Posted on Dec 27, 2017
SGT Cryptologic Linguist
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DLI is a tough school. Not everyone can pass. What are some likely reclass options if one fails? I know people don't like to ask this kind of question (because it may appear as if one is planning to fail) but I'm going through difficulty right now with listening in my target language. I would like to know if it's possible to stay in intelligence, even if you don't cut it as a linguist.
Posted in these groups: Defense language institute copy Defense Language Institute (DLI)
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Responses: 7
SGT Casey Bradford
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I was at DLI back in 2011-2012 for Chinese Mandarin (best 63 weeks of my army life) If you fail out you can do a few things, depending on your current language you ask to be placed in a lower cat lang i.e. I was in Chinese if I had failed I could have petitioned for Spanish or French. This doesnt happen often but I've seen it go down. The other option is to ask to become a 35N. These are the analysts that work along side the linguists. They get station in the same companies, work in the same enviroment, they just play a different role. Your ASVAB and DLAB scores are obviously high enough to get you to the Presidio, the chance of you going to 88M or 11B without asking for it are slim. I saw a few ppl go become radiology techs, one went off to become a 35M (She ended up becoming a bad ass) so there are other options.
The one thing you need to know is you are your best and sometimes ONLY advocate in these situations. If you show determination and grit it won't go unnoticed. Fight to keep your grades up, go to study hall or speaking club every night if its still available and drive on. I spent 63 weeks going to mandatory speaking club for Chinese every night in order to pass, in the end walked away with a 2+/2/2. If I had failed they would have seen my willingness to bust my ass and it would have worked in my favor when it came time to reclass.
Good Luck, hang in there, you picked arguably the most mentally challenging MOS in the Army, kick its ass.
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SGT Cryptologic Linguist
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Thank you SGT, I really needed to hear this.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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It's possible, but more often than not, if you fail out of your MOS school, you will get reclassed to a different MOS based on the needs of the Army.
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SGT Cryptologic Linguist
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Thank you SSG, I hope to bloom wherever I'm planted. I enlisted with a degree. I may plan to go officer if things don't work out.
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CW3 Kevin Storm
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There is always Cook, that is what we were threatened with.
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SP6 Ron W.
SP6 Ron W.
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Those were the old, old days. Also, if one didn't get their security clearance.
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