How difficult are the MOS schools for 17E, 35F and 35G? What’s your opinion on the day-to-day with these jobs?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 15:36:14 -0400

I’be been in the guard for ten years and I’m switching over to the reserve and I’m trying to decide on 3 MOS’s to reclass to: 17E, 35F or 35G.

My questions are how difficult are the mos schools for each of these and what’s your opinion on the day-to-day with these jobs?

Of course I’m looking for answers from people who actually work in these MOS’s lol.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jun 4 at 2021 7:10 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 19:10:14 -0400

35F AIT is not hard at all. It wasn't hard when I went in 2004-05 and, from what I heard, definitely not hard now. I came in when we were still 96Bs - and then turned to 35F.

If you're a 35F you're likely to end up in an S2 at some point. I started out in a BN S2. 4 1/2 years there - 2 deployments. Then I went to Cyber Command before it actually stood up so I don't know what it's like now. It was building when I was there those 2 years and I was a targeting analyst. They tried to recruit us 35Fs to be cyber when creating the cyber MOS. I did not take that up. Then I went to Ft Riley and was in a MICO, then BDE S2, then BDE SARC. I was BN SARC as additional duty before that. Then I went to Strategic Command on a compassionate reassignment. I was watch NCOIC and then indications and warning branch NCOIC.

As a 35F, you can be in any unit. You will be doing a lot of products though - mostly Power Point. If you get lucky enough, you may get to go somewhere and do some actual analysis. Depends. If you're in S2, you're doing a lot of personnel security (security clearances), physical security, things like that. I will say in my first unit which was an EN BN, that's where I did the most "Army" stuff - but they never let us go do any intel training anywhere. This was before the BEBs which now have MICOs in them. So it might be better - but I didn't get to do any kind of intel training that 4 1/2 years.

If you go to 35F AIT as reclass it will be a lot more chill for you than it is for the IET recruits for sure too.

Response by SSG William Ryan made Jun 5 at 2021 11:22 AM

SSG William Ryan — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 11:22:02 -0400

35F ... faster rank, 100 percent woc selection, TS/SCI and easiest application in civilian life. Thank me in 10 years.

Response by SSG William Sizemore made Jun 5 at 2021 6:36 PM

SSG William Sizemore — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 18:36:03 -0400

I went through the course twice in 1997 and once in 2002, when it was 96B, not 35F. The 97 version of the course was WAY harder and the skills of the more recent graduates I served with showed me that the course has gotten easier. After I was medically retired,, I ran the simulation software for most of the capstone courses at the school, (multiple courses, both Officer and Enlisted.) I'm honestly not sure if the course difficulty is worth discussing anymore. It's been four years since I worked at the school and much has changed. But I will say this; if you can read military maps, draw near perfect symbology (if they even use paper maps, symbology stencils - called templates, acetate, military protractor, and markers anymore) and you can follow very simple directions, then you'll do fine as a 35F. 35G is a different story. Their work really is hard if you don't have great eyesight, great spatial recognition, and a degree of intuition when it comes to blurry, oblique-angle photos and calculating shadows to determine dimensions. I worked with few who I'd say were really good.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2021 8:07 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 20:07:10 -0400

35F) I recently went through AIT in Fort Huachuca from MAY 2020 - NOV 2020 it wasn't difficult at all. Since you will be considered a MOS-T AIT would be even easier for you than the lower enlisted. Just be glad you'll be going without covid restrictions. Additionally, Fort Huachuca is beautiful so many hiking trails and canyons.

If you chose to go 35F once you get to your unit learn your PIRs and remember IPB steps and you should be golden. It's a lot of reading and analyzing but also rewarding in the civilian world.

I'm currently an ALL-SOURCE Analyst at Corps level straight out of AIT and Airborne school.

35G just assist 35F. you will learn how to do most of the other intel jobs that will assist you in your analysis.