I agree with Teufel 100%... I was in the Corps when the “Great Experiment” took place. The creation of the Intell Officer/ Plt Cmdr...There was a great influx of Officers wanting the new MOS because of several reasons that I witnessed. Getting in on the ground floor of something new, being promised jobs as Recon and Sniper Plt Commanders, working in direct contact with the BC ( boy did that backfire), and other reasons of personal pride etc...
The Corps over stocked the fish pond and Ft. Wychuka started spitting out these guys by the hundreds. Those Officers that made the transition from 0302 to 02 field were generally successful because they had been Infantry, Sniper, or Recon Plt Cmdrs with a deployment or two under their belt. The guys that went straight in to the 02 field were lost, chewed up by the Marines in the Fleet, and given jobs like “Morale Officer”, or “Mail bouy watch Officer”..
These new lostlings were everywhere trying to look important and/or busy. if you haven’t chewed any dirt, how are you going to know what it’s like to be on a Team or in a line Company in the field. How fast or slow the terrain is going to dictate troop movement, the effects of weather, making and maintaining Comms?? Without that experience the young Officer will have an ugly childhood in the Corps., then grow up to be an Bn Intell Officer screaming at his Information gathering assets because they don’t make check point Alpha at exactly 0300 in a monsoon.
He won’t have the experience or presence of mind to Calm down his leadership or ramp him up when needed! He’ll be a yes Man and try to BS the BC just to have something to report instead of having the balls to say, “Sir, we’ve lost Contact with Viper 3, but their route went here and I know from experience ship to shore Comms will be tough. Have faith, the Team Ldrs will figure it out and pass info from 6 on through a Team with good Comms. Let the SARC work it out.
Longer Answer I know but a sore subject for me. I or my Tm’s never missed an Objective or failed to accomplish Commanders Intent, but having a weak knees ass kisser as your only rep onboard ship just adds to Combat Stress and unwarranted stress. Go Infantry first!! Get your feet wet, some experience, some schools, and work your way up the 02 field with trust of subordinate and Higher ranks alike.
Good Luck,
PB
Short answer: Intel officer candidates at TBS have an easy transition becoming intel officers in the Fleet Marine Forces. I would focus on that before dreaming about service in the IC.
