Posted on Jun 12, 2018
What are some ways to start preparing myself for the Army?
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I’m a HS Jr turning Sr, and about this time next year I expect to be starting to ship out for BCT. The current plan is to enter as a 35P Cryptologic Linguist (I don’t have any contracts signed or anything yet so it’s speculation but it should be ironed out soon). I participate immensely in JROTC (I’m our program’s Bn CDR), so I’m more looking for ways to physically push myself into a better preparedness. Are there any suggestions that could help me get ready?
Recruit
Physical Training
35P: Cryptologic Linguist
Military Intelligence
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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I just joined about a year ago and graduated AIT about 4 months ago (feels like longer). I did 4 years of JROTC and finished as a C/LTC and the BN XO.
JROTC helped me a lot in basic. And it will help you too, just don't flaunt it. There was a guy in my BCT PLT who was the typical, "well in JROTC..." Don't be that guy. Because it'll go straight to your head and you'll loose sight of what you're there to do. This guy, we'll call him Private Snuffy, always tried to be number one. And 9/10 times he sucked. Know your limits. I knew I was good at marching and at orienteering. So when it came to that, I stepped up. I was part of my Company's D&C team and we won. When I did orienteering with our 4 man teams, we did well because I would work out the problem and then help my teammates and teach them what to do, so when it came to the final course, we ended up with one of the top scores. (Fourth. Doesn't matter though, orienteering is one thing you only compete against yourself.) I helped some of my battles learn how to read the map. One had no idea what was going on at the beginning, but by the end of the cycle, she was able to do everything on her own. Meanwhile, Snuffy was always trying to kiss ass and just looked like a turd. Stay under the radar unless you know you can excel, volunteer for anything you can, eyes and ears open always, use common sense. Remember, you're there to learn. Let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to message me if you need.
JROTC helped me a lot in basic. And it will help you too, just don't flaunt it. There was a guy in my BCT PLT who was the typical, "well in JROTC..." Don't be that guy. Because it'll go straight to your head and you'll loose sight of what you're there to do. This guy, we'll call him Private Snuffy, always tried to be number one. And 9/10 times he sucked. Know your limits. I knew I was good at marching and at orienteering. So when it came to that, I stepped up. I was part of my Company's D&C team and we won. When I did orienteering with our 4 man teams, we did well because I would work out the problem and then help my teammates and teach them what to do, so when it came to the final course, we ended up with one of the top scores. (Fourth. Doesn't matter though, orienteering is one thing you only compete against yourself.) I helped some of my battles learn how to read the map. One had no idea what was going on at the beginning, but by the end of the cycle, she was able to do everything on her own. Meanwhile, Snuffy was always trying to kiss ass and just looked like a turd. Stay under the radar unless you know you can excel, volunteer for anything you can, eyes and ears open always, use common sense. Remember, you're there to learn. Let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to message me if you need.
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Cameron Smith
Thanks, I’ll be sure to send you a message if I’ve got a question that one of my instructors can’t answer or something. And I’ll be sure not to flaunt my JROTC experience, I only mentioned it to show that I’m capable of the D&C and all that fun stuff
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SGT (Join to see)
Oh yeah, physically, just practice running, push ups, and sit ups. Run at least three miles a day, do push-ups in two minute sections throughout the day, and do at least 100 sit-ups throughout the day. You should be good to go then. The only way to get better at running/push-ups/sit-ups is to rumt/do push-ups/do sit-ups
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Have you taken a DLAB yet? Why do you want to be a P?
Physically, running is good. Rucking is great. The pushups are never going away.
Start memorizing easy stuff, like your general orders, soldiers creed, rank insignias, etc. it’ll save you from having to memorize it in week one of BCT when your exhausted, scared and hungry.
If you have DLI questions, don’t hesitate.
Physically, running is good. Rucking is great. The pushups are never going away.
Start memorizing easy stuff, like your general orders, soldiers creed, rank insignias, etc. it’ll save you from having to memorize it in week one of BCT when your exhausted, scared and hungry.
