I currently am awaiting to go to school to become a counterintelligence agent mid next year. My dilemma is this.. I am an E-6 that is going to have my first look at E-7 this February. I am woundering if I should spend the time updating my records to try and get promoted, or will getting picked up for E-7 make me ineligible for the new job. I have been to my brigade retention office and the career counselor is not too sure on how getting picked up for E-7 would affect reclass eligibility. Any input would be appreciated. thanks

Contact the branch manager for 35L about the promotion piece. I'm currently a 13M, made the current list on first look for E-7. Before the list posted I was slotted to go 35M, but when it got published they dropped my school and I had to get a waiver to get back into school. I'm trying to get into 35L however forgot one waiver so was denied but am resubmitting this december. They don't have it published buyt they are looking for SFC's, for the reson you have indicated. They get promoted quickly to E-6/7 then get out and work the civilian sector.

A little off topic but:

How long did it take from when you applied till you were interviewed and accepted for the 35L school?

Thanks in advance.

Here is my sequence of events for anyone interested in reclassing into this career field.

October 2008- expressed interest in the 35l career field, and conducted research on where to start the process which lead to the field agent office on Fort Jackson. Did initial talks with the sergeant at the office and got the in and outs of the job.

November 2008 - Started and finished my packet and was ready to take it to the field office for review of the senior field agent. Once the packet was reviewed, the senior agent set an appointment for me to be formally interviewed. A week later we conducted the interview, which was very in depth, and also did both essays that are required to accompany the packet sent to branch. He immediatly told me he was going to write his letter of recomendation, which also has to accompany the packet.

December 2008 - I was told by the Senior agent I had been accepted. I then had to contact my retention NCO and extend under the BEAR program and lock in a school date.

So the whole process in a nut shell took roughly 2 1/2 months to complete for me, but I am sure it could be longer and or shorter based on each senior agent.


Note for applicants. Do not slack on your packet. Going to the senior agent with an incomplete packet is a good sign that you are not thorough with your work and have poor attention to detail. The agent that interviewed me notifyed me shortly after he recommended me he denyed one NCO because his packet was incomplete several times. It is tedious, but put the time and effort into it.

Bigmess, appreciate all the useful information. I'm currently getting together all my paperwork before I meet with the CI agent. He's located on another FOB so I'll definitely make sure everything is in order before I leave. Also, if I'm understanding correctly, you were scheduled to start school about a year and a half after acceptance into the program? Were you given any reason for such a delay?

yeah I have a great reason. I am currently a drill sergeant and drill branch would not drop me 45 days early so I could attend the January class. Since CI does not have very many classes each year the next one I got was July 25th 2010. Basically I have a 5 month vacation from when I get off the trail until I go to school, so I am not too mad.

Yeah that's not too bad at all. Hopefully if everything works out well for me, I might see you in that class. Good luck with everything though.