Is it worth rejoining as a Intel weenie to do Cool Guy Stuff as an enabler?

[ShadowVapor]

Working as a DOD CTR is cool and all, but I miss the purpose I had in the military. I don't know if I'm just romanticizing things, but I'm really debating if its worth rejoining active duty (Either Army, USAF, or Navy), in order to try out for some of the more unique Intel and Cyber SOF organizations. That's basically my only reason to go back to AD at this point and to leave the National Guard.

Thoughts on this plan? Some say its dumb to leave all that money behind as a CTR, but idk. I have no debt and feel comfortable.

 

[AWP]

Some say its dumb to leave all that money behind as a CTR

Those people are stupid and will never understand. You're better off talking to a brick wall because people like that don't understand human beings and our internal drive to do whatever we do. Race cars, skydive, crochet, gardening...someone will always have a problem with your life choices and you can ignore them or cut slingload because they will never "get it."

As a former Guard guy, there are a lot of "hidden" SOF units around the country in both Guard and Reserve roles. I say "hidden" because their existence is in the public domain, but it isn't hyped up in press releases or by recruiters. Look at the states aroudn you, go to their Army and Air Guard pages, and look at the units and missions supported.

AD Army requirements and processes are all over the place. There is a USASOC or ARSOF recruiter out there, but they typically will only deal with those currently in uniform. That info is 5 years old, so no idea what goes on today. Being prior service I don't know how that would work for you. Some units like the 75th allow you to enlist with a Ranger contract or volunteer for one at Basic/ AIT. SF is crap shoot. 160th takes volunteers, but I don't know if you MUST have experience or if you can make a run at Green Platoon right out of AIT. You can volunteer for CAG support, but your skill level and experience are well removed from that option right now.
@Marauder06
@Viper1

Those gents might have some insight into the process. I'm thinking of others here but won't tag them, however we have some Intel folks on the board who can shed some light on things. Based on previous posts here I would encourage you to learn some scripting like Python, maybe SQL or database stuff, and the map stuff (GIS?) is its own world these days (a billion years ago that used to require some basic programming knowledge).

And if I'm wrong someone will be along to correct me which is never a bad thing.

Good luck.

ETA: Fix spelling and such.

 

[Cookie_]

I miss the purpose I had in the military.

That's basically my only reason to go back to AD at this point and to leave the National Guard.

Can you clarify this? Are you completely out of the military or are you in the Guard?

That's important, because as @AWP pointed out there are some pathways you could take from the Guard that you couldn't right away coming off the street.

 

[Viper1]

@ShadowVapor I had a break in service for two years and then returned to active duty. Best decision for me. Feel free to DM or ask for questions here.

I’ve also worked with intel and cyber folks who’ve done similar. Worth it.

 

[amlove21]

Our intel folks in the AF were some of the most professional, hardest working people in the squadron. The money is nice as a CTR, cool- but being part of a team that does the impossible daily is worth more than that.

Just my two pennies.

 

[ShadowVapor]

Can you clarify this? Are you completely out of the military or are you in the Guard?

That's important, because as @AWP pointed out there are some pathways you could take from the Guard that you couldn't right away coming off the street.

Hello!

Sorry for the confusion. I left Active duty and I'm currently a weekend warrior in the Air Guard.

 

[ShadowVapor]

Our intel folks in the AF were some of the most professional, hardest working people in the squadron. The money is nice as a CTR, cool- but being part of a team that does the impossible daily is worth more than that.

Just my two pennies.

How did those intel guys/gals end up supporting your unit? Was there like an application or did they just win the PCS lottery?

 

[amlove21]

At the Rescue units, it's usually a lottery. At the STS there is a little more vetting, but not truly a selection until the Tier 1 unit. Once you are in "the teams" doing ground-centric intel for the AF, the Intel career field did a pretty good job of keeping them there through a couple assignments.

 

[ShadowVapor]

At the Rescue units, it's usually a lottery. At the STS there is a little more vetting, but not truly a selection until the Tier 1 unit. Once you are in "the teams" doing ground-centric intel for the AF, the Intel career field did a pretty good job of keeping them there through a couple assignments.

How does the career field keep them there for a while though? I thought once its your time to PCS, big AFPC steps in and picks your next adventure.

 

[amlove21]

How does the career field keep them there for a while though? I thought once its your time to PCS, big AFPC steps in and picks your next adventure.

All career fields have a small amount of control and wiggle room in determining where you go next through the vectoring process, especially for high value/low density career fields. Ground based intel isn't common in the AF, and not a lot of intel folks get a chance to rotate through the teams, so when they do, they try and keep them there for an assignment or two extra.

They do the same with AFE (riggers) and some other support folks.

 

[ShadowVapor]

All career fields have a small amount of control and wiggle room in determining where you go next through the vectoring process, especially for high value/low density career fields. Ground based intel isn't common in the AF, and not a lot of intel folks get a chance to rotate through the teams, so when they do, they try and keep them there for an assignment or two extra.

They do the same with AFE (riggers) and some other support folks.

That's interesting. I had no idea you could do that. I tried doing a PCA (switching from one squadron, to the other) and brought that up to my flight chief, however my senior enlisted leader shot that idea down.

 

[Cookie_]

All career fields have a small amount of control and wiggle room in determining where you go next through the vectoring process, especially for high value/low density career fields. Ground based intel isn't common in the AF, and not a lot of intel folks get a chance to rotate through the teams, so when they do, they try and keep them there for an assignment or two extra.

They do the same with AFE (riggers) and some other support folks.

I'm assuming the AF has some version of administrative codes that help with that?

I know in the Army we have Special Qualification/Additional Skill Indentfiers (SQI/ASI) for things like Airborne (P code SQI) or Air Assault (2B code ASI) that are tied to the position. Helps make sure people rotate within similar roles/organizations if needed.

 

[amlove21]

I'm assuming the AF has some version of administrative codes that help with that?

I know in the Army we have Special Qualification/Additional Skill Indentfiers (SQI/ASI) for things like Airborne (P code SQI) or Air Assault (2B code ASI) that are tied to the position. Helps make sure people rotate within similar roles/organizations if needed.

Yeah exactly correct. Some career fields (like AFE/Riggers) take almost a year to get qualified on the specific job requirements for the team, they get coded and ST/ACC doesn't lose that investment.

 

[amlove21]

That's interesting. I had no idea you could do that. I tried doing a PCA (switching from one squadron, to the other) and brought that up to my flight chief, however my senior enlisted leader shot that idea down.

Well, no clue what the backstory is there, but good SEL's can greenlight that sort of thing. I knew a couple dudes that worked inside of ST/Rescue for almost their entire career, good gig.

 

[Florida173]

And here I was thinking that being a CTR and an enabler for over 10 years was great.. Was I supposed to give up being a CTR to feel like I actually contributed?