Posted on Sep 30, 2022
If I'm fluent in French, will I skip DLI and go straight to AIT? Will I need to take the DLAB to qualify for a higher CAT language?
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I am in the process of reclassing to 35M and my career counselor told me that they have available training seats for January, February...and the training will last 12 months ( I'm assuming with the language training included). I'm fluent in french and have a DLPT score of 2/2+ . I was wondering if am I going to skip DLI and go straight to AIT or if I'm still going to learn another language ? since french is CAT 1 language, will I need to take the DLAB to qualify for a higher CAT language?
Posted in these groups: Human Intelligence Collector Course (35M)
Defense Language Institute (DLI)
Career Counselor
Career Advice
Defense Language Institute (DLI) Career Counselor Career Advice
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 3
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If the Army needs French, you will skip DLI and go straight to the SIGINT portion of the course. Your Counselor is mixed up, the SIGINT portions start soon which is several months, and the language portions last a year.
You get to request your language if you want. You can go with French and leave pretty soon, or you can take a DLAB and request a different language. However, if you take French you will need to have a Top Secret clearance right now before requesting 35M, and in order to do that you will also need to be a citizen if you are not already.
So,
COA 1: French, must have a TS clearance grant by the CIF (not the one your battalion commander can just write a memo for and grant temporarily), and you will go to the Signal portion AIT.
COA 2: you take the DLAB and request a different language, you'll need at least a 107, go to DLI for about a year, then off to the signal portion once language complete
You get to request your language if you want. You can go with French and leave pretty soon, or you can take a DLAB and request a different language. However, if you take French you will need to have a Top Secret clearance right now before requesting 35M, and in order to do that you will also need to be a citizen if you are not already.
So,
COA 1: French, must have a TS clearance grant by the CIF (not the one your battalion commander can just write a memo for and grant temporarily), and you will go to the Signal portion AIT.
COA 2: you take the DLAB and request a different language, you'll need at least a 107, go to DLI for about a year, then off to the signal portion once language complete
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Thanks for this clarification, but from my understanding SIGINT is 35P and HUMINT (35M) which I’m concerned about.
I know for SIGINT you have to go to DLI first and then go to AIT but I’ve seen from a lot of comments, that 35M s go to AIT first and then to DLI for tge language which is the opposite of SIGINT.
I already have a TS/SCI, which qualifies me for 35M. I am also considering taking the DLAB to qualify for a high CAT language instead of going with the French which I’m already fluent in and have on my ERB.
Slots are available right now for January and February but it said 12 months for the training and I’m not sure if it’s because he checked it based on my French, because I know the AIT for 35M is 19 weeks (almost 5 months).
But I was also wondering if I can go to AIT first and be assigned a language during or after graduation and go to DLI to train for that language.
I know for SIGINT you have to go to DLI first and then go to AIT but I’ve seen from a lot of comments, that 35M s go to AIT first and then to DLI for tge language which is the opposite of SIGINT.
I already have a TS/SCI, which qualifies me for 35M. I am also considering taking the DLAB to qualify for a high CAT language instead of going with the French which I’m already fluent in and have on my ERB.
Slots are available right now for January and February but it said 12 months for the training and I’m not sure if it’s because he checked it based on my French, because I know the AIT for 35M is 19 weeks (almost 5 months).
But I was also wondering if I can go to AIT first and be assigned a language during or after graduation and go to DLI to train for that language.
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I don't know any of those answers, but I grew up in Monterey County, CA.
EVERY time I go there I always think THOSE KIDS have NO IDEA how lucky they are to STILL be in TRADOC in Monterey, CA. In AIT I was a 30 minute bus ride from a lame Walmart. All they have to do is walk down the hill and they are smack dab in the middle of Cannery Row.
Time it right and instead of going on a Bataan Death March Remembrance Ruck in the middle of the desert they can do to the Pebble Beach PGA or Vintage Auto Concourse.
Don't pass up the DLI if you can.
EVERY time I go there I always think THOSE KIDS have NO IDEA how lucky they are to STILL be in TRADOC in Monterey, CA. In AIT I was a 30 minute bus ride from a lame Walmart. All they have to do is walk down the hill and they are smack dab in the middle of Cannery Row.
Time it right and instead of going on a Bataan Death March Remembrance Ruck in the middle of the desert they can do to the Pebble Beach PGA or Vintage Auto Concourse.
Don't pass up the DLI if you can.
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SPC (Join to see)
Thanks for your comment, I actually want to go learn another language before or after the job training, specially Arabic because I can read it but I can't speak .
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SGT (Join to see)
DLI is the worst trick the Military plays on joes. They put one of the most difficult schools in probably the best possible place to be stationed.
Lots of time studying, staring out the window wanting to go down the hill. But having to study more.
Lots of time studying, staring out the window wanting to go down the hill. But having to study more.
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You will take what ever language they suggest- French is not normally on the list.
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SPC (Join to see)
Thanks for clarifying, will the language training be before or after the MOS training? will I be taking the DLAB test for them to assign me a language depending on my score ?
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