contractors can have my job when I can't do it anymore. and by that time there will be another 33 to take my place. I love this job, even though im working with toy planes (JK), but in all seriousness this job is great, and the training is second to none.

[quote:6c71a2db91="MI33W"]contractors can have my job when I can't do it anymore. and by that time there will be another 33 to take my place. I love this job, even though im working with toy planes (JK), but in all seriousness this job is great, and the training is second to none.[/quote:6c71a2db91]

cool. I know 33w is a great job. I had the choice between 74B and 33W. I chose 74B because I didn't think I could obtain a TS clearance. I had $50,000 in college loans.

Honestly, I forget about 33W because they're not really MI. They're Signal. Let's face it... 33Ws are Signal, they fix communications gear...

[quote="MIguy001"]Honestly, I forget about 33W because they're not really MI. They're Signal. Let's face it... 33Ws are Signal, they fix communications gear...[/quote]

its kinda sad that our own people actually believe this. if you believe that we only fix commo gear, you should go hang out with some 33's when they are troubleshooting a system, or see them go nuts with gaurdrail! we don't go through all our training to repair commo gear. (no offence meant to the signal people out there)

I know most of the 33W that work in my unit and they kick butt. If something goes down they can usually fix it before the Contractors who built the system can. I am amazed at what they do when they are not at work as well... wire a barracks with internet access and other crazy stuff as well. Keep up the good work 33W!

I wish that the MI unit I'm in had a few 33W's. That way they wouldnt slot 74B's with only a secret clearance into my Company. Now I have to type out Training schedules and Statistics for my CO. Just my luck, I PCS to the home of the Signal Corps and get stuck in a MICO training room

[quote:1485813df0="TenaciousP"]I wish that the MI unit I'm in had a few 33W's. That way they wouldnt slot 74B's with only a secret clearance into my Company. Now I have to type out Training schedules and Statistics for my CO. Just my luck, I PCS to the home of the Signal Corps and get stuck in a MICO training room[/quote:1485813df0]

That is a very stupid thing for branch to do. Look at the bright side. You will PCS to Alaska soon. Will you be assigned to the Stryker BDE there, or the DOIM? From what I see and hear, a DOIM assignment sucks too. The GS employees don't want to share knowledge and don't want to give you the better assignments. They would much rather sit you at a stupid help desk to reset passwords of "fat finger" end-users.

I worked very closely with the DOIM last time I was up there and know the Post Network Chief (Civilian) really well. I've talked to her and the DOIM 1SG and have been assured that I will have an active role with network implementation/troubleshooting. The civilians there all came to me when they couldnt figure stuff out, and the relationship that I have with the Stryker BDE S-6 will make me an invaluable asset. Or it could all go to hell and I'll work training again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

MI's mission is to locate the enemy. I've never met a 33W that does collection or analysis.

I probably did, but I didn't mean to offend any 33Ws, every single one I've met was a great guy and one of them was the best NCO I ever knew. One of them was the biggest geek too (built his own radio in the barracks), thats another story.

There's been a LONG debate what what branch 33Ws really belong to. Signal wants them becuase they are essentially a Signal MOS. MI wants them because they're the only ones who are organic to an MI unit that are capable of working wires and fixing broke equipment (TROJANS, ASAS, etc...)

Read your own post "troubleshooting a system"... I can troubleshoot all day long but it won't work (I'd only break it even more). You troubleshoot your Hummer all the time, but you take it to a mechanic when its broke or for advice.

[quote:ae78e70223="MI33W"][quote:ae78e70223="MIguy001"]Honestly, I forget about 33W because they're not really MI. They're Signal. Let's face it... 33Ws are Signal, they fix communications gear...[/quote:ae78e70223]

its kinda sad that our own people actually believe this. if you believe that we only fix commo gear, you should go hang out with some 33's when they are troubleshooting a system, or see them go nuts with gaurdrail! we don't go through all our training to repair commo gear. (no offence meant to the signal people out there)[/quote:ae78e70223]

Troubleshooting any equipment is an art. 33W's have the right paintbrush for your MI systems. I took an art class troubleshooting ASAS boxes, etc. but I'll never be a Picasso.

[quote="MIguy001"]MI's mission is to locate the enemy. I've never met a 33W that does collection or analysis. [/quote]

kinda funny you say that, i was talking to one of my buddies the other day and he was telling me that he got an AAM from collecting intel with assigned with a TRQ-32. But this is the exception, not the rule.

[quote="MIguy001']...."troubleshooting a system"... I can troubleshoot all day long but it won't work (I'd only break it even more). You troubleshoot your Hummer all the time, but you take it to a mechanic when its broke or for advice. [/quote]

true, but i only go to them because they are more qualified to do what they do. but bring me a Raycal or a Cisco Router and i am qualified, i believe its more an issue with qualification and being comfortable with the equipment than being able to do it.

Is 33W mainly tactical or strategic?

used to be that the MOS was split up into 33S, and 33T. branch decided that having less then 1000 people in the whole 33 CMF constitutes making it all into one MOS code...so now they did that, 33's can go to either strategic or tactical. it all depends on where you go.

I can see where a 33W might actually be collecting with a TRQ-32 but I don't know what use it would be because of the equipment's purpose.

In most CI/HUMINT units, 33Ws are non-existant. We need 74Bs because of the systems we utilize: desktops, laptop, CHATs, CHIMS, IRTs, something that a 33W gets pissed off at when he has to work on them.

Either pissed off at or delighted becuase he's tired of messing with that 140 pound ASAS monster. Unggh...

hahaha....true, but it is better then crawling inside trojan-l's or under the dashes of GCS's. its true that HUMINT doesnt really need 33's yet....until the enemy has cyborgs, hehe....or would that be ELINT? :?