Welcome to PowerCycleTheSIGO.com, a place where you can learn how to be a halfway decent Signal Officer in the Army — mostly by learning from the mistakes I’ve made over the past 10 years.
Being a Signal Officer is one of the most thankless jobs in the Army. There have been times when I had to give a commander bad news that sounded completely made up. I once had to tell a commander that comms didn’t work because there was a monsoon in Okinawa… and we weren’t even in Asia.
The truth is: no one notices when everything is working perfectly, and everyone notices when the littlest thing isn’t working as advertised.
I’ve worked with Officers and NCOs from the MI, IN, SF, LG, FA, and EN communities. Every single MOS (except FA) claims they are kryptonite to technology, which can make the job that much harder.
What It’s Really Like to Be a Signal Officer
As a SIGO, you’re expected to know a little about everything — computers, radios, satellites, antenna theory, COMSEC — and still lead Soldiers and NCOs like any other officer.
Continuity Books almost never exist. All your equipment will be broken. You won’t use any of the information you learned in BOLC. And the equipment you do have almost never matches the mission requirements.
You might find yourself wondering why you ever became a Signal Officer in the first place.
Some are “recruited” into the branch with promises of civilian riches. Some get Signal because it was one of their last branch choices. For me? I had an interest in radios and thought I’d work with them more directly. Spoiler alert: I didn’t.
Instead, I found myself in computer help desk roles, or in tactical jobs where — as the “Officer” — I wasn’t the one actually working the radios.
Everyone gets here a different way, but once you’re here, you might as well make the most of it.
What Makes a Good Signal Officer?
Here are a few traits that will carry you far as a SIGO:
1. Technical Acumen
Understand how your equipment works.
Know its capabilities, its limitations, and how to align it with your unit’s mission.
You don’t need to personally operate every piece of gear — that’s what your NCOs and Soldiers are for — but you need to know enough to advise the commander and build a solid PACE plan.
2. Innovativeness
You’ll often be stuck with broken, outdated, or misaligned equipment.
You’ll need to do a lot with a little.
Sometimes you’ll feel like the Rube Goldberg of communications plans, but learning how to adapt will serve you well in every job that follows.
3. Resilience
As a Signal Officer, anything with an electrical current is your responsibility — and your fault when it doesn’t work.
You’ll feel like you’re constantly one radio failure away from getting fired. Breathe. Troubleshoot.
Sometimes the problem is outside your control — like a busted radio on the other end of the net — but every failure is a chance to set better conditions for next time.
Why Being a SIGO Can Actually Be Awesome
Despite the headaches, there are real upsides to being a Signal Officer:
1. Signal Officers Are Needed Everywhere
Unlike branches like Cyber, Aviation, or Special Forces — where duty stations are limited — Signal Officers are needed across almost every Army post worldwide.
2. Diverse Career Opportunities
You can work at a strategic level in a NEC, operate tactically with an IBCT or Special Forces Group, or even end up supporting a Special Mission Unit (SMU).
3. Easier to Stand Out
In many units, you’ll be one of very few Signal Officers — making it easier to stand out.
For example: In an Aviation unit, the BN CDR once told us he wouldn’t rate pilots on their flying — that was expected — but on what else they brought to the team. The same goes for you: If you can provide reliable communications and support command and control, your commanders will notice.
Final Thoughts
It was never my plan to stay this long in the Army — or in the Signal Corps — but the good parts have kept me going.
I’ve thought about changing branches or going into a functional area. But I honestly believe we’re at a critical point in Army communications, and I want to help improve it for the next generation of Signaleers.
I very rarely recommend that someone branch Signal.
But if you’re not scared off by this post — or if your ship has already sailed — welcome aboard.
Stick around. PowerCycleTheSIGO.com is just getting started. 🚀
I’ll be sharing real-world lessons, hard-won tips, and survival guides to help you navigate one of the Army’s toughest jobs.
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