DCO Intel Community Gouge (Bonus: "The Long Blue Wait" in FY09)

[Flash]

The NEX in Bethesda is excellent, but I think the Anacostia location was mentioned because there is a uniform thrift shop and you can save a large amount of money. Anacostia is not so bad in the daytime.

I have to second that, very nice uniform shop with good customer service. Just make sure that you don't pick up USPHS insignia!

 

[FlyinSpy]

2) Get the contact information for each of the CO's of the units that you are interested in. Call your RIA's main office and ask for the Reserve Intel POC / detailer (I'll PM you the number). Once you get someone on the phone see if they will put you in contact with the CO's of the units that you are interested in.

3) Try to contact each one and at least have a phone conversation; if you can, try to meet in person. Explain your background, qualifications, etc. You never know what could happen. That is, you could make a good impression on one of the CO's and they could possibly call the detailer and ensure you are assigned to their unit. Even if they cannot make this happen, your initiative and phone calls will not be forgotten. Taking the initiative will go a long way.

Good advice, but maybe a bit premature. I would suggest waiting until you are at least commissioned and in BRIT before making these contacts. While "leaning forward in the foxhole" is a good thing, at this point you're not even in the Navy yet, and wouldn't be able to tell the Skipper a key piece of info - when you might expect to be available to show up in his (or her...) unit. Doing research on the above units is a good idea, though, so you can get a sense of where you might like to go; you can feed this to the detailer/RIPO when you are doing your initial check-in.

I'm also a fan of the Uniform Store at the Navy Annex in Arlington - very customer-service oriented.

 

[trackgain]

Chasing an Intel DCO billet

There are some very good units with RIA 19. You can call the OIC and talk to him/her about the units there. You can also look into and call RIA Mid Atlantic (Norfolk) and talk to them also. Many of the units in RIA 19 are overmanned with officers. With that said, you will be a below the line officer (officer attached to a unit, but does not have a specific billet to the unit). When I moved to MD last year, I called both RIAs and made the decision to go with a unit out of Norfolk. Yep, it is a little drive, but it gets me out of the MD/DC area for the weekend. When I went through Reserve Intel Training, I was living in Pensacola and drove the 5 hour I-10 straight line to Jacksonville to drill. The drive to Norfolk is nothing.

 

[bubblehead]

Good advice, but maybe a bit premature. I would suggest waiting until you are at least commissioned and in BRIT before making these contacts. While "leaning forward in the foxhole" is a good thing, at this point you're not even in the Navy yet, and wouldn't be able to tell the Skipper a key piece of info - when you might expect to be available to show up in his (or her...) unit. Doing research on the above units is a good idea, though, so you can get a sense of where you might like to go; you can feed this to the detailer/RIPO when you are doing your initial check-in.

I did all of the above leg work before my DCO/DIRCOM package was ever submitted and ended up scheduling my own intel community interview with one of the CO's of the unit's in my area that I was really interested in and that I found during my research. I am prior enlisted, but do not think it would have mattered when I was calling around.

I agree with FlyinSpy in principle, but feel that taking the initiative will pay off.

I'm also a fan of the Uniform Store at the Navy Annex in Arlington - very customer-service oriented.

++1 another excellent shop.

 

[bubblehead]

You can also look into and call RIA Mid Atlantic (Norfolk) and talk to them also. Many of the units in RIA 19 are overmanned with officers.

excellent advice!

 

[getawaydriver]

Submitting a package for the MAR2009 boards for Intel and contemplating SPECWAR.

Graduated from GW with a degree in Asian studies.

I took the ASTB in 2005 and barely passed; I am horrible at standardized testing and frankly just took it from all sides.

Does anyone know, or does anyone have any input as to how much weight the ASTB carries on your packet?

My experience and education are pretty damn relevant and I plan to go to active duty once I hit a certain age. I just don't want this to be dashed based on the ASTB.

Thanks and best of luck to all in the process.

 

[bucki4lyfe]

I'm also a fan of the Uniform Store at the Navy Annex in Arlington - very customer-service oriented.

I'm assuming that's the one down by the Pentagon area? Same price as Bethesda or elsewhere? I'm a little iffy on going to Anacostia to purchase old uniforms, just because back from my air force days I was really keen on making sure I was looking good...thoughts?

 

[Flash]

I'm assuming that's the one down by the Pentagon area? Same price as Bethesda or elsewhere? I'm a little iffy on going to Anacostia to purchase old uniforms, just because back from my air force days I was really keen on making sure I was looking good...thoughts?

Yes, it is big ugly building on a hill overlooking the Pentagon, right behind the Air Force Memorial. Funny, when you look in Google images for the Memorial there are few pictures of it with the Annex in the background, I wonder why........

The prices should be the same at every NEX. Good call on Anacostia, avoid if you can.

 

[bubblehead]

DCO Intel Selction Process

My opinions...

Graduated from GW with a degree in Asian studies.

Your degree will also help, assuming your grades at GW are good.

I took the ASTB in 2005 and barely passed; I am horrible at standardized testing and frankly just took it from all sides.

It depends on your package. If your grades in school are good and you have other competitive factors, I wouldn't stress it. Competitive ASTB scores for the DCO Intel program are in the mid- 50's.

A high score will certainly help you. A lower score will not necessarily hurt you.

If you post your stats (grades, ASTB scores, et al.), people will chime in and give you some advice. If you do decide to retake, please keep the following in mind:

You may only retake the ASTB three times. After the first time, you're required to wait at least 30 days before taking it again (i.e., you can't take it until the 31 st day after your first test). After the second time, you're required to wait at least 90 days before taking it for the last time (i.e., you can't take it until the 91 st day after your second test). Regardless of whether your re-test scores are higher than those of a previous test, only the most recent scores are considered for program eligibility.

Does anyone know, or does anyone have any input as to how much weight the ASTB carries on your packet?

My experience and education are pretty damn relevant and I plan to go to active duty once I hit a certain age. I just don't want this to be dashed based on the ASTB.

I read that you are applying for the March 2009 DCO/DIRCOM board for the Navy Reserves, but above, you state that you plan to go active when you hit a certain age?

Would you mind clarifying?

If you live in the Washington, DC area and are applying, you need to ensure that your package is top-notch. As I have posted in another thread, Washington, DC is one of the toughest places from which to be selected as an Intel DCO. Intel is a high-demand, low-density field and Washington, DC is filled with literally thousands of over-qualified people. You could also PM or search for posts by bucki4lyfe, he was picked up for DCO Intel an indicated in his posts that he is in the Washington, DC area.

 

[HH-60H]

Can we please stop talking about clearances and what intel job everyone has, etc, etc? Thanks.

 

[bubblehead]

Can we please stop talking about clearances and what intel job everyone has, etc, etc? Thanks.

my bad

 

[getawaydriver]

Thanks for all the information. Much obliged.

I spoke with a close family friend who was a SWO for 8-10 years and he put me in touch with an O who switched from SWO to Crypto. Needless to say, I took the bait and listed Crypto as my second option and Intel as the first. That should cover my bases pretty well considering my experience thus far in related fields.

Does anyone currently have Crypto down as a designator?

 

[getawaydriver]

I performed a search of DC area CRYPTO units and came up dry. Does anyone have a list of such units or a resource that I can scour to compile a listing of all the units?

Thanks in advance. This forum is a gold mine.

 

[bubblehead]

check your PM...

 

[getawaydriver]

Roger that. Thanks for the prompt reply dude.