Posted on Jul 5, 2019
SPC Ted Ronayne
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I'm currently in 35F AIT and I'm trying to get a better picture of the life of a fox in various units. While I have a good knowledge of a fox's responsibilities in an S-2 shop, I'm trying to find out more about other units and levels a fox can find oneself working in.

Specifically, I'm wondering about the life of a 35F in a company/troop Intelligence support team or military intelligence company.

Do these positions offer more tactical opportunities? (away from a desk/out in the field) Do these positions differ between different maneuver units? (Infantry vs Cav?) What tasks would I be expected to carry out?

I'm trying to put together a more complete picture of those units so (if I ever get to have any control over my assignments) I can try for a unit with more tactical opportunities or positions that broaden my skillsets.
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Responses: 5
SFC Casey O'Mally
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If they put you on a CoIST, they have wasted you. CoISTs are supposed to be made up of guys from the unit, not intel guys. Maneuver folks with a bit of intel training.

Honestly, take whatever assignment you get and learn to do it well. 35F is such a broad MOS that the possibilities are too many to name. There are three basic realms for a Fox. Tactical, strategic, and TRADOC. Try to rotate back and forth between tactical and strategic or TRADOC. - tac/strat/tac/TRADOC/tac kind of thing. Once you have done a couple years at your first assignment, ask one of the more senior NCOs around you what you should be looking for next. There aee advantages and disadvantages to starting at a strat assignment. There are advantages and disadvantages to starting at a tactical assignment. Neither is really better, balance is the key.
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SPC Ted Ronayne
SPC Ted Ronayne
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Thank you for the advice! I just know that a CoIST is supposed to have at least 2 analysts (who are 35F) for information analysis. I actually find it quite an interesting responsibility. I suppose it might be a "waste" but I think analysts at such a level could do a lot of good for a company sized element without an s-2.

I will look for balance to be sure. Thank you for the advice!
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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I don't understand any of the acronyms.
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SPC Ted Ronayne
SPC Ted Ronayne
5 y
My apologies for not being more clear sir. A CoIST is a "company intelligence support team" a team of 5-7 individuals at the company level responsible for bridging the gap between battalion level S-2 and smaller elements.

A MICO is a military intelligence company. However, I do not know the main purpose of a MICO yet.

Unfortunately, I don't know what to expect if I am assigned to either element.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
5 y
SPC Ted Ronayne -
If all else fails, use google. I am not picking on you, but want to tell you when using military acronyms to those who are not familiar with them, you should follow this example: Military Intelligence Company (MICO). 99% of posters here don't follow that rule.

One of the reasons General Patton's army of 90,000 soldiers were able to maneuver quickly was greatly facilitated by reconnaissance by maneuver and fire by ground and fighters. Sometimes he pushed his army faster than the Germans could retreat.
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SPC Ted Ronayne
SPC Ted Ronayne
5 y
MAJ Ken Landgren Thank you for the advice sir! Hopefully I can find out more on Google, unfortunately I haven't been able to find out much yet.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
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1SG Operations Sergeant Major
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I dont think CoIST is even a thing anymore. The CoIST program was for maneuver units to take some smart people and give them a program (Tigernet) that allowed them to post sigact to conduct their own analysis. I dont think it is being used anymore.
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1SG Operations Sergeant Major
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SSG Skip Ledbetter so the CoIST used to be a high speed 11B SPC that pretty much just input data into tiger net. It was an additional duty, there was no MTOE for anyone in the CoIST of an Infantry company. Has the intel community taken the program back and filled it with 35 series? What unit formations are MTOEd them and what units do they support?
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1SG Operations Sergeant Major
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SSG Skip Ledbetter interesting, inbedding a 35 series is better than handing a laptop to a SPC and seeing what happens.
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SPC Ted Ronayne
SPC Ted Ronayne
5 y
SSG Skip Ledbetter I would appreciate that SSG!
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SFC Senior Intelligence Sergeant
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SSG Skip Ledbetter how long ago was this, if I could ask. I was just promoted into the COIST PSG slot for D Co 876 ENG 2IBCT/28ID. While I am aware of how the COIST Is supposed to work by regs, my training( outside of normal Intel duties) have included a lot of TSE ( EX: my state has my platoon, as well as some of our 35Ms go to the morgue every quarter to learn how to process fingerprints for identification ,pull fluids out of cadavers etc). Do you think that training may differentiate based on type of unit( ABCT v IBCT) and or deployment and training schedule?
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