MP vs. Intel

[Mongo]

Still burning in the back of my mind was my decision to not join the military about a year ago and go instead into the workforce. Fortunately, I have not grown fat or weary and I'm only 23. Military thoughts have once again come into my mind and I need some input.

Last year I qualified well for any Intel position I wanted (analyst, counterintel, etc.) I went through everything at stopped at MEPS where I halted the process and didn't sign. I'm now wondering if Intel would be the best choice or if MP would suit my future career goals better?

I aspire to be a Federal LE Agent, and would like any input on whether MP or MI would be better, or give me any advantages. In my current job, I'm a computer security profiler, which means (simply) that people pay me to break into their computers. I work for a very large prestigious firm, and have even started my own security consulting company. I do have a double BS in Computer Science and Criminal Justice.

Thanks in advance....

[apachebell]

Unless you have a desire to serve your country, which I think is admirable, there is no reason to join the military. If your only goal is to get into the FBI, military service is not necessarily a stepping stone. Sure, it looks good on your record (if you make it through without doing anything careless, or downright stupid), but it is not a prerequisite. You have your degree(s) and work experience. If I were you I would work on a Master's or get some LE experience on the side, like reserve officer. Committing four or five years to the service just to up the chances is not a good gamble in my book. There are better things you can do with your next four years to boost you to the top of the list. Actually, you might even try military reserve. Then you could do volunteer work, work on a Master's Degree, etc. to boost your stats, plus you would have the DD214 with "Honorable Discharge" on it, too.

Now, having said that, let me clarify my position. I am currently a Marine, in the intel field, and I think it is AWESOME to want to serve your country. There are very few people that I have more respect for than those that have served their country because THEY WANTED TO. So do not think for one second that I am saying that you should not join the military.

Marine Sgt

[Mongo]

Thanks for the straight sh7t! My reasons for wanting to take this step are various. This has come up not only becuase of what is happening at this present time. I do have the desire to serve my country in a most honorable way, and have always wanted to be part of the United States Military. I have looked into obtaining my masters, and have taken a few classes in that path but still feel like I'm missing something. I do have an urge to join the military, but as I'm showing here, want to make a totally informed decision about my life (without the recruiter bs). I am in a pretty good situation right now with my current job and do believe I could further my chances without joining by doing reserves (good point apachebell), but really want to know which area I should get into if I DO go into the military, and why one would be more advantageous over the other. Thanks again and hope to get some more opinions.

[dmclark]

I did Military Intel (Counter and Area 97B/97C) for over four years. Of course, that was many moons ago....but it served me well with an overview and many friends in fed LE. Also, you could still attend school almost anywhere to continue to further your education. Good luck!

[apachebell]

One option if you do go into the military would be to go 98G if you join the Army, 267x if you go Marine. That is a Linguist. If you pic Russian, Korean or Arabic (Army may have more choices), you spend a year in beautiful Monterey, CA for language school at the Defense Language Institute. Other languages are shorter. To get into this field you have to pass a background investigation in order to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance, which would look really good when it is time to try to go Fed. If you really apply yourself and do well at your language, I feel that you would be set. Plus, with all of your college already, you can use the DLI language credits to pick up yet another degree, for example an Asian studies degree if you took Korean. The year course provides about 30 lower level and 15 upper level credits, depending, of course, on the college. I have done this myself, so I am not speculating here, this is fact. Now, if you look at your resume at the end of your four years (probably require 5 if you go linguist), it would be pretty impressive. The FBI likes computer skills (especially the kind you have for possibly tracking down hackers), they like linguists, they like degrees, they like clean backgrounds, and they like prior military. Nuff said!!

[dmclark]

Great advice ApacheBell! I understand that the Army is also offering substantial bonuses if you qualify for certain languages. If you spoke Chinese, you could almost write your own ticket in federal law enforcement. I know several agencies that would scoop you up very quickly at this moment. Plus, you'd have an extremely marketable skill for your after-government career.

I tried to get my son interested in the US Army Linguist program, but he's committed to other things. Take a look, take some tests (no obligation) and see what they offer!

Hey, DLI in Monterrey for a year (tough school though) is a GOOD thing!

[Mongo]

Thanks guys for the great insight and advice. I actually qualified (last year) for 98G MOS for the Army and I'm sure nothing has changed. That may be the direction I'm heading in, and maybe I'll get one of those sought after languages. I think I'm going to call the recruiter and get some more info. That seems like it might be a good fit and a move in the right direction for me. I'll keep you all posted. Hey and Monterrey.......I think I may be able to handle that! Thanks again...

[Fred]

Can you become a linguist in the reserves. I would like to join the reserves after college as a linguist as I work on a local police department and attend graduate school

[Mongo]

Here's a quote from the Army Language Recruiting page at:

http://www.goarmy.com/job/branch/language/

"Individuals who possess language skills can enlist in the
Active or Reserve Component in the MOS (military
occupational specialty) 97EL, 97L, 98XL."

[k9cop21811]

dmclark,

You're a fellow 97B, I had no idea. 97C too, impressive! Now I know why you're so squared away!!!!

Mongo,

The FBI looks most favorably on military officer experience and not so much the enlisted stuff. Either way I think it's an excellent way to spend 4 plus years. You can serve you country in many ways, but for me doing it as a soldier was the best. Getting LE experience I think would help you the most in building your resume for the FBI, particularly police officer experience.

