Posted on Jan 5, 2015
Choosing Language Speciality; Does the Army take into consideration your existing language skills?
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I am working toward my goal of reclassify into a language dependent MOS and I have taken my DLAB with great scores. After talking to an AC recruiter, I have discovered that there is no way to choose a language. I am conversational (but not fluent) in German and would prefer to gain fluency in that language rather than learning a totally new language thy I may mot even be passionate about.
Now that that is out of the way, my question is this: does the Army give you a preference choice on Languages (like you get with duty station assignments) or is it completely up to luck of the draw? It seems that there should be some savy recruiters out there (and some higher-up brass) that would understand the benefits of allowing translators to choose their preferred languages to learn.
Thoughts on this?
Now that that is out of the way, my question is this: does the Army give you a preference choice on Languages (like you get with duty station assignments) or is it completely up to luck of the draw? It seems that there should be some savy recruiters out there (and some higher-up brass) that would understand the benefits of allowing translators to choose their preferred languages to learn.
Thoughts on this?
Reclass
Foreign Language
DLAB
Posted 10 y ago
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In the last MILPER Message 14-367 Update to Reclass In and Out Calls, the only 35P that has a shortage are the 35P AZ. That includes all Arabic Dialects (AD, AE, AJ, AK, AL, AM, AN, AP, AQ, AU, AV, BS, BW, DG,
DH, IC, QE, QW). The rest of the languages are either balanced or over strength. You can look for yourself here https://www.hrc.army.mil/Milper/PrintPreview.aspx?MILPERID=14-367 I hope that gives you more info about what MOS to reclass.
DH, IC, QE, QW). The rest of the languages are either balanced or over strength. You can look for yourself here https://www.hrc.army.mil/Milper/PrintPreview.aspx?MILPERID=14-367 I hope that gives you more info about what MOS to reclass.
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SPC Lukas Jones
That helps a lot! I am on my phone so I can't log in to see that MILPER yet but I will look closer when I can
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MSG (Join to see)
Modern Standard Arabic looks to be your best bet. I am 99.9% certain if you are going to transfer to AD there will be no opportunity to take German as an enlisted 35P.
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SP5 Michael Rathbun
For Arabic, I would try to get either Egyptian (at least you can be understood all over due to all the Egyptian soap operas), or Urban Hijazi, which gets you along well in the Gulf.
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I'm trying to apply for a DLI slot right now as part of my re-enlistment. I was told that I could request my top three language choices, but that it would really depend on what class dates were available, and I was not guaranteed any of those choices.
That being said, if your score is high enough, you will most likely be slotted into a Cat III or Cat IV language. If, however, you study up on your German well enough to take a DLPT, you can always test for that language later and get paid for that language as well.
Here are the languages taught at DLI: http://www.dliflc.edu/languagesatdli.html
That being said, if your score is high enough, you will most likely be slotted into a Cat III or Cat IV language. If, however, you study up on your German well enough to take a DLPT, you can always test for that language later and get paid for that language as well.
Here are the languages taught at DLI: http://www.dliflc.edu/languagesatdli.html
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SPC Lukas Jones
I appreciate the information. As I'm going to school from the end of a 6 month extension, I have the convenience of being able to wait for a class date (perk of being in a brigade maybe) I did score high enough to take any language and my 3 proffered languages are German, Japanese and Russian (in order) German obviously being first on my list as I already know some. I'm not so much looking to get paid for knowing it, but I desire to work in that language.
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My understanding from talking with some colleges with Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), If you are fluent (for example) in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and German that is great and more power to you. However DoD prefers Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.
Think Hunt for Red October, "It is wise to speak the language of my enemy." If I recall Sean Connery's line.
Long explanation to say, It is good to have preferences, but it comes down to the needs of the Army.
Think Hunt for Red October, "It is wise to speak the language of my enemy." If I recall Sean Connery's line.
Long explanation to say, It is good to have preferences, but it comes down to the needs of the Army.
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SPC Lukas Jones
Thanks for that comment Sir! I greatly appreciated a Sean Connery quite as well! Russian was number two on my list with Japanese following in a close third. Perhaps, Russian would be a better language to peruse. Of course, factoring in demand and potential for promotion are some of my decision making factors. I don't want to retire as a SPC!
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MAJ Raúl Rovira
SPC (P) Matt Barretta, you are doing good hard career analysis. I commend you for being deliberate and your passion. Since Russia is so close to Alaska I guess I should follow our lead and learn some Russian too.
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SP5 Michael Rathbun
Don't know how it is now, but when we lived in Kodiak there were lots of places on Kodiak and out on the Peninsula where it was a really good idea to know either Russian or the local language if it was anything other than a friend/family visit.
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