Intelligence Specialists (IS) are a unique group of people who are responsible for the collection and dissemination of timely, relevant Intelligence that Commanders can base their decisions on. Intelligence Specialists generally have very diverse skill sets, an innate ability to question, and unparalleled analytical abilities. This being said, I think that our abilities are not as well-developed as some would have us believe and in some cases being allowed to atrophy. While a high percentage of Intelligence Specialists are sent to ships for their first tour, many are assigned to a Direct Support (DIRSUP) command. Therefore, we must ensure that future Intelligence Specialists are being trained properly, gaining the proper skill set needed to
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I am confident that the DIRSUP Command model will allow us to do precisely that. Since, this Command structure supports professional growth, develops skills, and exposes Intelligence Specialists to various work centers by sending them on deployments. Due to this I project that by taking all Intelligence Specialists off of ships and putting them into a DIRSUP command structure will be the first step to modernizing the intelligence structure of the Navy. The DIRSUP construct is not a new idea by any means as I learned from my conversation with Mr. Andy Jones, a former ISCS and current ITT instructor at IWITC. Mr. Jones was one of the main architects of the current DIRSUP/FID model who was able to give valuable insight into the mindset and strategy that was behind implementing these changes across the …show more content…
Many people within the IS community would tell you that being integrated with ship's company, deploying, and doing sailor work like 3M and Damage Control (DC) will help you stand out on promotion boards. This seems true as 70% of the 100 intelligence professionals I surveyed agreed that they thought being directly attached to a ship would give them an advantage on exams/promotion boards. Additionally, 65% agreed that the current DIRSUP model would be more beneficial for Intelligence Specialists. Thus at first glance it would appear as though the surveyors contradict themselves, or do they? I think that this demonstrates how there is an ongoing conflict between being a Sailor and being a technical expert in today's Navy. Now would this mean that by choosing the DIRSUP model that Intelligence Specialists would willingly sacrifice the ability to promote to higher ranks? This may not necessarily be the case, since DIRSUP sailors are exposed to the same opportunities on deployments that will help you on advancement exams and promotion boards. Also, DIRSUP sailors can still integrate with ship's company by participating in the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist programs. This integration can be very important for assignments like the Independent Duty Intelligence Specialist (IDIS)
I am confident that the DIRSUP Command model will allow us to do precisely that. Since, this Command structure supports professional growth, develops skills, and exposes Intelligence Specialists to various work centers by sending them on deployments. Due to this I project that by taking all Intelligence Specialists off of ships and putting them into a DIRSUP command structure will be the first step to modernizing the intelligence structure of the Navy. The DIRSUP construct is not a new idea by any means as I learned from my conversation with Mr. Andy Jones, a former ISCS and current ITT instructor at IWITC. Mr. Jones was one of the main architects of the current DIRSUP/FID model who was able to give valuable insight into the mindset and strategy that was behind implementing these changes across the …show more content…
Many people within the IS community would tell you that being integrated with ship's company, deploying, and doing sailor work like 3M and Damage Control (DC) will help you stand out on promotion boards. This seems true as 70% of the 100 intelligence professionals I surveyed agreed that they thought being directly attached to a ship would give them an advantage on exams/promotion boards. Additionally, 65% agreed that the current DIRSUP model would be more beneficial for Intelligence Specialists. Thus at first glance it would appear as though the surveyors contradict themselves, or do they? I think that this demonstrates how there is an ongoing conflict between being a Sailor and being a technical expert in today's Navy. Now would this mean that by choosing the DIRSUP model that Intelligence Specialists would willingly sacrifice the ability to promote to higher ranks? This may not necessarily be the case, since DIRSUP sailors are exposed to the same opportunities on deployments that will help you on advancement exams and promotion boards. Also, DIRSUP sailors can still integrate with ship's company by participating in the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist programs. This integration can be very important for assignments like the Independent Duty Intelligence Specialist (IDIS)