DCO Intel Subdisciplines and Deployments

[MJR08]

Hello everyone! I'm newly considering putting in an application to the DCO Intelligence program with the Naval Reserves, but had a couple initial questions:

1. What is the likelihood if selected, that I could be assigned to an intel unit specializing in Geospatial Intelligence and Imagery Intelligence? I have about 5 years of experience in this specific area from my civilian career, in addition to a M.S. degree in Geospatial Intelligence--so I'm hoping to stay within this field rather than being put in cyber/signals intelligence or something else of that nature.
   
2. I know going this route is a 3 year active reservist commitment, so how likely and what would be the average timeframes to be called up for deployments as a reservist intelligence officer?

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Hello everyone! I'm newly considering putting in an application to the DCO Intelligence program with the Naval Reserves, but had a couple initial questions:

1. What is the likelihood if selected, that I could be assigned to an intel unit specializing in Geospatial Intelligence and Imagery Intelligence? I have about 5 years of experience in this specific area from my civilian career, in addition to a M.S. degree in Geospatial Intelligence--so I'm hoping to stay within this field rather than being put in cyber/signals intelligence or something else of that nature.
   
2. I know going this route is a 3 year active reservist commitment, so how likely and what would be the average timeframes to be called up for deployments as a reservist intelligence officer?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Good questions!

1. Did you ask your recruiter?
2. Did you ask during your professional interviews?

If the answer is no to either of these, go back to 1 and 2.

 

[HH-60H]

Good questions!

1. Did you ask your recruiter?
2. Did you ask during your professional interviews?

If the answer is no to either of these, go back to 1 and 2.

Rufio's got it right. Those are the guys/gals (especially #2) who have some of the best info about the community.

From my limited perspective as a civilian watching 183xs, they seem to prefer to develop leadership and breadth over technical speciality. However, I am more familiar with the active duty side.

 

[MJR08]

Thanks for the response, Rufio. I have been referred to a local recruiter through a colleague, but have not yet gotten in contact. Was hoping to hear some input from recent DCO intel selects prior to asking the recruiter, as I've heard that the recruiters can be either extremely difficult to get in contact with, and sometimes may stretch the truth in regards to deployment chances and likelihood of performing relevant work.

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Thanks for the response, Rufio. I have been referred to a local recruiter through a colleague, but have not yet gotten in contact. Was hoping to hear some input from recent DCO intel selects prior to asking the recruiter, as I've heard that the recruiters can be either extremely difficult to get in contact with, and sometimes may stretch the truth in regards to deployment chances and likelihood of performing relevant work.

See my second answer (#2).

 

[unbroken]

Hello everyone! I'm newly considering putting in an application to the DCO Intelligence program with the Naval Reserves, but had a couple initial questions:

1. What is the likelihood if selected, that I could be assigned to an intel unit specializing in Geospatial Intelligence and Imagery Intelligence? I have about 5 years of experience in this specific area from my civilian career, in addition to a M.S. degree in Geospatial Intelligence--so I'm hoping to stay within this field rather than being put in cyber/signals intelligence or something else of that nature.
   
2. I know going this route is a 3 year active reservist commitment, so how likely and what would be the average timeframes to be called up for deployments as a reservist intelligence officer?

Thanks in advance for any input!

I'll try to help out a bit. I think it is smart to go in with some baseline understanding of what to expect so that you can navigate the incoming flood of information from your recruiter as best as possible.


(1) Will depend in part on whether there is a reserve unit with this capacity/mission drilling near you, or alternatively, whether you are able and willing to travel to one further away that does. Of course that would also require there to be a slot available for you, etc. However, geospatial is also more in the USAF wheelhouse, so make sure you know what you're getting into, or consider talking to a USAF recruiter as well. For Navy, you'd probably be looking at space cadre opportunities (here, and google around: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/Detailing/spacecadre/Pages/default.aspx)

(2) I was told by my recruiter and interviewers that it is "career advisable" to activate within your first three years. Keep in mind that this could mean an active duty shore tour. Realistically you will spend the first year - 18 mo's in initial schools, so realistically you won't be ready to deploy until around the O-2/O-3 level anyway. I was told IA (individual augmentee) opportunities to Iraq and Afghanistan, for example, are usually available to O-3s and higher. Of course, if another 9/11 situation were to occur tomorrow, timelines could be expedited. But it can take months and months to even get gained by an initial unit, so with the current drawdown environment, I think it's safe to say you could get through the first 3 years without deploying -- whether you want to for career progression is another matter, but I would talk that over with your recruiter and interviewer.

