Edit: there was some recent back and forth in this thread between myself and a clearly mentally disturbed man who claimed to be (and probably was) a former Night Stalker with an intel background. The other person said some really bizarre things about the 160th and attacked the unit, current and former members of the unit, and me personally, even though AFAIK we've never met. His posts have been deleted and he has been banned, both of which are good things. I edited this post to leave the below comments in case anyone comes to our site and is interested in doing intel work in the 160th SOAR.
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I served as an intel officer in the 160th SOAR during the GWOT, after 5th Group and before JSOC. The 160th is an elite organization filled with the top helicopter pilots in the world, and the support side is equally professional and proficient. Because there is a high barrier to entry and it's easy to move out people who don't perform, you're left with a group of high performers who are focused on the mission, and on each other.
SOAR is an incredible organization to serve in, regardless of rank or MOS, because everyone is a Night Stalker. I did three tours in Afghanistan with the 160th and would go to war again with them in a heartbeat. The unit has a constant real-world mission, is well-resourced and well-led, and really allowed us to test the boundaries of our profession in support of the mission.
If you're good in your field, physically fit, adaptable, disciplined, and adventurous, the 160th is a great place to be. But you also have to be a team player and know your place in the organization. I recommend the 160th to literally every high-performing intel officer and NCO that I meet.
NSDQ
