Posted on Apr 4, 2015
What's a 35P and what do they do? What is the application process like to a 35L?
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Ok, for all two people who have been following my year long fight to get back in... I won't bother anyone with a recap.
So I gave up trying to to get back in as my old MOS. The only thing calling my congressman did was get a letter from the army explaining that I'm not MOS qualified and my reading of the regs concerning AIT for prior service is wrong.
At the end of the month I take the dlab, last time I tried I scored a 105, prior service (they must hate us) needed a 110, since then the cut off dropped to 107.
Ok, question time. What's a 35p and what do they do? Why do promotions in this MOS seem so confusing and schizophrenic? What is DLI like for prior service?
And for the 35l out there, how is the application process? How long should I wait before submitting the packet? Can I do it while I'm at DLI?
thanks in advance.
So I gave up trying to to get back in as my old MOS. The only thing calling my congressman did was get a letter from the army explaining that I'm not MOS qualified and my reading of the regs concerning AIT for prior service is wrong.
At the end of the month I take the dlab, last time I tried I scored a 105, prior service (they must hate us) needed a 110, since then the cut off dropped to 107.
Ok, question time. What's a 35p and what do they do? Why do promotions in this MOS seem so confusing and schizophrenic? What is DLI like for prior service?
And for the 35l out there, how is the application process? How long should I wait before submitting the packet? Can I do it while I'm at DLI?
thanks in advance.
Posted in these groups: 
Prior Service
35P: Cryptologic Linguist
35L: Counterintelligence (CI) Agent
Defense Language Institute (DLI)
Prior Service 35P: Cryptologic Linguist 35L: Counterintelligence (CI) Agent Defense Language Institute (DLI)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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SPC Avededo,
I am a career 35P. As was pointed out elsewhere on the forum, details can't really be discussed here. But I will do my best:
What's a 35p and what do they do? 35P is a Cryptologic Linguist. You must know or learn a foreign language in order to do this job. If you already know a language, you can sometimes become a 35P in that language without having to go to DLI. You will be doing a lot of listening or translating in this job. You will not be doing a lot of in person translating (but some Commanders will try to get you to do that anyway). The job duties for a 35P will be vastly different whether you end up in a tactical (think Cav or Infantry) or a strategic unit. The likelihood of you being at either one of these types of units is part fate and part language you have. In a tactical you, you may never actually get to do your real job. It is, again, very relative. Being Intel is not like being MP or Medical. You really don't have a garrison task in a tactical unit. It can be frustrating, but also great. Strategic- I won't go into that here.
Why do promotions in this MOS seem so confusing and schizophrenic? Promotions as a 35P are confusing because they are also language based. There are different promotion rates based on whether you know Spanish, Russian, Arabic or Chinese. As a 35PAD (Arabic) I had an easier time getting promoted (lower cutoff scores) in 2005 than my peers who were 35PKP (Korean) because Arabic linguists were in demand at the time. For better or worse, that's how it worked out.
What is DLI like for prior service? DLI is better for prior service than IETers, and that means it's better than YOU ARE ALREADY ON ARGUABLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BASE/IN THE MOST DESIRED CONUS LOCATION! Seriously, I know people that go 35P JUST to spend a year or two in Monterey. I wasn't that impressed, but most people are. You will likely be able to live out of the barracks. This means you can apply for post housing or get an apartment or house off post. The post housing has really been renovated in the past few years (my husband just left DLI two months ago) and the houses on base are pretty nice. But if you want to save some cash you can opt to live in the older housing and keep a portion of your BAH (we are talking 1960s or older). Off post living can get expensive, because it is an expensive location overall, but if you are single you could probably find some fellow soldiers to bunk up with and save money.
As a final note- I LOVE my job. I love Arabic, I have loved every unit I have served in (though some I had to learn to love after I left the unit). I have had wonderful opportunities and have traveled all over the world to do my job. I also gained experiences and training which have made me very valuable in the civilian world. Given the chance, I wouldn't change a thing.
