In Need of Knowledge

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Atilla83
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Post by Atilla83 »

Is IO the same as PSYOP's? What exactly is the damn difference between being an MI and a PSYOP Officer, the descriptions I have been reading are so damn vague. Can someone break it down for me, grunt proof style so I have a clear indication of who does what. I want to do HUMINT/Secret Squirrel stuff which is essentially what I have been breaking myself majoring in Arabic for, and what I have been interviewing with OGA's for recently. What I don't want is to wind up taping together maps and making armor flash cards for some Supply company. I was a grunt will always be a grunt at heart and don't want to be a poindexter somewhere, and I worry that not having a clear idea on who does what may have me wind up in a sit. like that. Just want to be on the Tip of the Spear. As always thanks gents. "Know yourself and seek self improvement daily"
Last edited by Atilla83 on July 16th, 2008, 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1LT 11A IN USA
C C0 (LRS)(ABN) 2-38CAV (III CORPS LRS); 1st LAR BN 1st MARDIV 02-06
Ranger Class 08-12
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Atilla83
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Post by Atilla83 »

JLTW!!! wrote:J.Rico is a board member here that I suggest you talk with when he getsa back in about 3 weeks. He is "a little involved" in the ROTC program at UT, and I am sure he will have the best answers...or at least some of the most knowledgeable, for you.
His name has been mentioned to me a couple of times. I will try to touch base with him when he gets back.
Last edited by Atilla83 on July 31st, 2008, 9:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1LT 11A IN USA
C C0 (LRS)(ABN) 2-38CAV (III CORPS LRS); 1st LAR BN 1st MARDIV 02-06
Ranger Class 08-12
Invictus
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Post by Invictus »

Atilla83 wrote:
JLTW!!! wrote:J.Rico is a board member here that I suggest you talk with when he getsa back in about 3 weeks. He is "a little involved" in the ROTC program at UT, and I am sure he will have the best answers...or at least some of the most knowledgeable, for you.
I think I know who he is and I tried calling his number the other day but figured he was somewhere for the summer when I couldn't get ahold of him. Although i might be jumping the chain a bit by cold calling him, just want to get all this locked down and figured out.
He'll be back early August. He can be your biggest friend or your worst nightmare. My advice to you would be...be nice. The man has a ton of knowledge.

Good luck.
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Atilla83
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Post by Atilla83 »

Ok so I have been running around like a crazy person getting as much info as I can. I am still gonna try to follow the advice of others here and get a sit down with Ranger Rico since he has been so highly spoken of by those who have pointed me in his direction. I still want to do 18A, and I was looking at ways to finagle it as a butter bar through the 19th SFG here in TX and also getting attached to them for my SMP program and after I get a commission going to Active Duty but this is too complicated and I don't know that I would get exactly what I want. At this point though I am feeling like it would be best if I just go in as an Infantry Officer AD and break myself off to get over to 75th Ranger Reg. I know that every other bastard coming in is gonna be saying the same thing, so that is a dubious goal. I feel like being an officer in a Ranger Unit will better prepare me for the types of Command and Control pedigree I might need to be a Special Forces Officer. I feel like I will have a leg up since I feel my experience as a Marine Infantry Sergeant will help me out as far as the learning curve goes and also as far as effective leadership skills. The experience I gain there until i can go 18A as a 1st LT (p) or Captain will do me good when i do try to go to SFAS. To me this sounds like the least wing and a prayer route, the most practical (despite the fact that I will be competing with every other swinging dick who fancies himself a warrior) route to get to do what I want, do you gentlemen agree? Any feedback is welcome. Also is 75th Ranger Regiment usually ok with letting there officers go to SFAS, I know how proprietary units can be especially when they both are very prestigious and feel just as capable as the other. In other words will I have to kiss a lot of ass to get permission to go 18A if I do make it to 75th Ranger Reg? Finally, is there a way I can stack the deck in my favor to go to 75th Ranger Reg as a butter bar, anyone who can increase my SA on the process and the hurdles like when to speak up when to go with the flow and how to edge out my competition would be appreciated. I know this is the SF forum but I figure those who have read this stream are already Rangers and understand my background and circumstances. I will prob post on one of the more appropriate streams for this as well. Thank you for your help gents.

