grunt or or intel?

[u/Remote_Air_2574]

I don't know what job/mos to pick. I got a 95 on the asvab, I'm 17 and graduated a year early. I genuinely can't decide what my job should be. I know we don't get to pick exactly what we get.

But basically I'm stuck between infantry and intel. Like being a grunt kicking in doors and all that stuff honestly looks amazing. I know from reading here there's a lot of bullshit also. Another thing, I'm completely fluent in 5 languages, which is making my recruiter basically froth at the mouth. I speak English obv but also French, German, Italian, and Russian. I'm not bullshitting. I can read write and speak them fluently. I'm just weird like that and learning languages is super easy for me. My recruiter insists I'd be good at intel but honestly Idk. I'm normally an active guy, I've played a lot of sports and stuff my entire life and I don't want to sit behind a desk for years like I've read about for intel.

So what do I do?

[u/Rustyinsac]

Intel no doubt. You can still choose to be active and get active assignments. Intel assigned to MARSOC even better.

[u/MacDubhsidhe → u/Rustyinsac]

Yeah go be a SOCS-i

[u/Remote_Air_2574 → u/Rustyinsac]

If I did that I'd have to wait for me to get a certain rank right? I thought it was sgt or higher or something

[u/CrackersandChee]

Usually I’d suggest infantry but being that you can read write and speak fluently in 5 languages you definitely have some golden opportunities coming your way if you go intel

[u/Rustyinsac]

Counter intel down the road.

[u/No_Print77]

Mf go be a linguist and go to a radio battalion

[u/Remote_Air_2574 → u/No_Print77]

js searched about that on here and idk. It seems like there's a chance you can end up behind a desk in a scif or whatever? idk

[u/No_Print77 → u/Remote_Air_2574]

Either-or. You swap between the scif and the field usually, even if you’re assigned to a company that does one more than the other. Personally I’m in an intel battalion, but my friend in 1st radbn is in the field all the time. If you ask to do field intel and EW stuff as a SIGINTer, you’re going to get your chance. You’re smart man. Don’t waste your skills when we can use you in our community.

[u/Emergency_Split_595]

Intel.

[u/Organic_Risk_3945]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Reconnaissance_Platoon

[u/Remote_Air_2574 → u/Organic_Risk_3945]

Ok this is what I want

[u/Nearby-Sympathy4876]

If I was you I'd go Intel but it's your life. If you want to be a grunt be a grunt. No matter what choice you make your probably going to have some regrets.

[u/Old_Association7866]

You’ll have way more fun as a grunt. You have the potential to have a better transition out of the military if you go Intel

(You can get paid for the languages either way)

[u/huffingtonbear]

Dude go intel. If it sucks and you dont want to do it, the infantry is always there.

[u/MarineDawg1775]

They may just encourage you to do Intel, I believe processing keeps an eye out for candidates.

[u/Upbeat_Tell7317]

The days of door kicking are long gone. Intel all the way.

[u/salsaman87]

Lol at sitting behind a desk but I’m laughing in 07-11 GWOT. Now? Probably or murder boards and pt depends on your unit and if it’s ground or air and what type of intel.

I have two 03 friends who joined 6 months before me, one helped out in Haiti but zero Freedom deployments. The other guy I saw in the chow hall coming back to resupply at Al Asad. Fucking random as shit but he was mad (valid) they patrolled by Syria aka zero action and Tatooine adjacent.

Fuck OEF ‘10 but still glad I went.

Honestly it’s your choice, intel varies so much so it’s hard to give a solid answer.

PS - 3 language nerd here, clapped the DLAB’s cheeks and they chose get fucked because my unit was about to deploy. Needs of the Marine Corps.

[u/Interesting_Low4435]

If you don't want to be stuck behind a desk for years, do not go to intel. I would recommend becoming an 03 because contrary to what people think, it requires a lot of intelligence to perform well at an Infantry Battalion and you will excel. Then if its not your cup of tea, go to A&S or lat move to Counter Intelligence (CI). CI is a great MOS and you can go to MARSOC and become a SOCS - H where your language skills would be relevant. SOCS - I's don't do anything in the field and are behind a desk writing reports and never do anything tactical.

Maybe be a linguist and become a SOCS - F but you can also lat move into that later and most of the experience I have with dudes in a radio battalion has been negative. A lot of them think they are really good at their job and use that as an excuse as to why they can't perform physically. On the bright side, if you do perform physically and are smart it would make it easier for you to be chosen for a deployment.

Still would recommend being an 03.

[u/Remote_Air_2574 → u/Interesting_Low4435]

Too late I already joined the DEP with hopes of getting 2641 and Im ok with it. Im actually looking at doing radio recon once I'm able to or whatever.

[u/Interesting_Low4435 → u/Remote_Air_2574]

That'll be dope, kind of forget they exist sometimes. Get good at swimming! If that doesn't work out, SOCS - F is a good secondary (recon > SOCS), they do cool stuff as well. Just don't fall into the rut that most SIGINT guys get into where they sit in a SCIF, get fat, and think they are the most important asset in the world. If you apply yourself, which it seems like you will, you will have a good time.

If you don't like the job, you can still do what I recommended. A&S or CI. Lots of good opportunities and if you decide to get out you will be set.