I posted this on its own, but mods think it should be posted in this thread, so here goes:
Hi all,
Just wanted to start off by saying thank you for reading this post and helping answer the questions of a complete stranger. I apologize for starting another thread on this but I searched and didn’t see anything that applied to someone in my distinct situation.
About me and why I think I’d excel in MI:
I am an American in his early 20s who graduated college recently. For the past year, I have been working in a corporate finance role that pays well, but leaves me incredibly unfulfilled and bored.
My parents both emigrated as refugees from Iran in the early 80s, and I was born in the US not long after. As such, I am fluent in Farsi (and by extension, Dari).
I have an intrinsic obsession with all things political and historical in the Middle East. I stay up-to-date with news (Reddit makes this easy!), I know more than most, and could carry a decent and relatively neutral conversation about most topics, especially those relating to Israel and/or Iran.
I scored a 99 on the practice ASVAB in half the allotted time (not going to lie, the recruiter’s reaction to this was a nice ego boost).
I’m physically in good shape, with a sub 7-minute mile and 225/265/365 B/SQ/DL.
I have a very analytical mind, think well on my feet, and I’m naturally an extrovert. I’ve traveled extensively (much of it solo) outside of the US across multiple developing countries – including across the Middle East.
I feel as though I really WANT to be in the intel field. It excites me. I’m not sure if I’ve romanticized it to a certain point, but that’s why I’m here posting on Reddit, to gain others’ perspectives.
Lastly, this country has allowed my family and me to thrive as human beings. As corny as it sounds to some, I really do want to serve and protect American interests abroad.
The MOSs that I’m looking at, in order of interest, are
1. 35M – Human intelligence
2. 35F – Intelligence Analyst
3. 35N – Signals Intelligence
Questions that I have:
Based on the information about me that I’ve given you, which branch and MOS would you recommend? It doesn't necessarily have to be one of the three I mentioned above.
Which MOSs allow for most time “outside the wire”? I know that in many respects this is a desk job, but I’d like to know which ones minimize the “desk job” aspect.
Once my contract is up, what would my options be? State Dept, FBI, CIA, counter-intel, grad school?
What is the difference between officer and enlisted in terms of actual day-to-day? I want to be out in the field talking to people, getting dirty, and using my skills. I’m under the impression that officers are the ones directing the people who are doing the dirty work, not out in the field themselves.
How does the Army actually work structurally? What I mean by this is so I sign my contract, get shipped off to basic, then begin AIT, then DLI, then what? Is the path I take up to me, or am I following a set program?
What is the culture in the military like? In basic, I’m expecting to be surrounded by a bunch of younger kids who are very unlike me, but once I specialize in MI, what can I expect from the people there?
What should I look out for when signing my contract? The recruiter seems trustworthy enough, but he’s a salesman, and I’m naturally wary of salesmen. Am I eligible for any signing bonuses (high ASVAB, college education, languages spoken)?
Anything else I might have missed and should know?
Thank you for reading this long post. I look forward to any answer you guys might be able to give.