Atilla
Last edited by Atilla83 on December 4th, 2013, 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
1LT 11A IN USA
C C0 (LRS)(ABN) 2-38CAV (III CORPS LRS); 1st LAR BN 1st MARDIV 02-06
Ranger Class 08-12
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Atilla83
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Post by Atilla83 »

Gents,

I figured I would post an update on my decision making and education on this whole subject. I start ROTC this spring and my plan as I have discussed it so far with some of the gentlemen in charge is to branch MI but get a branch deferment to Infantry. When the time comes I will do what I have to in order to get to the SFAS, if I don't make it I will go on to MI stuff. Looking forward to joining the ranks if I can hack it. Also can't wait to meet Ranger Rico and earn his respect as I become one of his cadets. Interested to see if I melt when I put on an Army uniform.

Thank You gents and I will keep you posted on any news and progress.
1LT 11A IN USA
C C0 (LRS)(ABN) 2-38CAV (III CORPS LRS); 1st LAR BN 1st MARDIV 02-06
Ranger Class 08-12
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chuck3/75
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Re: In Need of Knowledge

Post by chuck3/75 »

Getting TO SFAS is probably the easiest portion of the path that you have layed out in front of you, because despite what branch you actually come out of ROTC with, you will still be (by the rules) eligible to attend SFAS. This also has a multitude of variables that could possibly affect your attendance.

While it is great to have your Long-Term goals in front of you, YOU need to concentrate on your 50 meter target. You need to first be seeking information from recently commisioned officers coming from ROTC. Then see how many of them actually Branched MI, Infantry, Aviation, or any other combat arms branch. Assess your current GPA, PT Scores and the rest of the Junk they look at when deciding your branch. Prior Service may have a small edge for you, but because of this war, I am damned sure you are competing with plenty of other prior service cadets. My point is this, have a contingency plan on each of these goals, because they almost certainly will change.

Here is another point that I am surprised hasnt been mentioned. You plan on being a Special Forces officer. This is not a Tour, This is a Career Path. You will learn that Special Forces officers dont branch transfer to MI. Especially if you werent previously an MI officer. Special Forces is a Branch in the Military. You are already well into being an Officer, you just dont reenlist to another MOS. Also, your dreams of being involved in HUMINT are not what you think, trust me. Even as an MI officer your HUMINT activity is small. You will oversee HUMINT specialists, but your activity on the ground wont be what you think. Thats like saying I want to be a SAW gunner when Im a Captain. Surprisingly for someone who is prior service you seem to forget the role an officer plays.

That being said, You will definitely have an extreme foot in the door when it comes to HUMINT outside of the military if your career Path was this:

SM Attends UT ROTC
SM is AWARDED ROTC Scholarship
SM Graduates with HONORS
SM consistently scores above a 300 on his PT Test
SM gives highest Ranking officer in Cadet Command a decent reach around...(therefore)
SM Commisions, Branch: Military Intelligence
General Shinseki owes SM Money.....SM goes to Airborne and Ranger School upon Completion of MIOBC
SM finds out that there is no 2nd Lt's in the 75th Ranger Regiment
SM assumes his first position in his MI career and does EXTREMELY well
SM submits his ROP packet against his chain of commands wishes, begs, bribes, insults, and downright hatefulness.
SM is now a professional at reach arounds and practices one on his congressman...SM is invited to attend ROP
SM breezes through ROP
SM works as an MI officer in one of the S2 shops
SM is now a Captain
SM Submits his packet to Attend SFAS against his chain of commands wishes, begs, bribes, insults, and downright hatefulness.
......and the Story goes...

My main point I guess is that you have a lot on your plate, prepare for change 32, make sure your the best at what your doing, dont drink and drive, and Merry Christmas.

Also remember this, it is good to have a plan, but you have to remember how much you as an individual is going to change during the course of this journey. Thousands have had the same plan as you with shit stacked higher in their favor, but end up falling to the way side. I am not saying this is because of hardship schools or time in the suck. I am talking about everything else life will throw at you that will end up changing your mind about this or that or I dont even want to do THAT anymore..

