Prior service 11b considering reclassing to M.I. in a Civil Affairs unit; without violating OPSEC & PERSEC could you give me some info. on how it would be? Thanks!
Thank you for replying. This would be with a local Reserve Civil Affairs unit. I plan on being attached as an Intel Analyst; so I was looking for information as what I could expect my duties would be?
Thanks for the response 'SFC_Q' - would that web site show the job of an Intel Analyst (35F/96B)? I hear the prior service training for this MOS would be done a few weeks at a time for NG/AR - do you have any information about how this training would be like?
Well first off, I think they'll send you to CA school the first change you get after getting your 96B primary. I can in as the BDE NBC guy, two weeks later I was off to Civil Affairs school. Oh, and enjoy deployments.
Thanks for the response 'mcclainm' - so you sound like you know about Civil Affairs. I gather from your post that you were first send to NBC school; then you were sent to CA? Did I read that correctly? If you've seen from my previous post I'm a former 11B LRS Infantry - I'm leaning towards a CA MOS - rather than MI MOS in a CA unit. Do you find it beneficial to have a non-CA Primary MOS (NCB); then be in a CA unit where they send you to CA school? Sorry if my questions is a little odd, but I'm just wondering what I can expect in a CA unit. Thanks for your time.
It depends on the unit. A Battalion such as the 411th in Danbury CT. in the center can spend quite a bit of time in classes, performing PMCS on individual equipment and ensuring paper work is all to snuff for the next deployment. The 411th also had a web site so you may be able to check that out as well.
Brigades have a different emphasis. try a search for the 304th CA BDE. Then there are Commands susch as the 353CA CMD. These are all located on the eastern seaboard. 353 in NYC and the 304 near Philly. I don't know if they've web sites but you can try.
Sorry for the delay, long weeks of classes. I transferred in as a 74d about a year after basic. They're hurting so bad for 38B soldiers that they send me to reclass school so I could fill two spots on a battle roster and whatnot, depending on what they needed. CA reclass is at FT. Dix, its a 23 day course. It's called "shake and bake". As for it being beneficial, I deployed as the NBC guy, but then someone got hurt and they sent me to a CAT-A (Civil Affairs operational team), to fill the spot. It's always good to be able to do multiple jobs. Send me a message is you have anymore specifics.
Sorry for taking so long to respond - and thanks for the posts 'SFC_Q' & 'mcclainm'. Keep the info coming, I'll definitely check out the website for the 411th, 304th & 353rd. And, 'mcclainm' - PM on the way!
Sorry 'mcclainm' - I've been trying to get permission to send a PM to you, but no luck so far. Anyway, how is training? I've spoken my the local Army Reserve CA unit, and they say training will be at Ft. Dix - my question is what type of gear will I need to bring, regular TA-50 or something else? If you can send me a PM, please do! Thanks for your time.
Gear depends on when you go. Most of it is school house stuff, so like a pack to carry a notebooks and stuff for the first 2 weeks. Then you have an FTX, so like a Kevlar, ruck, and LBE. They give you a packing list. Can you send me your email and I'll touch base with you soon.
Sorry about that 'Shardik' - I'm still civilian-minded, and I had a 'brainfart'. You're right about the packing list. Is there anything else I should bring that's not included on the list?
I just got home on Friday from the course. We had a 9 day FTX, so don't follow the packing list in the welcome letter or you will run out of clothes, especially if the weather sucks like it did for us (live for the suck...LOL).. They are working on wifi and I think they just put in some new computers as we were leaving. The accomodations are bad - worse than basic in the 70's - think group showers and shared rooms even for E7's and E8's. Standard army linen, so bring your wubbie - I never travel without it. If you have a hand held GPS, it will come in handy. Maps for Burlington and Ocean counties in NJ, otherwise you will probably be trying to buy some on the economy.
Thanks, ColleenC, I appreciate all the information. Thanks for the info on the local area maps. I copy on the GPS. The barracks sound like the type 19th Group have in Utah. That sucks for the room situation, so bring earplugs? Ha! Oh, yeah, thanks for responding to this old thread. I look forward to receiving any more information you can pass on - you can see my email address in some earlier posts, so please feel to respond there also!
Ear plugs? YES! It is noisy. Our class only had 2 days off the entire cycle. We are in the building with other classes (Psyop and Engineers) both of them seemed to have a less rigid schedule. The first 2 weeks, AFPT is M-W-F at 0450, even in May it was chilly in NJ, depending on when your class date is, you may want to bring black gloves. THe PT wasn't bad, the class leaders set it up, so it will be different for you guys - we ran, did circuit training, played volleyball (and soccer) in the dark....
The classroom for us was at the Timmerman building, which is nice, you will have 2 weeks of death by powerpoint. 4 tests - multiple choice, not too bad.
If you have any specific questions, let me know, I happy to help.
Okay, first off, is that PT every M-W-F, or a PT test on M-W-F? Sounds like whining, huh? Not really, I do try to stay in shape (39 years old) Powerpoint, huh? I'm a Manager at a Native American casino, so I deal with Powerpoint on a daily basis. Did you bring your own TA-50, or take what they issued? Two days off? What was there to do around there? I'll send more questions as I think of them!
ooops sorry....typo... PT is M-W-F...LOL- no PT test.
I almost forgot... BRING a thumbdrive! Hopefully one you can live without, as you may not get it back... (long story)
TA-50... I brought mostly what I was issued and some of my own. For TA-50, the packing list is OK, I just wish I had brought extra uniforms, t-shirts, etc for the long ftx - though your class may do something different.
What is there to do around Dix - well since we weren't released till about 1600 and had accountability formation 2100 the following day... AND we weren't allowed outside a 50 mile radius... not too much. Atlantic City, Philadelphia.... that is about it - both are pretty expensive. Great Adventure amusement park is pretty close. (NYC is over the 50 mile limit) Mostly I walked, read, hit the computer lab, talked on the phone, went to the PX... caught up on sleep... nothing really exciting. The little Japanese restaurant outside the Wrightstown gate has decent sushi, though from the outside, the place doesn't look like much. It is about 1.75 miles from the barracks. There is a shuttle that goes around the post. There is a bowling alley (Monday nite is dollar nite) and go-karts. The fitness center is OK and there is a pool. Believe me, your day off flies by.
I found the Battlestaff SMARTbook is a great help - $30 at the PX, but you can probably find it cheaper on Amazon.