I was a Counterintelligence Agent in the Army (MOS 97B) and loved it. I know plenty of MP's who also loved their jobs, so it's something you really need to look at before deciding on one or the other. The 97B job description you see most of the time seems to heavily emphasize the type of work you would do in a strategic assigment (i.e. plain clothes) and not so much the kind of work you would be doing if assigned to a field unit, but it's interesting work nonetheless. The other MI MOS's are interesting too (I was also a 97G-Multi-Disciplined Counterintelligence Analyst), but nothing holds a candle to 97B. Most of the guys in the other MOS's at the intelligence school at Ft. Huachuca, AZ wouldn't admit to being jealous when they would see us in civilian clothes going out on surveillance training and other investigative training, but they were. Trust me, I know. I was one of the other guys at one time. I'm not saying 97B's are better either. But what I am saying is the job is much more interesting than anything else you can do in the MI field. Good luck.

[apachebell]

Yes, you can be a linguist in the Reserves, or even in the National Guard. Despite what the above quote from the Army page seems to say, you DO NOT have to already have linguistic abilities to join either active or reserve as a 98G. The majority of people in the military (again speaking from my own personal experience) were not linguists before they came in. You have to take a test called the DLAB, or Defense Language Aptitude Battery. It is a test made up of a fake language that you are "taught". Basically, it gives you several grammar patterns, rules of verbage, etc about the fake langauge and then you take a test based on that info. I thought it was rather easy. Depending on what score you get, they will determine if you are likely to pass through the Defense Language Institute schools. The higher the score, the harder language they are willing to put you into. There is no way to study for this test, unless you had a copy of the actual test you are going to take, which would be unethical. Bottom line, you can go into the Army as a linguist, active or reserve, with no prior experience.

[Fred]

Thanks for the help

[FAIR]

I am a former 98GAD (Arabic Dialect). You need to score extremely well on the DLAB to enter into what are known as category 5 languages. (Arabic, Chinese, Korean...) Once in the program you will spend more than a year in Monterey becoming a level 2 linguist in reading, listening and speaking. Afterwards it is more time in Texas, followed by a stint in Arizona. The possiblities after that are endless. You may end up jumping out of blackhawks and humping 120 pounds of electronic equipment through the forests and swamps of TN and KY are you may end up with a pair of headphones on in GA or MD. Opportunities beyond your first five years of service are also endless. 5th SF group may take you, or you may make a phone call to an interesting unit call the Tactical Support Team (TST) and see what they have to offer. There will be some tough days for you when you will second guess yourself as you buff the floors of the baracks for the 100th time, but as I have said before, the language program in the military will open a ton of doors for you. I speak from experience. Doors are opening for me everywhere. Good luck. Ask me whatever you think a recruiter might not be knowledgeable about.

[RoscoeRuhl]

If you go military, take the MI position and consider the language training option. That, coupled with your computer knowlege is going to be a benefit and give you the edge! When you're searching the federal job market, they're looking for a degree of experience. There isn't anywhere better to get some than the military.

The quote doesn't suggest anything other than that those with language skills can get the training. It's important not to read into or take things out of context. The only requirement is that you pass the DLAT (Defense Language Aptitude Test)! It will be guaranteed in your contract, before you sign. Also note that it's going to take a minimum 4 year enlistment and if you fail the training, you don't get the job, BUT you still belong to the service. It doesn't matter which branch you join, you still belong to them!

Have a great day!

[SkipInHiro]

I have a question that it looks like one of you intel guys can answer. I am now a Reserve Marine Sgt (former active) with several MOS's among them, MP and interpreter. I tested at 2+ 2+ in Japanese 2 years ago. (should be better by now). Recently I started working on Chinese and have been thinking about trying to go to ITT school. I live in Japan now, but with all that happened last week I am looking to get back into the LE field or intel. Would it be better for me to go the ITT route and try to get Chinese as an additional (which I am assuming would be an easier MOS to get into given my background) OR try for a counter intel slot?
Are there any options I over-looked?

[apachebell]

If you are trying to go active and stay Marine you will not get Chinese. I can personally attest to the fact that the one man who can make the decision to send you to Chinese if you are in the 2600 field will not send you to Chinese. The monitor (Branch manager in the Army) for the 2600 field right now just extended for another 3 years and he will not agree to send anyone to Chinese as a second language, though many monitors before him have allowed it to happen. I know two guys that were Korean linguists and got sent back to DLI for Chinese, but that was with our old monitor. I know 2 guys, plus myself who tried to do the same thing with the current monitor and we have been flat out turned down. Go Counter intell if that is what you want, but DO NOT sign up for anything based on the fact that you want to go Chinese. I will let you know if he happens to have a change of heart about this subject.

[Mongo]

Thanks again to all of you for clearing up questions I had about disparities between MOS's.

I guess now that I've cleared up those questions I've got to find which job within MI would best fit me. SIGINT/Electronic Warfare would obviously be a great fit considering my job and background, but I think Counter Intel (from what K9cop21811 said) sounds pretty interesting too. K9cop21811 care to elaborate on the position any more. Guess I'm looking at pros and cons of those position to really find the one that best fits me and my goals (federal agent). Thanks in advance.

[SkipInHiro]

Thanks for the info. I am a couple days away from final results with Las Vegas Metro. If I don't get in there I will more than likely go back in and then maybe try for a Fed position down the road. Thanks agian.