Also your plans of leaving Ranger Battalion as soon as you can attend SFAS has definitely been douly noted... should have probably gone over to professionalsoldiers.net

Your in tune with your officer-ness though being so interested and detailed with your future career and all..
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Atilla83
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Re: In Need of Knowledge

Post by Atilla83 »

Ranger Chuck,

Thank you for your detailed and informative reply. I have done most of the things you suggested. Since i first posted on this subject I spent the last 7-8 months talking to as many people as possible and I came up with what you told me. I won't be trying for the 75th because I don't think I would be doing them the appropriate service considering I really want to go to SF. Also the MI is only a fall back if I don't get to branch 18A. I started off with a list of all the stuff I might want to do, which admittedly was a bit silly and decided what it is I really want and forgot about the rest. If i do make it to SF it will be my career until retirement, unless like you said life happens which I am prepared for. Overall right now I am just focusing on how to kick ass and impress in ROTC and about what I need to do to be ready to be an Infantry Platoon Leader which is my immediate goal. Thank you for the career skeleton chart, Im gonna hold onto that.
1LT 11A IN USA
C C0 (LRS)(ABN) 2-38CAV (III CORPS LRS); 1st LAR BN 1st MARDIV 02-06
Ranger Class 08-12
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Atilla83
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Re: In Need of Knowledge

Post by Atilla83 »

Also I would like to apologize to any Batt. Rangers that I pissed off by talking about jumping ship at the first opportunity to got to SF. Since I first came to this site my SA on the Army and the pride involved in the specialized professional groups such as those in the 75th and those in the Groups has been increased highly and I am sorry that I was not more cognizant of this well earned pride. It was not my intent to insult anyone with my exuberance. I start ROTC next week and I will try to keep you gents informed as I owe everyone who has helped me with their knowledge a great debt. Hopefully someday I will be able to add a Ranger school class and date to my profile.
1LT 11A IN USA
C C0 (LRS)(ABN) 2-38CAV (III CORPS LRS); 1st LAR BN 1st MARDIV 02-06
Ranger Class 08-12
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Atilla83
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Re: In Need of Knowledge

Post by Atilla83 »

Gents,

So I just reread through this post of mine and feel a bit sheepish at the ridiculous nature of the earlier posts. Semester ends next week and I am well adjusted and clear on what I am doing and want, which I am sure you will be happy to know is no longer the moon and the stars. ROTC has grown on me and this week I will be taking over as the c/1stSgt for our Company. I will be done Dec. of next year and have focused all my energies into getting to the Infantry. My long range target is still 18A and this summer I will get the opportunity to participate as a G in Robin Sage which I am very excited about. I look forward to spending some formative time as a PL wherever I wind up and I have found that adjusting to the Army way (cadet lands version at least) was not as hard as I had thought it would be. In short I feel like I am in the right place doing the right things and a lot of that comes from all the info and help I got from people who increased my knowledge. Thank You gents. I'll update when significant things happen but for know I am trying to be the best cadet I can be. If i get selected for Infantry I look forward to getting an opportunity to test myself at Ranger School. It sure would be great to someday be able to log back on here with a school date. Thanks again gents for the guidance.
1LT 11A IN USA
C C0 (LRS)(ABN) 2-38CAV (III CORPS LRS); 1st LAR BN 1st MARDIV 02-06
Ranger Class 08-12
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K.Ingraham
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Re: In Need of Knowledge

Post by K.Ingraham »

Atilla83 wrote:Gents,

So I just reread through this post of mine and feel a bit sheepish at the ridiculous nature of the earlier posts. .
Don't sweat it, we all started somewhere with something.
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2d Bn U.D. for 75th Ranger Regt Assn

2d Bn(Ranger)75 Inf 1975-'77
RS 9-76
Former mentor to RANGER XCrunner.

"I am well aware that by no means equal repute attends the narrator and the doer of deedsSallust ‘The Catiline Conspiracy’
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Atilla83
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Re: In Need of Knowledge

Post by Atilla83 »

JLTW!
I agree but one step at a time.

K.Ingraham
Thank you for the leeway to appear foolish, but I guess that is in keeping with how I titled the thread. I was in need of serious knowledge and you gents pointed me in the right direction.
1LT 11A IN USA
C C0 (LRS)(ABN) 2-38CAV (III CORPS LRS); 1st LAR BN 1st MARDIV 02-06
Ranger Class 08-12
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Rangertab1
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Re: In Need of Knowledge

Post by Rangertab1 »

Thank you for the leeway to appear foolish, but I guess that is in keeping with how I titled the thread.
Nahhh, thats just the Marine in you. :mrgreen:
Outstanding! I get to lead my family through humanity's next mass die-off. -Me

Commissioned, Lamar University - 19 December 1992
Ranger School Class 10-93
S4 RSE PL, 2/75 93-94
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