Information Professional (IP) Discussion

[surf3001x]

@snake020 Thank you for the invite on teams, very thankful for the resource!

For those wondering TLDR :

School house helping reservists graduate early to remain on TDY orders and not PCS.

Changes which could ease timeline for reservists in the works. No date on when.

 

[snake020]

I've never heard of any Reserve IWC officer (Intel, IP, etc.) attending IWBC.

IPBC IS A PCS MOVE... Plan accordingly as your entitlements are drastically lower than if you were on ADOS (formerly, ADSW) orders.

I can't confirm, but from discussion with one of my mentees and chatter in the Reserve IP MS Teams thread, Reserve IP leadership have recognised the problem and the schoolhouse had begun authorising deviations for Reservists to stay under the PCS length threshold.

 

[surf3001x]

I can't confirm, but from discussion with one of my mentees and chatter in the Reserve IP MS Teams thread, Reserve IP leadership have recognised the problem and the schoolhouse had begun authorising deviations for Reservists to stay under the PCS length threshold.

Really fantastic move by the schoolhouse, being able to stay on TDY orders for the duration really simplifies things. I can't imagine how difficult the IP course would be for someone fresh into the fleet as a reservist if they had to treat it like a PCS.

Especially considering a reservist who has a mortgage and would need to also plan to rent a room etc all on a O-1 salary :

*estimated (net) salary (3287.55 - (3287.55 *0.22)
*dependent BAH 1671
*BAS 256.68

= $4,491.76 (net) or $2,245.88 (net) a pay check

... would be rough. I get that we signed up for it, but considering as far as I can tell IP's have the longest single course by a long shot this move makes sense.

There is a caveat, if you're a somewhat high-grade GS civilian the pay differential is actually a really nice benefit the TLDR being you can go on leave (Military Leave (ML) and(or) Annual (LA)) and double dip, or go Leave Without Pay (LWOP) and get a pay differential.

Let's examine a base GS-13, rest of US locality .. that's approximately $7017 (gross) monthly, and we know the O-1 (gross) monthly is $5215.23 (see above).

OPM divides those by the number of days monthly (there is an offset if you go on LA at anytime vice stay LWOP the whole month) to get a daily rate, then subtracts the day rates and if the civ pay is higher, you get the difference.

Assuming 30 days for ease our GS-13 day rate would be $233.9 and the O-1 day rate would be $173.84 a difference of $60.06 daily.

30 days of LWOP you'd get a differential of $1801.80 for that month.

I'd estimate to be approximately $5897.37 (net) or $2948.68 (net) a pay check. At that point you'd actually be getting a raise over your normal assumed net of $5473.26.

But even with the differential being off TDY orders would still hurt as you'd lose $96 a night for lodging and $55 a day for per diem (these are Norfolk numbers where I travel to for work mostly) which over 137 days is $20,687 of benefit (not including your two travel days per-diem ($90) and travel costs).

Sorry for the long post, just throwing out some possible gouge I've come across for anyone searching forums. I'm also certain these numbers would be "lower" as OPM (in my experience) will be sure to ensure they pay out as little extra benefit as possible.

OPM Reference

 

[snake020]

Really fantastic move by the schoolhouse, being able to stay on TDY orders for the duration really simplifies things. I can't imagine how difficult the IP course would be for someone fresh into the fleet as a reservist if they had to treat it like a PCS.

Especially considering a reservist who has a mortgage and would need to also plan to rent a room etc all on a O-1 salary :

*estimated (net) salary (3287.55 - (3287.55 *0.22)
*dependent BAH 1671
*BAS 256.68

= $4,491.76 (net) or $2,245.88 (net) a pay check

... would be rough. I get that we signed up for it, but considering as far as I can tell IP's have the longest single course by a long shot this move makes sense.

There is a caveat, if you're a somewhat high-grade GS civilian the pay differential is actually a really nice benefit the TLDR being you can go on leave (Military Leave (ML) and(or) Annual (LA)) and double dip, or go Leave Without Pay (LWOP) and get a pay differential.

Let's examine a base GS-13, rest of US locality .. that's approximately $7017 (gross) monthly, and we know the O-1 (gross) monthly is $5215.23 (see above).

OPM divides those by the number of days monthly (there is an offset if you go on LA at anytime vice stay LWOP the whole month) to get a daily rate, then subtracts the day rates and if the civ pay is higher, you get the difference.

Assuming 30 days for ease our GS-13 day rate would be $233.9 and the O-1 day rate would be $173.84 a difference of $60.06 daily.

30 days of LWOP you'd get a differential of $1801.80 for that month.

I'd estimate to be approximately $5897.37 (net) or $2948.68 (net) a pay check. At that point you'd actually be getting a raise over your normal assumed net of $5473.26.

But even with the differential being off TDY orders would still hurt as you'd lose $96 a night for lodging and $55 a day for per diem (these are Norfolk numbers where I travel to for work mostly) which over 137 days is $20,687 of benefit (not including your two travel days per-diem ($90) and travel costs).

Sorry for the long post, just throwing out some possible gouge I've come across for anyone searching forums. I'm also certain these numbers would be "lower" as OPM (in my experience) will be sure to ensure they pay out as little extra benefit as possible.

OPM Reference

tl;dr: Aside from voluntary definite/indefinite recall orders, Reservists should never have to PCS.

 

[bubblehead]

...Reservists should never have to PCS.

