one suggestion to you: What mission do you want to do? Which type of intelligence interests you? SIGINT, HUMINT, ELINT, ...? Once you narrow down your career field, you will be able to narrow down which service is really right for you based on that mission. There is some over-lap within the services; however, each has a very unique mission. I am not sure who told you the Army is not technically oriented. I can tell you that since we all attended the same schools together, the skill set and requirements are the same. BTW: State Department does not require military service prior to serving in the Foreign Service.

EDIT 23FEB19 I wanted to also say that I had the opportunity to be assigned in other service mission areas. I was posted to Naval Security Group working a unique Army mission and many of the posting around the world are joint areas.

Please keep us updated to how you make out! Best of luck!
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SGT Retired
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Elint is a component of sigint.
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1LT Quartermaster Officer
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SGT (Join to see) yes, COMINT and ELINT are a subset of SIGINT. The missions are different, rather than confuse the topic by providing a break down of all the INT. I do enjoy knowing that on topic of discussion is the only the Air Force is technical by some recruiters. I would to know which path was taken by the answer seeker.
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1LT Quartermaster Officer
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*that only the Air Force is technical...
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SPC Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator
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Try to find someone who is actually doing what you think you want to do and get the reality from them. You will not know what it is really like until it’s too late if you don’t.
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