Hello and warning: This is long,but I need your good input.

I'm close to enlisting and would like CTI or IS. I have questions, many questions...many I've already researched, but these answers need to come from those experienced in CTI and IS, esp. mrsjvb, xsquidling and the others.

Im fairly confident Ill qualify and have absolutely nothing in my background - not a sip or a puff or theft or debt, never been fired....okay, my Mom was really strict, alright? God bless Moms.

Here's how I break it down so far:
CTI's -
* mentally taxing but physically peaceful A school.
* Chinese (unlikely to get, but if you do, it's Kunia - is that for all 6 years or might I go elsewhere?)

* Arabic or Farsi is gonna happen, correct? Ill live in Augusta, which is about 2 hours from my bedroom window, sigh - that has its pluses as I can go home easily, but I NEED to see other parts of the world. Maybe I can just do that on leave? Or will I EVER get a opportunity to PCS? What can a guy do to increase his chances of going anywhere besides Augusta with Arabic or Farsi? I understand Ill probably have to station in Augusta, but deployments can look like... what?

*Can anyone describe "Life for a CTI at Ft. Gordon"? Hot, Im sure, but is it dull as stumpwater? Im eager to do my duty for the Navy, dont get me wrong. I just want to walk into my rating fully aware.
*How does performing the job compare DLI?
*Do CTIs socialize together? How do they blow off steam - drinking or flag football, video games?
* Is the position very political? Is there a sense of jockeying for promotion or is there a strong sense of comraderie and mutual support?
* Is the job spent utterly in isolation during workhours?
*Does the everyday work present any challenges or is primarily rote?

BTW, what is the language that sends you to Meade?

Now for IS:
* tough school as well, but probably more, um, competitive? rowdy? I hear IS "A" school can be a bit like college Freshman dorm - is this true?
* How does the course, in atmosphere, compare to DLI? Off time?
*Are there study groups or do you go solo?

How does it compare in intensity/study hours?
*I know you "choose" your NEC after A, but is it true about being in the top 10% and getting your choice (most likely)?
* How does the experience of the job compare to CTI job? Interest, competition, comraderie, challenges?
* I understand there is/can be a lot of moving around for IS types-true? What kinds of places/deployments
*It seems as though there is only one NEC (??) for E-3, is this correct? Assuming E-4, how do the NEC's differ in the experience of one's job?
* Do the best NEC's tend to gone as the year progresses?
*Frankly, which is the best NEC?

Okay, enough for now - I know this is long, but I thank you for taking the time to characterize in depth these two ratings by answering some quality of experience (at school, work and deployment opportunities) and addressing promotion opportunities as well (in fact, Ill bring that promotions up in another post.

Again, thank you for your time and I look forward to a lifetime of being a part of the US Navy.

Wow, you are certainly asking good questions. Lets see...

You have DLI down pretty well....let me also add that it is a den of iniquities that has lead many a young sailor to their doom. Don't act like a typical young sailor and you'll do great.

Deployments will probably depend a lot on your gender, unfortunately. You can eventually PCS out of Gordon, but if you plan on doing 20 years...well, maybe buying that house in Agusta does make sense.

I loved this one "How does performing the job compare DLI?" If I understand the intent of your question...well, basically DLI and the work you'll actually do have about as much in common as, well....they don't really have much in common at all, come to think of it. Except that both will possibly require you to know a foreign language, at least on paper

Do CTIs socialize together...yes, as CTIs tend to be social outasts who can only interact with their own kind. I made the CARDINAL mistake any CTI can make....I married another one. At least I didn't do it while I was still at DLI.

Is the position political...hmm, I could think of something snarkey to say but I shall refrain. It ALL gets political, especially once you reach a certain rank.....ESPECIALLY E6. That's not a CTI-specific curse though. The job itself can be political, but that is the topic for another posting.

Camraderie and mutual support....in the CTI field??? Are you SURE you aren't smoking something???? All semi-joking asside, all I can say is : It depends.

CTIs don't typically work in isolation...however, that doesn't mean that they interact with anybody during their shift.

Regarding everday work and if its a challenge, being a CTI is really like being in a lot of the rest of the military...a lot of it can involve soul-crushing tedium sprinkled with rare, delectable moments of sheer terror/panic. Those are the good times.

Any language can end up in Meade, but it is primarily European languages.

Please understand, I'm not trying to scare you off CTI, or imply that other rates are better.

Just that if you want to go into Navy Intel, you need to be long-suffering and have a good sense of humor.

Chinese is not out of the question, just don't count on getting it. Yes, you are going to Kunia if you get Chinese. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Xsquidling, I am STILL laughing. Dude that was well-written and very entertaining. I like your curmudgeon stylings.

"a lot of it can involve soul-crushing tedium sprinkled with rare, delectable moments of sheer terror/panic. "

Aah yes. Good times indeed.

Now, Im sure your wife might not think such a move was a Cardinal mistake. Why do these marriages happen with relative frequency at DLI or soon thereafter?

So it seems that maybe you're not doing the same thing at station that you do at DLI?

Man, I really appreciate that thoughtful response. And thanks for the laugh.

Sorry, I mean doing the same type of "work" at station as at DLI.


Now would anyone be willing to take on the IS side of the original post? MEPS is coming up faaaast.....

"Now, Im sure your wife might not think such a move was a Cardinal mistake. Why do these marriages happen with relative frequency at DLI or soon thereafter?"

