Thought I'd share this - any MI types will enjoy

[ArcticLight]

Back in 1983 I enlisted for MOS 33s10 - EW Intercept systems repairman.
I had no idea I was going into an elite group of electronic technicians but nor did I know the school had a 70% drop out rate. 2 years at FT Devens to earn this.

My step-dad came up to me before I shipped off and explained he was at FT DEvens during Vietnam, prior to going to Da Nang..I was a 33S he was a 33C and went through the same school. Freaky coincedence.

We had a lot to talk about, and then he handed me this, and I wore it proudly.

Anyone in MI after 1970's knows this SHOULD be a two piece brass, and I had a CO ask me why I was wearing it once until I explained my step-dad gave it to me.

So I finally found it today, buried away with a few treasures...

Just a small piece of my first military career before getting thrown in the ArcticLight infantry...

 

[kraigWY]

Re: Thought I'd share this - any MI types will enjoy

When I came back from Vietnam I was stationed at Ft Devens, 67th MP company.

There was an ASA school there, lots of MI types. I think I remember seeing that brass, always wondered what it was about.

I to had a screw up (not knowing what I was getting into) when I enlisted in '66. I wanted Airborne so the recruiter signed me up Airborne Unassinged. In basic they put me on a list to go take a test to be a clerk. I whinned like a yankee, I wanted to be a soldier not a clerk. Drill Sgt gave me what for, say the army desides not me, then put me on extra duty. That extra duty caused me to miss the bus for the clerk test. I thanked him after I realized what he did.

But it didn't matter. They sent me to MP school out of Basic. It wasn't until I got to Vietnam that I was allowed to go infantry. Strange, army is good about ignoring request unless you want to transfer to the infantry in a combat zone.

I kind of liked Ft Devens but didn't know what ASA was really about until I got in the national guard with a ex ASA guy.

Great find.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Thought I'd share this - any MI types will enjoy

Ya the Sword is for strength, I believe the compass is for direction, not sure about the flower/rose though...I'll have to google it!

Funny how that works, I asked to be let back in as a 33s but they had broke hte MOS up, I was a 33R (Aviation) and so then they put me as a 31V, for which I was VASTLY overqualified for - 2nd in class but I did no homework or no studying at Ft Sill - just screwed off because I had ripped PRC-77's apart and rebuilt them from the ground up....

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: Thought I'd share this - any MI types will enjoy

uh, not to side-track, but aren't the compass points referred to as a "rose"? Or were, at one time?

something like this?

So, would this then be the correlation?

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Thought I'd share this - any MI types will enjoy

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sean the Nailer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">uh, not to side-track, but aren't the compass points referred to as a "rose"? Or were, at one time?

something like this?

So, would this then be the correlation? </div></div>

<span style="font-weight: bold">
U.S. Army Military Intelligence, branch insignia
On a gold color metal dagger, point up, 1 1/4 inches overall in height, a gold color metal heraldic sun composed of four straight and four wavy alternating rays surmounted by a gold heraldic rose, the petals dark blue enamel.

The insignia was originally approved in 1962 for the Army Intelligence and Security Branch and redesignated to the Military Intelligence Branch on 1 July 1967. The sun, composed of four straight and four wavy alternating rays, is the symbol of Helios who, as God of the Sun, could see and hear everything. The four straight rays of the sun symbol also allude to the four points of the compass and the worldwide mission of the Military Intelligence Branch. The placement of the sun symbol beneath the rose (an ancient symbol of secrecy) refers to the operations and activities being conducted under circumstances forbidding disclosure. The partially concealed unsheathed dagger alludes to the aggressive and protective requirements and the element of physical danger inherent in the mission. The color gold signifies successful accomplishment and the dark blue signifies vigilance and loyalty

</span>

 

[Quarter Horse]

Re: Thought I'd share this - any MI types will enjoy

Haven't seen that in a long time. In '68 I think both the one and two piece insignia were available. I believe the rose was in blue on the two piece.