I hope that offers some basic insight. Feel free to message me with any more inquiries. Good luck!

 

[HH-60H]

However, geospatial is also more in the USAF wheelhouse

Can you expound?

 

[MJR08]

I'll try to help out a bit. I think it is smart to go in with some baseline understanding of what to expect so that you can navigate the incoming flood of information from your recruiter as best as possible.


(1) Will depend in part on whether there is a reserve unit with this capacity/mission drilling near you, or alternatively, whether you are able and willing to travel to one further away that does. Of course that would also require there to be a slot available for you, etc. However, geospatial is also more in the USAF wheelhouse, so make sure you know what you're getting into, or consider talking to a USAF recruiter as well. For Navy, you'd probably be looking at space cadre opportunities (here, and google around: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/officer/Detailing/spacecadre/Pages/default.aspx)

(2) I was told by my recruiter and interviewers that it is "career advisable" to activate within your first three years. Keep in mind that this could mean an active duty shore tour. Realistically you will spend the first year - 18 mo's in initial schools, so realistically you won't be ready to deploy until around the O-2/O-3 level anyway. I was told IA (individual augmentee) opportunities to Iraq and Afghanistan, for example, are usually available to O-3s and higher. Of course, if another 9/11 situation were to occur tomorrow, timelines could be expedited. But it can take months and months to even get gained by an initial unit, so with the current drawdown environment, I think it's safe to say you could get through the first 3 years without deploying -- whether you want to for career progression is another matter, but I would talk that over with your recruiter and interviewer.

I hope that offers some basic insight. Feel free to message me with any more inquiries. Good luck!

Unbroken, thanks for the additional insight. I'm considering all options with other branches as well, but the Navy's direct commission reserve program particularly caught my interest. As for drilling units with a geospatial mission, I'm currently in the Washington D.C. area, so hopefully there's a good chance of finding this type of unit nearby. And if not, I'm willing to drill as far away as the Virginia Beach area if necessary.

I also appreciate the deployment insight. I have no issue with deploying within the first three years, but would find some piece of mind knowing that there somewhat of a choice to activate or postpone deployment. (Although I know this won't always be the case!)

Thanks again!

 

[PenguinGal]

And if not, I'm willing to drill as far away as the Virginia Beach area if necessary.!

I'm not IDC and so I don't know how they work things, but just keep in mind that sometimes you don't have a choice. I'm currently with a unit out of CA even though I"m living in VA. I'm not the only one from my unit on the east coast either.

Needs of the Navy applies to the Reserves too. As an officer sometimes you have to take the billet where you can get it, even if it means doing travel. (Depending on the type of billet and travel, it may or may not be reimbursed.) Also, all junior officer billeting is done via JOApply (Reserve Forces Management Tool, RFMT) now. Dream sheet gets submitted, various people make recommendations, selection is made, you get orders. Your orders may or may not have even been a billet on your dream sheet...

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

I'm not IDC and so I don't know how they work things, but just keep in mind that sometimes you don't have a choice. I'm currently with a unit out of CA even though I"m living in VA. I'm not the only one from my unit on the east coast either.

Needs of the Navy applies to the Reserves too. As an officer sometimes you have to take the billet where you can get it, even if it means doing travel. (Depending on the type of billet and travel, it may or may not be reimbursed.) Also, all junior officer billeting is done via JOApply (Reserve Forces Management Tool, RFMT) now. Dream sheet gets submitted, various people make recommendations, selection is made, you get orders. Your orders may or may not have even been a billet on your dream sheet...

Thank you for your service.

 

[Flash]

Hello everyone! I'm newly considering putting in an application to the DCO Intelligence program with the Naval Reserves, but had a couple initial questions:

1. What is the likelihood if selected, that I could be assigned to an intel unit specializing in Geospatial Intelligence and Imagery Intelligence? I have about 5 years of experience in this specific area from my civilian career, in addition to a M.S. degree in Geospatial Intelligence--so I'm hoping to stay within this field rather than being put in cyber/signals intelligence or something else of that nature....

...From my limited perspective as a civilian watching 183xs, they seem to prefer to develop leadership and breadth over technical speciality. However, I am more familiar with the active duty side.