If you have DLI questions, don’t hesitate.
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Cameron Smith
I haven’t taken the DLAB yet, SGT, so I know that I’m not guaranteed the 35P but I’m very good with language (I’m taking German right now, I’ve learned Spanish in the past and I’m self teaching basic Japanese). I’ve always loved language and having a job in the military where that’s the focus sounds like it’s for me. I understand that this MOS is notorious for not necessarily doing the “Linguist” part of it, but I know that there are times that it does. In response to your comment on memorizing the easy stuff m, i had actually not thought of doing that, thank you for the tip. Could you clarify what you mean by rucking? I think I have an idea as to what you mean I just want to be sure I understand.
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SGT (Join to see)
Cameron Smith Rucking...carrying a heavy rucksack over a distance at a pace. lbs. Shoot for 2.5 Miles in Under 50 minutes. Do you every day for two weeks. That’ll get your baseline established and the point from which you need to improve. A week later, maybe add 8 lbs, add a mile, and try to finish in 68 minutes. Reestablish your baseline at that pace.
Etc etc.
The papas are an incredibly misutilized bunch of soldiers. I felt bad for them. A lot of them get set up to fail.
Etc etc.
The papas are an incredibly misutilized bunch of soldiers. I felt bad for them. A lot of them get set up to fail.
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SPC (Join to see)
Cameron Smith - I would ask to take the DLAB before investing much time in studying language. Then ask your unit what slots they have to fill. More than likely you don't get a whole lot of languages to chose from. Right now the hot languages are still Arabic and Korean. Once you know your units availability, start studying. DLI is the hardest school I have ever attended. It is super high speed. There are head start programs your unit should send you to beforehand. They are given in GA or DLI itself if you get there about a month early. Do not skip it! You will also need your TS clearance before you can go to DLI. Overall, a linguist is a great MOS. It will transfer well into the civilian world. It is however not easy. As a proficient linguist you will also have to learn the cultural background and learn a lot of the technical vocab which is not used in every day language. Study ahead of time! That way you can focus on refining your language skills when you are at DLI. Monterey is a beautiful place!
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SGT (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) - DLI is great. Every one there is the smartest kid from wherever they’re from. And then for 65 weeks (or less for the ‘dumb’ kids taking Spanish), everyone proceeds to look/feel as dumb as possible. Humbling, for sure.
DLI is how you know the Army is evil. They put the most god awful school in the one place on earth that seems to be touched by the fingers of God. Just staring out the window, listening to sea lions barking, wishing the teacher would stop yelling at you...secretly praying that you fail three tests in a row. Secretly mad when you keep passing.
Yes, DLI is a fun place. Oh yeah, Cameron Smith don’t bother trying to study for the dlab. It’s not really a test you can study for.
DLI is how you know the Army is evil. They put the most god awful school in the one place on earth that seems to be touched by the fingers of God. Just staring out the window, listening to sea lions barking, wishing the teacher would stop yelling at you...secretly praying that you fail three tests in a row. Secretly mad when you keep passing.
Yes, DLI is a fun place. Oh yeah, Cameron Smith don’t bother trying to study for the dlab. It’s not really a test you can study for.
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Thank you for the response, sir, but I’m not sure that joining the competitive team will be good for me, we have a pretty toxic sports program so while I can and will still do the running I will probably not join the actual team. I will do the other things though for sure, thank you
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LTC (Join to see)
Fartlek - A Great Running Workout Where You Play With Speed
http://www.tips4running.com/Fartlek.html Follow me on Twitter - http://bit.ly/TwitTiefsa Facebook - http://bit.ly/t4rFace Want to mix in some speed into your...
Sorry about your toxic sports. Join a running club. Run 8 laps on the 400m track once a week to gauge your progress. Do 5k/3.1 mile runs to prep for your army run event.
https://youtu.be/u6x6xDYNLA4
https://youtu.be/u6x6xDYNLA4
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