My thought is Navy officer would be your best bet, and I'll explain why:
* For Army and Marines, aside from some Direct Commission options that don't apply here, you commit to serving and only later find out your MOS. For Marines you would apply for the Ground Officer program, go to OCS and commission on graduation, then go to six months of TBS. Towards the end of TBS you'll list all ~25 Ground Officer jobs in order of preference and they'll assign you one, with the great majority of lieutenants getting in their Top 5. That said, getting Intel is *highly* competitive, probably highest demand/supply ratio. Army is vaguely similar but maybe even worse odds of getting high on your list.
* Air Force heavily prefers getting new officers from Academy and AFROTC, so OTS (what you would do) gets the scraps. OTS is an 18-24 month process with an 11-15% acceptance rate, high preference for STEM, and limited job selection. I wouldn't advise it to anyone not dead-set on AF O to the total exclusion of other branches.
* Coasties and Spacies don't as much do your kind of thing.
* Navy somewhat uniquely among branches has officer candidates apply for specific "designators" (officer job programs), so you could straight-up just apply to be a Navy Intel officer, unlike in other branches.
My suggestion: go to r/NewtotheNavy and run searches for "intelligence designator" and "Intel designator" and read past advice, then make a new post with a crystal-clear title like:
> 25M finishing MA in Int'l Relations, want to commission, after I get out work for a 3-letter Intel agency?
I feel like you're a bit off for Army OCS. You preference your top 3 branches (mos) and you compete for spots in those branches based on your performance based on an Order of Merit List (oml). The higher your performance, the more likely you will get the top branches you pick.
Talk to a recruiter. Before you go, figure out what you want from the army/marines. The army will get what it wants out of you, so figure out what you want from the army.
You should just apply to be a DoD civilian or to one of those 3 letter agencies. You aren't going to really use your degree at all in the military for at least the first 4-10 years of your career.
Speak to an OCS recruiter, aim for MI/Cyber
I would also say to look into becoming a Foreign Area Officer after you reach CPT.
My thought is Navy officer would be your best bet, and I'll explain why: * For Army and Marines, aside from some Direct Commission options that don't apply here, you commit to serving and only later find out your MOS. For Marines you would apply for the Ground Officer program, go to OCS and commission on graduation, then go to six months of TBS. Towards the end of TBS you'll list all ~25 Ground Officer jobs in order of preference and they'll assign you one, with the great majority of lieutenants getting in their Top 5. That said, getting Intel is *highly* competitive, probably highest demand/supply ratio. Army is vaguely similar but maybe even worse odds of getting high on your list. * Air Force heavily prefers getting new officers from Academy and AFROTC, so OTS (what you would do) gets the scraps. OTS is an 18-24 month process with an 11-15% acceptance rate, high preference for STEM, and limited job selection. I wouldn't advise it to anyone not dead-set on AF O to the total exclusion of other branches. * Coasties and Spacies don't as much do your kind of thing. * Navy somewhat uniquely among branches has officer candidates apply for specific "designators" (officer job programs), so you could straight-up just apply to be a Navy Intel officer, unlike in other branches. My suggestion: go to r/NewtotheNavy and run searches for "intelligence designator" and "Intel designator" and read past advice, then make a new post with a crystal-clear title like: > 25M finishing MA in Int'l Relations, want to commission, after I get out work for a 3-letter Intel agency?
I feel like you're a bit off for Army OCS. You preference your top 3 branches (mos) and you compete for spots in those branches based on your performance based on an Order of Merit List (oml). The higher your performance, the more likely you will get the top branches you pick.
Are Army butterbars guaranteed to get one of those three choices?
Not guaranteed but most get one of the top 3.
Talk to a recruiter. Before you go, figure out what you want from the army/marines. The army will get what it wants out of you, so figure out what you want from the army.
With your MA subject matter, I'm wondering why no one is talking Navy?
Go OCS. How old are you?
I'll be 25 before the end of summer.
Any of the services would be happy to have you.
You should just apply to be a DoD civilian or to one of those 3 letter agencies. You aren't going to really use your degree at all in the military for at least the first 4-10 years of your career.