PM me if you want more info or have any other questions!
I am a career 35P. As was pointed out elsewhere on the forum, details can't really be discussed here. But I will do my best:
What's a 35p and what do they do? 35P is a Cryptologic Linguist. You must know or learn a foreign language in order to do this job. If you already know a language, you can sometimes become a 35P in that language without having to go to DLI. You will be doing a lot of listening or translating in this job. You will not be doing a lot of in person translating (but some Commanders will try to get you to do that anyway). The job duties for a 35P will be vastly different whether you end up in a tactical (think Cav or Infantry) or a strategic unit. The likelihood of you being at either one of these types of units is part fate and part language you have. In a tactical you, you may never actually get to do your real job. It is, again, very relative. Being Intel is not like being MP or Medical. You really don't have a garrison task in a tactical unit. It can be frustrating, but also great. Strategic- I won't go into that here.
Why do promotions in this MOS seem so confusing and schizophrenic? Promotions as a 35P are confusing because they are also language based. There are different promotion rates based on whether you know Spanish, Russian, Arabic or Chinese. As a 35PAD (Arabic) I had an easier time getting promoted (lower cutoff scores) in 2005 than my peers who were 35PKP (Korean) because Arabic linguists were in demand at the time. For better or worse, that's how it worked out.
What is DLI like for prior service? DLI is better for prior service than IETers, and that means it's better than YOU ARE ALREADY ON ARGUABLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BASE/IN THE MOST DESIRED CONUS LOCATION! Seriously, I know people that go 35P JUST to spend a year or two in Monterey. I wasn't that impressed, but most people are. You will likely be able to live out of the barracks. This means you can apply for post housing or get an apartment or house off post. The post housing has really been renovated in the past few years (my husband just left DLI two months ago) and the houses on base are pretty nice. But if you want to save some cash you can opt to live in the older housing and keep a portion of your BAH (we are talking 1960s or older). Off post living can get expensive, because it is an expensive location overall, but if you are single you could probably find some fellow soldiers to bunk up with and save money.
As a final note- I LOVE my job. I love Arabic, I have loved every unit I have served in (though some I had to learn to love after I left the unit). I have had wonderful opportunities and have traveled all over the world to do my job. I also gained experiences and training which have made me very valuable in the civilian world. Given the chance, I wouldn't change a thing.
PM me if you want more info or have any other questions!
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Hiram Alexis
Is there a way to PM you as you are anon? I would love some questions answered, if you have the time. Thanks in advanced.
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On desktop, try connecting with current RallyPoint members in those MOSs... there are over 1000 of them (not available on mobile yet):
https://www.rallypoint.com/specialties/35p-cryptologic-linguist/primary
https://www.rallypoint.com/specialties/35l-counterintelligence-special-agent/primary
https://www.rallypoint.com/specialties/35p-cryptologic-linguist/primary
https://www.rallypoint.com/specialties/35l-counterintelligence-special-agent/primary
Find Cryptologic Linguist (35P)'s on RallyPoint
Connect with other 35Ps. Share you knowledge and get the career advice you need from others with your experience.
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SPC (Join to see)
Ah thank you, I don't think I've used the desk top site since I've signed up.
Thank you
Thank you
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CPT (Join to see)
So a 35P's official title is a Cryptologic Linguist, what you will be doing though, will differ greatly depending on whether or not you get a strategic (more likely) or a tactical assignment, this also will depend greatly on the language that you receive. Most parts of the job are classified and can't be discussed much on an open forum but if you are assigned to a tactical unit you will spend a lot of time guarding things and trying to explain to your chain of command that you are indeed not a wizard capable of exploiting enemy communications at will. As prior service at DLI you will live off base and might be expected to take a squad or team leader role for the new soldiers in your company. As for your 35L aspirations they will probably want you to do 2 years at least of your intel job after you finish your AIT, which means you will not be able to apply at DLI. The best course of action is probably to contact your local 35L on base or call the 35L recruiters because they might have a different answer for you.
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