97BRAVO

[TANGOisinKOREA]

I posted this in the intel section but it doesnt get much traffic down there. anybody ever work with 97B or have an opinion one way or another?

Thanks
Chas
3/75

[willis]

Sorry man I asked the same question before and never got a response. The only thing i know is what was in the recuiters MOS book.

[Whammer]

Tango & Willis,

I am currently in a 97B slot with a NG unit(TEB--Tactical Exploitation Bn). For all the hype associated with the MOS, my unit is new, I haven't seen much of it yet. It is pretty interesting stuff, however, when you actually get to put it into practice. For the most part it is personnel interviews and force protection assessments. I have a good friend in an MI DET assigned to the 19th who is a 97B and still gets to do the Hooah stuff in addition to intellectual.

However, you always have to keep in mind the fact that as an enlisted your exposure to the sexy, movie-plot stuff will be limited. The Ranger Bns do have the need however for skill lvl 1-3 though which could be rather fun. The force protection and security assessments you would be in charge of there could be exciting.

[TANGOisinKOREA]

Whammer

Thanks for the response. I am thinking about joining the reserve unit here as a 97B. I was told it would mostly involve tailing people etc.Lots of deployments to Korea. sounds like fun. I did my time as an 11B also my time in Batt so I am just looking for some fun.

[Whammer]

Tango,

We are birds of the same feather. I might be transferrig into an 11B slot with a recon platoon to prep for a run at SF. You already did your hooah fun stuff. I'm still a wannabe, but highly motivated.

With regards to the CI world, There are a ton of deployments! You have to find out who you will be supporting. We backfill for the 201st at Lewis, so the real world missions are somewhat limited to going up to Lewis and shuffeling TS documents around. Make sure you stay tactical though. If you consider the Warrant route you are a team chief and then things really develop.

[vedder]

I was considering 97b as well. However I did not know what they do. Also if you go in as this mos will you get the oppportunity to go to ranger school and airborne school down the road. What kind of schools are you required to go to. The army site is understandibly vague about what 97b involves.

[willis]

Is the CI mission different for officers than enlisted. Do officers see much action, tacticing. Thank you.

[Whammer]

In response to the questions:

The 97B mos is by itself, pretty difficult to obtain. I think the GT on the ASVAB is 105 min. Additionally, you've got to go through the process of getting a TS clearance which has crushed a lot of folks trying to transfer into the mos as they have bad finances or wives of foreign nationality (the foreign nationals issue is big with the DIS folks who adjudicate your TS packet). If you have a decent record you should be ok. Make sure you put down references who are relatively "clean" also and will vouch for your character--or lie as best they can http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif--as they will be giving them a call.

I have looked into the 97B route for a Ranger Bn as these are critical MOS. I would have transfer from Guard to active, but there has been word floated around, if you go active in this MOS you may be able to keep your current rank as the army is so short 97Bs anyway, but I'm not sure. Bottom line-once you finish the MOS and get your Bs & Cs (Badges and Credentials) they can't take that away from you if you go active.

If you want it as initial entry contract, I don't see why you couldn't ask for 97B in a Ranger Bn just like any other job. They will give you the opportunity for RIP etc. once you get to your duty assignment.

I would be partial to doing CI either for a Ranger Bn or within an SF Bn S-2 as the nature of your responsiblities would have a decent tempo. It is hard within the MI career field to find the "fun" stuff, but it is available. The trick is finding the assignment. Anywho... Within the Batts or SF you could get missions focusing on analysis of threats to your core element you are in support of i.e. analysis of local terrorist threats, preservation of opsec, and generally being the overall in country specialist for potential threats and considerations. The watch word is "force protection", whether it be physical, electronic, or personnel. You will be exposed to high level matters, but as far as being interactive as enlisted, you may be limited. Mid-level officers are typically dictating the necessary requirements to be gathered or administered by the lower echelon personnel. Regardless, in real world missions, either officer or enlisted, you do have to enact the ra ra cloak and dagger techniques for the simple fact that as CI you are immensely valuable to an enemy. So you always are protecting against your being compromised even if you are heading out for donuts...

One of the more intriquing opportunities within the field is a CI warrant officer which after a min of 3 years in the MOS you could submit for. You would be looked on as a team chief (of 5 man team) and be in charge of the nuts and bolts support of an element you are attached too.

Try to stay with high speed units to get their residual high speed training while still getting the exposure to the important intell issues. If your an officer, go to the JSOC in Florida and crack Bin Laden's industrial infrastructure after you get your Masters/Ph.d in threat analysis.

[Razor]

Hmmm, I wonder about your remark on security clearances and having spouses of foreign origin, Whammer. I had four classmates in my Q with foreign origin wives who had no problem getting their TS-SCI, so I don't think CCF is really all that picky, as long as you have a clean background.

[Mike]

And I know several CIA officers who married foreign wives (after the officers were already in the CIA). All of the wives became U.S. citizens. Since more and more enlisted personnel are marrying foreign women (Germans, Koreans, Japaneses, Italians), it is more of having a clean background, especially with regard to finance (always paid off your debts and cut off those smoking - 900 dollars a year).

