I originally wanted to join the army for SF but was told to wait a few years for the waiver I needed. After researching, I enlisted in the navy for the humint/CI program. I have to wait until my next tour to screen for the program. I have always been deeply interested in both Intelligence and Special Operations. I don't really know which I prefer more and I'm older (mid 20s) so I don't really have time to waste not working towards my goal, and I'm trying to get direction on where to set my sights for my goals.
I am an IS (intelligence specialist) in the navy. I joined for the K13A nec in the hopes of conducting direct combat support in an intel role.
- Thread starter Drsock89
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You should consider getting Vetted; especially if you plan to stick around for a while! Members will be much more apt to share personal experiences if they are confident that you are what you say you are.
PM me if you have questions.
https://shadowspear.com/tickets/categories/vetting-request.1/create
Your first step is to be brilliant in your current job. You need a solid recommendation from your chain of command to get to the next step of our journey. Keep that in mind as you forge your path forward. Best of luck, let us know how we can help.
Thank you! I definitely appreciate the advice, and I will absolutely reach out with questions. Really glad I stumbled across this community
I joined this site a few years ago when I wanted to do SF, long story short I ended up becoming a 0211 CI/HUMINT (proper way to say it lol) like dudes above said pick one! and know as a enabler you will get to be in back of a stack from time to time but that is not our primary and is a dying thing to do. Most of the time you will be talking to people and writing reports on it (lots of reporting).
Welcome. Good luck in your endeavors.
Welcome!
I work with 20th SFG recruiting in Jacksonville, FL. We send active duty USN dudes to SFAS all the time. If that is an option youre interested in exploring let me know and we can get in contact to discuss your situation.
I work with 20th SFG recruiting in Jacksonville, FL. We send active duty USN dudes to SFAS all the time. If that is an option youre interested in exploring let me know and we can get in contact to discuss your situation.
Talking about the IST pipeline? SF is a real one with that option! Had a good buddy of mine just get selected doing the IST route
That's awesome that you're an 0211! I understand I need to pick one, it's definitely difficult to choose between the two avenues. How did you end up choosing 0211?
Ophh long story, I’ll try to make it short!
Originally I was a Tanker, sadly Tanks went away. HQMC gave Sgts and above the go ahead to pick any mos that you could qualify for and you will essentially get it. HQMC was offering to waiver age, TIS, TIG, asvab scores etc.
I put my first package for Marine Special Operation (CSO), it got denied due to some medical paper work filed incorrectly (was my fault). I was in bootcamp and got hurt (had air trapped outside my lung inside my body). The hospital said it was considered a rare occurrence and would not happen again but for some reason and to this day I still do not know why I called it something else (essentially misdiagnosing myself when screening). What I called it was a DQ for dive school! I did not find out till a few years later when I was checking out the new online medical records that I have been calling it the wrong thing, at this point it was too late and I already lat moved to CI/HUMINT.
The MARSOC recruiter told me go for SFAS, so I hit up a recruiter looked at the requirements, met the requirements and submitted a IST to HQMC. While that was getting worked on I explored other MOSs. I did some OJT with UAV/UAS, AAV, and embarker. I didnt really like them much (they were cool, just not for me) I then screened for EOD and passed the screener. The following week I had range and that is where I met a EOD guy. we had a conversation about life and careers.
I told him I had just screened for EOD and was approved all I had to do was wait for the IST to come back approved, not take it, and submit a RELM for EOD with all the screening stuff.
The conversation went along the lines about how he wished he went 0211 due to the life outside the Corps. He said that being a EOD tech is an amazing job and super fun. He said the downside is no matter where you go outside the Marine Corps, it is tough to get selected as a EOD tech for a police force or three letter agency due to the applicants usually have served as a normal officer. He said 8/10 times they want someone who know the ins and outs of the force and train them on EOD vs a EOD tech who has zero experience in police force and just knows EOD. He said he wished he went the CI/HUMINT route due to all the certs and credentials we get. So after the range I attended a 0211 brief…
The 0211 brief was very quick and simple. It was two Marines no haircuts low low sleeves. all they told me were the requirements, they don’t care if I choose to do this path, they are not going to chase me down like other recruiters do, and that if I want to do some really cool shit that is legal and illegal I would probably like this job. They also said all the cool shit they do, they will have to write reports on it and that is the only real downside (now I truly know that he downplayed reporting, reporting is your life as a 0211, your bread and butter).
I did some research online about the MOS and could not find much. The only thing I really found were the MOS road map (what you should have accomplished by the rank you are) and they had some really badass schools you could attend. At this point I was all in.
I did the selection process got selected and got orders to the school.
I am now in Japan doing cool, fun, shit that I cannot talk about it since it is in the secret relm, a lot of reporting a lot….like seriously a lot lol it was a hard smack in the face when I learned about how much reporting there is. We are talking pages for day (not to dissuade you, it’s just part of the job that really matters)
Geez this was a long post and there is alot I didn’t say lol
I will end it with three things.
both career fields will take you far in life as long as you put in the work and better yourself through your career. No matter your decision you will be surrounded by amazing people who are considered the top 10 percent of their branch. Learn from them, you will always have that one guy that sucks ass so also learn from them and learn what not to do.
This post has zero reflection on EOD and is just one individuals perspective.
I also did not proof read so I apologize if some thing doesn’t make sense lol
- Joined
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You should consider getting Vetted; especially if you plan to stick around for a while.
PM me if you have questions.
https://shadowspear.com/tickets/categories/vetting-request.1/create
Thank you, I appreciate the insight and the story. It was very interesting
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