So I lat-moved into 2671 Middle East CryptoLinguistic, from the infantry. I've got a good year and some change left at Defense Language Institute, then it's off to a Radio Battalion for me. What is life in a Rad Bn like? I was really aiming for straight up interpereter work, but it looks like this is more of a ****ing desk job. What sort of combat oriented roles are there in a Rad Bn? Any help would be appreciated.
Hello LARGthan, This may help a little..even though I was never in Radio BN, I worked closely with them from 2000-2003 when I was with the MEU. Basically all the guys I met with Radio BN. were hardcore, worked out a lot (be prepared to bench at least 300lbs) and basically were smart as heck!! They were basically in the field every 2 weeks like we were when I was with the MEU! But seriously this was my observation....
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Originally posted by LAREthan: So I lat-moved into 2671 Middle East CryptoLinguistic, from the infantry. I've got a good year and some change left at Defense Language Institute, then it's off to a Radio Battalion for me. What is life in a Rad Bn like? I was really aiming for straight up interpereter work, but it looks like this is more of a ****ing desk job. What sort of combat oriented roles are there in a Rad Bn? Any help would be appreciated.
This may help a little..even though I was never in Radio BN, I worked closely with them from 2000-2003 when I was with the MEU. Basically all the guys I met with Radio BN. were hardcore, worked out a lot (be prepared to bench at least 300lbs) and basically were smart as heck!! They were basically in the field every 2 weeks like we were when I was with the MEU! But seriously this was my observation....
The Marines he probably saw that fit this description were the Radio Recon guys. When you get to RadBn you should get the chance to take the indoc for Radio Recon (with your background it shouldn't be too difficult for you). Don't know what the indoc is like these days, but I believe it used to be pretty similar to the regular recon indoc.
The MEU's used to have an LAV variant vehicle that the RadBn guys used to have (if I remember correctly it was called the MEWSS). Again, with your LAV background, this would seem like a pretty good fit.
I was a HUMINT guy when I went through DLI (also latmoved from the 03 field) but I made a lot of friends with the SIGINT guys that I went through with; also ran into quite a few of them over the years on MEU's and various other ops. My information is dated, so you can probably get better info from current RadBn guys. The bottom line is that there are quite a few opportunities for RadBn guys to go out and do real-world ops. If you get stuck at one of the letter companies it becomes much more difficult.
RadioRecon attached to a ReconBN or a RadBn? And do they go through ARS or a modified Radio version?
They belong to RadBn. I don't believe they normally go through ARS, but they do have jump billets. I also went through dive school with one of the guys from the RadBn in Hawaii (which I believe has since relocated to Pendleton).
All the guys I worked with from Radio Recon were solid. As you have probably already figured out, there are a lot of geeks in the SIGINT community (not necessarily a bad thing in that community), the RR guys were a pretty good mix of smart and hard. Again, I am giving you dated information - there should be some SIGINT NCO's going through DLI for their second (or third) language; those guys might be able to give you more up-to-date info.
Yeah, got a French Linguist that meets your description for a Radio Recon type. He was actually in my AO in Iraq, and now he's here learning ARabic. I'll approach him about it.
LAREthan - let me know what you find out about modern day RR; a good friend of mine's kid is thinking about going in as a 26XX and is asking me questions about it.
Thanks, Ken
ETA - I understand that most of the missions are going to be classified, just want to know if getting into the unit is that same as it was.
This is kind of an old post, but I figured that I'd give my 2 cents on it anyways. I'm currently with 3rd RADBN (Hawaii). If you're doing a middle eastern language, you more than likely won't be coming to here. 1st RADBN is out of pendleton and 2nd RADBN is out of lejeune. Currently 1st and 2nd are in the deployment rotation for Iraq. 3rd RAD does the 31st MEU and also a Philippines detachment. Also, 1st and 2nd are the only RADBNs with an RRP (radio recon platoon).
Now, as a linguist at a RADBN, you will probably be stuck as an analyst. I don't really want to go into what exactly an analyst does...but you'll find out sooner or later. Your job at RADBN can be pretty much anything though. You can be on an SST (SIGINT support team, etc..). Just be prepared to learn a lot of new gear and programs. Not sure what radios you have used in the past, but brushing up on them would be a good idea.
You'll enjoy RADBN, but keep in mind, it will probably be a lot different than your prior MOS. And by different I mean get used to seeing low regs =).
If you have any other questions I'd be more than happy to answer them. Good luck with DLI!