[TANGOisinKOREA]

When I worked at CP TANGO I also had a TS clearance and my wife is Korean.

[Whammer]

Some of the folks I see trying to get TS clearances are having a hard time, maybe since their spouses are not US citizens. But, again their possible discouragement may be a symptom of the NG MI twisted web... I don't know, but I stand corrected...
thanks

[redtight]

so mos 97b can have a perement duty station within a ranger bn and/or sf group?

[Whammer]

I don't see any reason why you couldn't get assigned to Ranger Bn or SF Group.

Follow the prompts on Tom's site through to the 75th Regiment Recruiting site and it details the needed MOSs, 97B being one for enlisted and warrant and officer(intel). You would probably get your shot at ranger school.

The have slots with SF groups too, but you still are in a HHC support within the Group HQ. Regardless, it would be great exposure in prep for a move into SF directly.

If anything knows anything else, please advise, otherwise I think its up to your friendly neighborhood recruiter...

[willis]

So do the Officers or the enlisted have more fun in the field.

[NEUMATIK]

I'm a 97B. What are your specific questions?

[vedder]

I just went through meps for my asvab and physical and all the swearing in and processing. They told me that they do not have any 97b positions open so I took a 96b job instead, intelligence analyst. I am being assigned to the 11 psyops bn. Anyone have any info.

[Whammer]

Vedder
What Psyop Group does the 11th Bn fall under?
Is it reserve or active? I was a 37F and they don't have any 97Bs at Bn level--I don't think they have any at group either.

Are you going for active duty? If so that may open up some opportunities for other units as far as 97B goes.

Don't let a recruiting counselor at MEPS tell you there aren't any 97Bs. Bullsh*t! It is a critical MOS. He/She is being lazy...

[vedder]

I am going reserve. I asked if maybe within a cerain time frame or do you guys just not have any openings. She said they have no openings. I have to be honest those mos books with descriptions do not explain a lot for the nieve reader. Another thing, my whole outlook on the army really changed after having sat and watched tv for a full 6 hours waiting to speak with a counselor. Its like the army didn't want people. Also not to put down all recruiters, but the one's that I know don't seem to know that much except there quota for the month. I was advised by my recruiter to omitt an important piece of info in my paper work and during my security interview for my mos. Now having thought about it these security guys are going to find out about it rgardless. What steps can they take against me. I mean I didn't break the law or cheat but it was something they specifically asked me about.

[Rouge Spear]

Look at my question in INTELNET under power of CI agents

[willis]

NEUMATIK- Do officers go into the field much or do they just play with papers.

[Whammer]

Vedder,

Re: there "not being any 97B positions"... There probably isn't any available in Reserve PSYOP units. I am pretty sure of that. There are some in Guard/Reserve MI units if your mind is set on 97B, however.

Just make that recruiter work for you. That is what they are there for and if you aren't squared away with what you want, why are you going to sh*tcan 4-8 years doing something that isn't what you want? Stick to your guns.

Sounds like Neumatik could probably help you out more with regards to actions they can take against you if you don't disclose some info... I just say I forgot to mention it...

di

[vedder]

Anybody here a 96b. What things are expected. They say the training is 19 weeks in Arizona. Anything exciting they teach you.

[NEUMATIK]

Originally posted by willis:
NEUMATIK- Do officers go into the field much or do they just play with papers.



Are you inquiring about commissioned officers in Counteringelligence Officer slots (35E-Captains & above)? If you are then hopefully this helps:

Counterintelligence, just like any other MOS, all depends on your assignment. You can either be assigned to a tactical unit, and do "force protection" stuff, which would expose you to the woods. Or you can be assigned to a strategic unit, where you would perform more "investigative" type of duties. In my experience, CI Officers USUALLY work on the strategic level.

As far as "playing with papers" is concerned, in CI, you will do lots of it-as an enlisted, warrant, or officer. But to make a long story short, if you want to get into the action, become a CI Warrant Officer (becoming one is a whole new topic).

Hope that helps.

[willis]

What do mean by force protection? Thank you

[Whammer]

Force Protection has to do with protecting the force. You are evaluating and keeping record of deficiencies of all types of shortfalls in security that your unit or element you're supporting has.... These range from Physical(fences, mountains, minefields, etcl.) Electronic (computer and data security) Personnel (how apt your individual soldiers are to i) recognize threats to their units or ii) give up sensitive information if they ever had the screws put to them...

This is all in the name of OPSEC (operation security). The more perverbial "walls" your enemy has to climb or get around to exploit you, the better your security is. But, remember, no security measure is full proof.

di

[willis]

Thank you, what the best way to do both CI and SF

[Whammer]

Try to get into a 97B slot with a SF Group HQ or one of the MI detachments assigned to an SF BN etc. You will get the exposure to SF missions and the like, possibly get ABN school, and later, be better apt to make a run at getting SF qualified (if that is in fact what you want).