Agree, but this is the Navy Reserve... Not exactly an agile organization

 

[EugeneGreen]

There are currently 12 pages of IWC forum topics but I don't see anything general for the IP community. I first found this site in 2016 when I was looking at joining the Navy and have since completed my first regular tour as an IP officer at NCTS Naples, Italy. I went through OCS in Rhode Island. If you have questions about OCS, the IW community (from an IP perspective), or about the life of a normal IP, please feel free to ask.

I realize this is almost a year out from your original post, but thank you for offering your time and energy. As you stated, IP seems to be one of those career fields where not much press is out there; a lot of generalities. I recently got accepted for OCS as an IPO and am excited to Join the Navy. I did Cyber Ops and other jobs in the Air Force (enlisted), as well as a variety of tech jobs in the civilian world.

1) Is Information Professional = Information Technology, like Servers, Networking, Computers, (NMCI), etc? Or DOD-type communication technology like SIPERNET, SATCOM, Radios, and other communication equipment typically used by the military? (or perhaps that's what Crypto does?)

2) How much hands-on do IP Officers get with technology, compared to Manager/Leader/Administrative responsibilities?

3) My understanding of the most recent IP "pipeline" is OCS (13 weeks) + IPBQ (20 weeks)? What are some other career steps after that?

4) How much a say do we have in duty locations? Is there a dream sheet program, or more the needs of the Navy?

5) What are some career mistakes to avoid, and smart career choices to make?

Again, thank you for your time and energy!

 

[AllAmerican75]

I realize this is almost a year out from your original post, but thank you for offering your time and energy. As you stated, IP seems to be one of those career fields where not much press is out there; a lot of generalities. I recently got accepted for OCS as an IPO and am excited to Join the Navy. I did Cyber Ops and other jobs in the Air Force (enlisted), as well as a variety of tech jobs in the civilian world.

1) Is Information Professional = Information Technology, like Servers, Networking, Computers, (NMCI), etc? Or DOD-type communication technology like SIPERNET, SATCOM, Radios, and other communication equipment typically used by the military? (or perhaps that's what Crypto does?)

2) How much hands-on do IP Officers get with technology, compared to Manager/Leader/Administrative responsibilities?

3) My understanding of the most recent IP "pipeline" is OCS (13 weeks) + IPBQ (20 weeks)? What are some other career steps after that?

4) How much a say do we have in duty locations? Is there a dream sheet program, or more the needs of the Navy?

5) What are some career mistakes to avoid, and smart career choices to make?

Again, thank you for your time and energy!

1. As a general rule of thumb, IPs manage the C4ISR infrastructure (radios, IT networks, etc.) while CWs/IWs/Cryppies perform "offensive" operations within the C4ISR domain.

2. If you want to turn wrenches or be the guy actually scrolling through log files, then you want to be an enlisted IT or DoD civilian. As an officer, you'll be expected to manage divisions and departments and your actual coding or troubleshooting will be minimal.

3. I'll wait for an actual IP to weigh in on training pipeline specific.

4. Depends on seniority, timing, and how badly they need you. There are billets you will absolutely have to fill in order to be competitive for promotion and that may mean you have to go somewhere you don't want to go due to how timing works out. Also, as a junior officer you will have less say than a more senior officer.

5. I'll wait for an actual IP to weigh in on career timing and progression.

 

[william.thompsonj]

I realize this is almost a year out from your original post, but thank you for offering your time and energy. As you stated, IP seems to be one of those career fields where not much press is out there; a lot of generalities. I recently got accepted for OCS as an IPO and am excited to Join the Navy. I did Cyber Ops and other jobs in the Air Force (enlisted), as well as a variety of tech jobs in the civilian world.

1) Is Information Professional = Information Technology, like Servers, Networking, Computers, (NMCI), etc? Or DOD-type communication technology like SIPERNET, SATCOM, Radios, and other communication equipment typically used by the military? (or perhaps that's what Crypto does?)

2) How much hands-on do IP Officers get with technology, compared to Manager/Leader/Administrative responsibilities?

3) My understanding of the most recent IP "pipeline" is OCS (13 weeks) + IPBQ (20 weeks)? What are some other career steps after that?

4) How much a say do we have in duty locations? Is there a dream sheet program, or more the needs of the Navy?

5) What are some career mistakes to avoid, and smart career choices to make?

Again, thank you for your time and energy!

Eugene,

Apologies for the less than timely reply. For the answers your seek:

1) IP's manage the guys doing the computer work (servers, networks, crypto devices and keys, etc.)

2) At larger commands you'll never be allowed to touch the gear (NCTAMS, NCTS, Staff, etc.) but on a ship (DDG, CG, etc.) you will have the option to touch depending on the variant of CANES. Newer variants of CANES offer less and less administrative control for everyone including the ITs.

3) OCS is ideally 13 weeks, IP basic is at Dam Neck in Virginia for 20 weeks, and there are some other courses such as DIVO basic, IW basic, and probably something else I'm forgetting since it's been 4ish years since I did that. If you do KOAM it's another 4 weeks. They make you PCS since it's about 6 months so plan to PCS.

4) I've negotiated to get what I wanted every time I've gotten orders and I've had direct input on where I went. If you're lucky you'll get a location you like and do something you find interested. You can give a dream sheet to your detailer but it's better to look at exactly what billets are available around the time you PCS and ask the detailer for the billet you want, that's worked well for me.

5) Do all the things. Go all the places. Don't turn down an interesting opportunity the detailer offers you. Fear is the mind killer.