Enlisting Active Duty for 35P in a month. Will the Army consider assigning me to my fluent foreign language?

2021-03-08T12:49:42-05:00

I took the DLAB and got 107 and I am fluent in Russian. Will I be able to use this or will they still require me to learn another language once I graduate BCT?

Response by 1LT Peter Duston made Mar 8 at 2021 12:53 PM

2021-03-08T12:53:38-05:00

Depends on the language need of the Army but I would think they can use you as a Russian linguist right away since you’re qualified. After all, Russia is still a “Threat”! Всё хорошего!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2021 1:24 PM

2021-03-08T13:24:06-05:00

You will almost certainly be assigned Russian. You'll need to take the DLPT Defense Language Proficiency Test to determine just how fluent you are. In your MOS you'll always need to score at least a 2/2, that's about the proficiency of a middle school kid. That's not a 2 out of 2, that's a 2 reading and 2 writing. 3/3 or higher is where you want to be as a native speaker, which is about a high school level. The Army may still send you to DLI for advanced language training

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2021 5:58 PM

2021-03-08T17:58:41-05:00

You need to take the DLPT; check with your recruiter about coordinating with MEPS. It is not enough that you know Russian, but to what degree and how fluent your English is as well. Russian is a priority language, but I would recommend asking for another language anyways to get the opportunity to obtain even more valuable skills (think of the life value in fluency between Russian, English, and Persian-Farsi, for example). If you have a sufficient passing score in Russian and they allow you to attend another language, you have a safety net you can fall back on to continue into the MOS 35P.

The minimum requirement for 35P is 2/2/1+ (2 each in Listening and Reading and a 1+ in Speaking as determined by the Interagency Language Roundtables as opposed to the collegiate system’s ACTFL). However, that will be increasing to 2+/2+/1+

Response by SFC Randy Hellenbrand made Mar 8 at 2021 7:46 PM

2021-03-08T19:46:06-05:00

My father spoke fluent German. They sent him to Korea in the fall of 1950. He never did get to Germany.

You will get retested, but Russian language people are needed now that we don't kiss Putin's rear anymore. I've been out too long now, so I no longer know the regs., but if they give you the opportunity to learn a 2nd language--TAKE IT.

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Mar 9 at 2021 7:34 AM

2021-03-09T07:34:30-05:00

If there are RU billets then you'll be able to be an RU linguist. If another language is available, I'd think long and hard about that opportunity also. You would be broadening your skillset, and depending on where you are stationed and how well you DLPT, you may get paid for maintaining proficiency in two languages.