What is 35M AIT like?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 12:39:02 -0500

I personally am looking at reclassing and want to know how difficult the 35M school house is. I get the TRADOC environment but what can I expect and things I need to do make sure I don’t struggle?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2020 12:54 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 12:54:55 -0500

I was 35F and I'm glad I wasn't 35M. They had 2 more weeks than we did, and more of them recycled or washed out. 35F's could hide behind a desk and while we did "brief" our final project we weren't dependent on actually back and forth interaction with a hostile interviewee.

What my 35M peers shared with me very much described my police academy scenario exams (in person roll playing). Just remember, in those testing situations you were trained to follow basic scripts of how to interact with your suspect. And the roll players are told to say within those parameters.

If you go into those exams knowing your objective, and your limits and the proper course of action given certain barriers you should do OK. If you fluster with your in person confidence and forget your trained courses of action well then, the roll players will eat you alive.

Don't let them fluster you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2020 1:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 13:17:33 -0500

The first phase of 35M is DLI. You'll need at least a 107 DLAB or a 2/2 DLPT in a qualifying language, and you'll need your TS clearance prior to even being able to request a class seat. You'll need to start your clearance now because it can take a good six months or longer before you have an interim granted

Response by SSG John Garner made Nov 11 at 2020 3:05 PM

SSG John Garner — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 15:05:00 -0500

11B / 35M, here.
In the Infantry I was taught battle drills in order to defeat the enemy wherever the battle may be i.e. in a field or inside a structure, on a mountain or in the jungle.

35M training required me to upend my entire understanding of a battle drill on it's head.
Instead of practicing how to shoot an enemy, provide them aide etc you'll approach the situation with your mind, words and personality.
This MOS is unlike Infantry in that in the Infantry we can usually discuss weapons and tactics. As a 35M you're not going to discuss anything unless in classified environment.

The best advice i can give you is "Practice booth hits" with your classmates as often as possible which should be every single day.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2020 10:24 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 22:24:28 -0500

Tbh it really isn't that bad. You gotta be good at talking to people and coming up with stuff on the spot. The first few practical exercises are rough, but once you get used to the interrogation setting it gets easy. There is obviously a lot I can't talk about, but you can find tons out by reading fm 2.22-3. Easily found on google. Just be prepared to write a ton of reports. Even awkward motherfuckers like me made it through. Just don't be weird when talking to the role players or feel nervous.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2020 8:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 20:36:19 -0500

It's a fun MOS. Just pay attention and make corrections as instructed. I started as a Mike and initial training is a little different now, but just know that it is a fun gig. There are 2 clearly different parts to the MOS, and people usually prefer the one that they don't teach at the 10 course anymore, but I prefer the booth stuff!! After AIT, get to as many of the specialty schools as possible. If you are even mildly extroverted, you are going to love it. TRADOC is TRADOC; just focus on the school and the rest is regular Army stuff!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2020 6:27 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 18:27:24 -0500

You’ll largely be immune from the horrors of TRADOC as a careerist since you’re not IET. As far as difficulty goes, it is one of the harder AIT’s but is honestly not too bad. If this is you’re first time in an intel MOS, buckle up for report writing. A lot of failures happen due to incorrect report writing. However the instructors provide all the tools necessary to succeed. As long as you follow directions and listen well you’ll be fine.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Dec 7 at 2020 1:23 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 13:23:12 -0500

I probably been to a few dozen schools and courses over the course of my career - some one day, some 6 1/2 months. Every single one of them taught me everything I needed to know to graduate/pass. All you have to do is LISTEN and DO WHAT THEY SAY. Seriously. In every single school, from 11B One Station Unit Training to 1SG/Cdr Pre-Command course, you are GIVEN ALL THE ANSWERS if you pay close enough attention.
35M AIT is no different. When they say make an interrogation book, MAKE ONE. When they tell you what questions to ask, ASK THEM. When they tell you to remember your "elses and others" REMEMBER THEM. And when they tell you to include something in your report, INCLUDE IT.

Aside from that, do NOT think of your "off time' as "free time." Think of it as "practice time" or "project time." You are in school in the middle of nowhere in the Arizona mountains. There is nothing better to do, anyway. Take the time to make your interrogation book, practice your questioning, rehearse approaches, etc. Get together with your roommate / classmates and form a "study group" and take turns playing roles and interviewing.

If you do what you are told, take it seriously, and work hard at it, you WILL pass.