HH-60H already hit the nail on the head, you are not supposed to be a specialist as an officer but instead a generalist and a leader. It is similar in the USAF as well, where the enlisted do the heavy lifting in the specialties and the officers go from one to another through their careers to where when you get to the O-5/6 level you are leading airmen or sailors almost full time and doing very little actual intel work. The career path for Navy intel officers, reserve and active duty, is supposed to prepare you to become an N2 or J2 at a command and not be a GEOINT collection manager/SIGINT analyst/etc. If you are the N2 on a carrier not every problem can be solved by GEOINT, or OSINT, or SIGINT, or....and you are the one that is supposed to know that and the leadership is relying on.

So can you end up in a billet supporting NGA? Sure, but it will be hot or miss if you get one and that won't be the focus of your career as a Navy Intel officer. My advice is to sit down with a Navy intel officer if you have one where you work, an O-5/6 would be preferable, to fill you in on their career to help manage your expectations about a career as an officer. The same goes for the USAF as well.

 

[unbroken]

I'm not IDC and so I don't know how they work things, but just keep in mind that sometimes you don't have a choice. I'm currently with a unit out of CA even though I"m living in VA. I'm not the only one from my unit on the east coast either.

Needs of the Navy applies to the Reserves too. As an officer sometimes you have to take the billet where you can get it, even if it means doing travel. (Depending on the type of billet and travel, it may or may not be reimbursed.) Also, all junior officer billeting is done via JOApply (Reserve Forces Management Tool, RFMT) now. Dream sheet gets submitted, various people make recommendations, selection is made, you get orders. Your orders may or may not have even been a billet on your dream sheet...

My understanding was that if you are drilling outside of your area, you are responsible for travel costs. However, that was in the context of volunteering for assignments elsewhere. If you don't have a choice (ie your situation, being sent to a different coast), are you still responsible for those travel costs -- airfare, etc?

 

[PenguinGal]

My understanding was that if you are drilling outside of your area, you are responsible for travel costs. However, that was in the context of volunteering for assignments elsewhere. If you don't have a choice (ie your situation, being sent to a different coast), are you still responsible for those travel costs -- airfare, etc?

BLUF: It depends on where your home (local) NOSC is located.
It depends on the type of orders and at what level. If you are cross assigned, i.e., your local NOSC is NOT the same as the NOSC/drilling location of your unit, then no, when you travel to your unit it will be on IDTT, ADT, or AT funding which covers travel. If you are not cross assigned, i.e., your 'local' NOSC is the location of your unit, then yes, you are responsible. For example COs of NMCBs are not allowed to be cross assigned. Thus, if the CO of a California based NMCB lived in Colorado, s/he would pay for travel to and from the NOSC/Unit in California as the California NOSC would be their 'local' NOSC. As a JO you can be cross assigned and thus your travel would be covered to evolutions not at your 'local' NOSC. (Local can be relative as some people live 3+ hours from the closest one!) Is that confusing enough?

EDIT: Under certain conditions, if you get a billet that has you cross assigned, you can apply for a local billet via JOApply/RFMT prior to your pre-PRD window. I was lucky enough to score a local billet this last cycle and will soon no longer be cross assigned!

 

[unbroken]

BLUF: It depends on where your home (local) NOSC is located.
It depends on the type of orders and at what level. If you are cross assigned, i.e., your local NOSC is NOT the same as the NOSC/drilling location of your unit, then no, when you travel to your unit it will be on IDTT, ADT, or AT funding which covers travel. If you are not cross assigned, i.e., your 'local' NOSC is the location of your unit, then yes, you are responsible. For example COs of NMCBs are not allowed to be cross assigned. Thus, if the CO of a California based NMCB lived in Colorado, s/he would pay for travel to and from the NOSC/Unit in California as the California NOSC would be their 'local' NOSC. As a JO you can be cross assigned and thus your travel would be covered to evolutions not at your 'local' NOSC. (Local can be relative as some people live 3+ hours from the closest one!) Is that confusing enough?

EDIT: Under certain conditions, if you get a billet that has you cross assigned, you can apply for a local billet via JOApply/RFMT prior to your pre-PRD window. I was lucky enough to score a local billet this last cycle and will soon no longer be cross assigned!

Yes -- definitely confusing enough! But appreciate the thorough response. I think I followed well enough...!

 

[devilbones]

OP, there is a USMC unit that has Geospatial Intelligence Specialists down at Quantico. I served 7 years USMC as a Geospatial Intel Specialist. The school is at Ft Belvoir, close to you.