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Could anyone provide me with more information on the daily life of a cryptologic linguist?
I am considering joining the army after I graduate from college and have my sights on becoming a cryptologic linguist. However, the recruiters I have spoken to seem to know as much as I do about the MOS (i.e. consistently pulling up the GoArmy website).
Do I have any say over which language I will learn (assuming I pass the DLAB)? I would prefer learning Russian but am fine with Arabic.
Do I have to be a certain rank to be a tactical cryptologic linguist? I will have a college degree so I think I should be a specialist after boot camp. The prospect of spending my days in a windowless building are not very appealing to me, but I love learning about different languages and cultures.
Can anyone share any pros and cons of their daily lives as a 35P? I realize this MOS has a top secret security clearance, so examples do not have to be super specific.
I will graduate in May 2018 so I want to know a bit more about what I am getting into before I enlist.
Thank you so much for your help!
I am considering joining the army after I graduate from college and have my sights on becoming a cryptologic linguist. However, the recruiters I have spoken to seem to know as much as I do about the MOS (i.e. consistently pulling up the GoArmy website).
Do I have any say over which language I will learn (assuming I pass the DLAB)? I would prefer learning Russian but am fine with Arabic.
Do I have to be a certain rank to be a tactical cryptologic linguist? I will have a college degree so I think I should be a specialist after boot camp. The prospect of spending my days in a windowless building are not very appealing to me, but I love learning about different languages and cultures.
Can anyone share any pros and cons of their daily lives as a 35P? I realize this MOS has a top secret security clearance, so examples do not have to be super specific.
I will graduate in May 2018 so I want to know a bit more about what I am getting into before I enlist.
Thank you so much for your help!
Posted in these groups: 
35P: Cryptologic Linguist
35P: Cryptologic Linguist
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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1. If you go regular Army, you'll generally go Needs of the Army unless you have a specific language skill already (or at least that was the case when I learned Arabic; I'd majored in Chinese in college). Nat Guard and Reserves have more flexibility. If you want to be out and about the 97 series may be more your style, and I know some Nat Guard folks who went to Monterey to become HUMINT collectors, so that might be a good option.
2. No, you don't. If you want to be tactical, your best bet is to go Airborne, your first duty station will generally be at 82nd, 3SFG, etc. Otherwise, put a tactical base high on your list (i.e. Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, Fort Drum). Those are not generally nice posts in good areas, so do consider that.
Pros: You have a huge impact, whether you stay in-language or shift to analysis. You get to play with neat toys. You get a year, give or take, at the language school in Monterey (surfing/scuba diving/beach bonfires/golfing/Big Sur). You have a higher-than-Top Secret clearance, which is great if you want to contract or go to a three-letter agency afterwards.
Cons: Your colleagues will be really weird. Most other specialties look down on you. You spend a significant amount of time in a windowless room regardless of where you are. Promotion competition can be fierce. You will not be allowed to go to OCS until your first enlistment is basically up.
2. No, you don't. If you want to be tactical, your best bet is to go Airborne, your first duty station will generally be at 82nd, 3SFG, etc. Otherwise, put a tactical base high on your list (i.e. Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, Fort Drum). Those are not generally nice posts in good areas, so do consider that.
Pros: You have a huge impact, whether you stay in-language or shift to analysis. You get to play with neat toys. You get a year, give or take, at the language school in Monterey (surfing/scuba diving/beach bonfires/golfing/Big Sur). You have a higher-than-Top Secret clearance, which is great if you want to contract or go to a three-letter agency afterwards.
Cons: Your colleagues will be really weird. Most other specialties look down on you. You spend a significant amount of time in a windowless room regardless of where you are. Promotion competition can be fierce. You will not be allowed to go to OCS until your first enlistment is basically up.
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Jessica Joerger
Thank you so much for the information! This brings up some new things to consider when I picture my career track in the Army.
In your opinion, do you think an Air Assault tab would look as good as Airborne for getting tactical? I heard on some online blogs that Air Assault focuses more rappelling and other skills that are slightly more applicable to modern combat than Airborne? But, on the other hand, I heard that Airborne is considered to be harder and more prestigious.
In your opinion, do you think an Air Assault tab would look as good as Airborne for getting tactical? I heard on some online blogs that Air Assault focuses more rappelling and other skills that are slightly more applicable to modern combat than Airborne? But, on the other hand, I heard that Airborne is considered to be harder and more prestigious.
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SSG (Join to see)
Much of what SSG said is true. However, ocs will come down to your leadership.
As far as the badges, I've got both. Air assault was harder, but being airborne you're part of something more. Air assault operations are something you don't need training to do. So unless you count jumping out of a plane and drifting for a kilometer as hard, airborne is just waking up everyday and following instructions.
Life at an agency, you got to see your impact everyday. You did your OJT and went about your mission. At group, you spend your time training for when you're deployed, and then you'll see the fruits of your labors. Different demands and different rewards.
As far as the badges, I've got both. Air assault was harder, but being airborne you're part of something more. Air assault operations are something you don't need training to do. So unless you count jumping out of a plane and drifting for a kilometer as hard, airborne is just waking up everyday and following instructions.
Life at an agency, you got to see your impact everyday. You did your OJT and went about your mission. At group, you spend your time training for when you're deployed, and then you'll see the fruits of your labors. Different demands and different rewards.
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SFC (Join to see)
So Bliss is in El Paso, and is extremely nice. Way nicer than Hood. Also, Drum is in thousand islands New York, beautiful country. You don't have to be in a windowless room, most places have windows. But there are very tactical jobs for us. I've carried more on my back than most infantry would dream and for longer distances. Mortars have my respect though. It's not easy being tactical SIGINT, but it is a very rewarding job.
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This MOS varies based on language, base, command, and the ability for you to be able to communicate. I was both strategic and tactical in this MOS and the differences between were so drastic you would think it's a different MOS... Strategic was more laid back, less emphasis on physical fitness more emphasis on linguistics, tactical was heavy emphasis on physical fitness (your equipment is heavy af) less on your linguistic ability... The window-less buildings are just part of the job, no matter what you do or where you go you will end up in 'those' buildings... I've been out now for a year and I miss it. I think about reenlisting all the time even though I have a great thing going out here in the civilian world...
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Jessica Joerger
Thank you for the response! How were you able to be strategic and tactical? What did you have to do to get tactical?
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SGT Casey Bradford
I was strategic and worked for the NSA as a linguist. Then PCSd to a tactical unit. There are available positions on SF SOTAs (require airborne status), I was on Fort Bragg with the 82nd working with an MICO (Militaty Intelligence Company). We would get sent around the BDE as attachments in order to help facilitate their needs. I also had an opportunity to work for the BDE during a training exercise and help develop the scope of the battle space. 35P is by far the most diverse MOS in the Army (in my opinion). One day you could be working for a line company as early warning and detection, the next you could be whisked away to help support a mission you didnt even know was going on.
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Unfortunately there's no real way to know what you'd be doing. I graduated with 6 others guys in my class and all of us are doing completely different things, and as of right now, I'm the only one doing anything remotely related to the language. My average day consists of PT followed by shift-work. It's not an easy job, but I do enjoy it. I have never heard of someone getting to choose their language, so expect the Army to choose it for you based on your DLAB score.
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Jessica Joerger
Thank you for the response! What jobs are your other graduates doing that are unrelated to their languages? Is it common for cryptologic linguists to not use their language, even though they undergo so much training?
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