Like all the other cool ex-CTIs, I have an ex-spouse who is also an ex-linguist. Throw a bunch of hormonally-charged 18-20 somethings, most of whom are away from home for the first time, in close proximity for 1.5 years and you can understand why DLI really stands for Defense Love Institute. Then, once your spouse is stationed on the other side of the world, works the opposite shift as you for years, or you generally wonder what you were thinking/drinking when you decided to marry said spouse, you then part ways (and the lawyer parts with your money.)

Its an all too common affliction among CTIs, but from what I understand they are years away from a vaccine.

Men and women share living spaces?? Same floor of same building, perhaps?

Somebody should do something about that, haha. Man, how does anyone get through "alive"

Im stayingin in my room and locking the door - unless they put the ladies in the same room too...egad.

Now for IS:
You can put an asterisk here as my experience is now 20 years old. There are a great many things that could have changed.

* tough school as well, but probably more, um, competitive? rowdy? I hear IS "A" school can be a bit like college Freshman dorm - is this true?
The school is challenging, but fair. If you study and drive yourself, you should not have any issues. Anytime you have 18-20 year olds away from home for the first time, there is always going to be some boundary pushing. But keep in mind this is the military and you are not going to end up like a college dorm. If you do, you won't be in the military for very long.

* How does the course, in atmosphere, compare to DLI? Off time?
I cannot give comparisons as I was never at DLI. But as to off time, the weekends are generally free other than duty days. You may have some time on weeknights but less free than weekends.

*Are there study groups or do you go solo?
You will be able to do what suits you. There are study groups, but there are also the loners out there that do their own thing. Help was always available for those that sought it.

How does it compare in intensity/study hours?
*I know you "choose" your NEC after A, but is it true about being in the top 10% and getting your choice (most likely)?
In my day, a class either went with operational intelligence or imagery. There was no choice. I think this has softened, but do not know to what extent.

* How does the experience of the job compare to CTI job? Interest, competition, camaraderie, challenges?
In actual working on the job, I knew some CTI's. The jobs are so different that it is like comparing apples and baseballs. I think there are more different types of roles as an IS(CTI's can correct me here). We are a jack of all trades to a degree, and not as specialized as CTI's. As you move through the career, you can experience many different jobs and that can lead to some really cool possibilities. Things can get competitive like all things in life. The better you are, the better you can try and make your situation. As for camaraderie, all my friends in the military were primarily other IS's with some CT's thrown in. Challenges, there is not enough room here. It comes in all forms professional and personal. Remember, the jobs that you are looking at are the "geek" rates and will set you a bit apart from some of the other sailors you will encounter. Not to say there is not a wide variety of folks here, but these are not generally the same as the Deck Department.

* I understand there is/can be a lot of moving around for IS types-true? What kinds of places/deployments
IS's will have a broader range of options for duty stations than CTI's. That being said, your first duty station will likely be a carrier, an airwing or to a lesser chance of an Intelligence Center. I believe that the IS rate continues to be 50% sea duty and 50% shore stations.

*It seems as though there is only one NEC (??) for E-3, is this correct? Assuming E-4, how do the NEC's differ in the experience of one's job?
There are a number of positions you could fill depending on your training and what your fist duty stations needs.

* Do the best NEC's tend to gone as the year progresses?
I don't think this works the same as when I was in, so I can't say.

*Frankly, which is the best NEC?
Varies by person.

There are a bunch of notes on this board that deal with life in these ratings and I would encourage you to review them. You asked some very good questions and as possible intel geek, you probably don't mind doing some searches.

Yeah, I have done a lot of searches and will contiue to - but hearing you two guys perspective was uniquely informative. I hope others will post their experience and suggestions and make this thread even more useful for a lot of folks.

I cant thank you guys enough. If you two are representative, the Navy is going to be a proud place to serve my country - which I love in my bones, right down to the marrow.

Thanks jfkspook and xsquidling -

The pros of becoming an IS as related by a Boatswain's Mate:

+You get to be ship's company.
+Snoopy teams!
+No repair locker!
+Hardly any painting, chipping, grinding, or sanding.
+You get to read the "Geopolitical scenarios" for ITT drills on the 1MC.

I would say go IS because there are probably a good spread of sea and shore billets all over the place to choose from. Your work may be fun/dull/boring/awesome, but if you go to sea at least you can live the Navy life for at least some amount of time. Sea life to me is what makes the Navy an "experience" rather than a job. (At least when were are underway, not tied to the pier.)

I hate to semi-hyjack this thread but the way you guys speak of Kunia it sounds as though it's not such a great place to be.

Could someone explain this one to me? Lol. I've got my eye set on Kunia for when I do my dream sheet of billets in A school. As I suppose everyone else does. I mean... it's Oahu baby!!

Kunia is an NSA facility and is joint service...that means that much (or all) of your operational and some of your admin leadership will be civilain and/or from other services. It is a large command where junior sailors can/do get lost in the suffle, and junior sailors stationed there never get a sense of what being in the Navy is really like, IMHO, becuase many times they rarely interact with Navy leaders....except to see their Chief once a month if they are lucky. The same problem exists at Gordon and Ft. Meade, and all the CTs stationed there run this risk.

You've read too many travel brocures, mate. Watch a little bit of 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' and you'll get a bit more nuanced view of what Oahu is really like.

Well ain't that the pits =(