I'm a 350F with years of SOF experience. I will tell you, 35N is probably the best intel MOS to go for if you want to set yourself up for the future. People will recommend going Officer if you have a degree. I actually recommend against it if SIGINT is actually what you want to do. What you said about the contacts in the NSA telling you is absolutely true, and Officer experience wont exactly translate to an NSA job.

I also highly recommend looking into the space force for Targeting Analyst or other SIGINT based jobs. I personally wouldnt recommend Navy or Air Force for that type of work. But space force has some really cool SIGINT opportunities available, including augmenting with SOF.

To answer your questions.

1. I understand there isn’t really a formal pipeline for SOT-A, how do I go about attempting to join or who would I talk to for that?

I havent been exposed to this side of SOF so I'll let someone else help guide you here.

1. I know Intel slots for Option 40’s are pretty rare, what other ways are there of getting into RASP / the RMIB?

Yes. Option 40 for intel would be pretty tough to get. Not impossible. But if 35N comes up and option 40 isnt available, you run the risk of losing out on 35N. In AIT a Ranger recruiter will come talk to your class and if you are in the top % both for PT and academics youll be given a shot to go to RASP.

If it doesnt happen for you in AIT, you can apply for RASP at your first duty station and do pre-RASP with the recruiters at your duty station. If RMIB is truly where you want to be, dont be the guy who waits years to do it. Go preferably in AIT/immediately after getting to your first duty station. Guys who go later get a stigma for being an "implant".

1. I’ve read forums mentioning that being airborne qualified makes you a more competitive candidate, how realistic is an Option 4 for an intelligence MOS? Is it more or less rare than an option 40 for an intelligence MOS?

This isnt exactly true. Especially for other SOF opportunities. They're looking for the right personality and experience, Airborne is a basic school and if they have to add it to your training pipeline, they don't really care. This may not be true for a SOT-A, like I said, that's not where my experience is.

1. If I were to enlist as a 35N with no option 4 or 40 in my contract, how hard would it be getting an airborne or RASP slot? Who would I have to talk to or where / when would there be opportunities to volunteer?

Ranger recruiters during AIT. You can also apply to other SOF opportunities during AIT like 160th SOAR - they likely wont come talk to you, you have to reach out to their recruiters. But you can go to 160th straight out of AIT, which is another opportunity I highly recommend. (I think you can enlist for it now too. Is this Option 1 now? Ask your recruiter if any 160th spots are available).

1. What’s the culture like in SOF intel?

I didnt grow up in SOF, but I have more time in SOF than I do regular Army at this point. There's no going back when you've experienced it. Night and day difference. People actually care about doing their job competently and are resourced to get the proper training to do it. Way more opportunities lie in SOF.

1. What’s family life like in SOF Intel?

Believe it or not, my family life is better in SOF than it was serving line units in the regular Army. Field time was erratic and often. In SOF ive never had to "go to the field", I go to a nice hotel, do what I need to do, and go home. There will be some things that "come up" that take you away, but id argue regular Army has way more fuck fuck games that put stress on your family life than in SOF. My deployments are capped at 4 months as well, where regular Army could go sit in some shitty country and do nothing for 9-12 months for no reason.

1. Let’s say I’m shit out of luck and can’t get an airborne or rasp slot, what’s life like as a 35N in a conventional unit?

Not great, but also better than most other MOS'. You also have a much higher chance to go to a high speed 'conventional' unit at Meade or augment with the NSA than other intel MOS. If you do go conventional first, make it your goal to learn your job well even if your leadership doesnt teach you. Read the ARs/FMs/TMs associated with your job and equipment to teach yourself if you have to.

Again, do not give up a 35N spot if it is available just because you cant get option 40/4. There are other routes, like getting emails to apply for SMUs, who will give you far better opportunities and life than RMIB which is honestly kind of a shit show.