The U.S. Army announced the implementation of the Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Non-Commissioned Officer Special Recruiting Program March 28 to bring at least 100 experienced NCOs into the 97-Echo career field.

"Our goal is to quickly infuse 100 Staff Sergeants and Sergeants First Class to our HUMINT force from all other career fields," said Sgt. Maj. Fernando Martinez-Irizarry, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2 Sgt. Maj. "They will be provided accelerated training on basic and advanced HUMINT skills and be assigned to units deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom."

The 97-Echo military occupational skill (MOS) is the U.S. Army's MOS for HUMINT Collectors. HUMINT Soldiers are responsible for collecting intelligence information from human sources, analyzing HUMINT information, and conducting debriefings and interrogations. The career field currently offers a Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) of up to $30,000 or a critical skills retention bonus of up to $50,000.

Training is 24 weeks and four days or 27 weeks and four days, depending on the follow on assignment. Classes will be held only in 2007 beginning on May 14, June 25 and Aug. 13. The application deadline for the first class is March 30, 2007, and April 30, 2007, for the final two classes. Soldiers interested should be U.S. citizens with minimum General Technical (GT) scores of 100 and fully deployable.

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For more information on this program, please log onto www.dami.army.mil and refer to the G-2 sergeant major webpage tab or call Sgt. Maj. Ronald Wheelock at 520-533-1174.