Does anyone have any advice regarding being successful at DLI?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 11:33:43 -0400

I just picked up a 35P slot and I am leaving for DLI in the near future. I'm a little intimidated by the fail rate of DLI. Anybody have advice on doing well?
Also when will I know my language?. Most people say that you find out your language in basic but I did basic two years ago.
Also any insight on what being a 35p would he helpful. I've heard horror stories of being stuck in a box your whole career and some good stories about being in the field. Is there anyway to better my chances of being in the field?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2019 1:21 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 13:21:00 -0400

SPC Casey, you probably won't know your language until you get there. As for advice to succeed, buckle down and study like crazy, but don't forget to find time to relax and reset your mind. Over-studying can actually inhibit learning, so try to find the balance early. Immerse yourself in positive ways that feel less like studying in your off-time (e.g., movies, music, youtube videos on topics that interest you). Try to find something about the culture that truly appeals to you, especially if you're not a fan of the language. Surround yourself with positive, responsible people who will help you learn and keep you in check. Remember that you're only there for a short time - even if it feels like a decade - and keep your eyes on the future (but don't get married)!! Also keep OPSEC in mind at all times.
As for getting to the field, airborne qualification and good APFT scores will drastically improve your odds. Talk to your leadership when you get to the AIT portion and start networking for future assignments early.
Best of luck!

Response by SPC Jin Kim made Jun 8 at 2019 2:51 PM

SPC Jin Kim — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 14:51:49 -0400

SFC Colleen R. has great recommendations. Learning via immersion is the best. In absence of that opportunity, learning by associating the context of a word within sentences and in-the-moment activity is better than rote memorization using flip cards.

You're also at a time where digital media in your target language is easily accessible through the internet. Use them to immerse yourself.

Finally, I'm unsure if the Army has fixed its problem of not rotating linguists between tactical and strategic assignments, but back in the late 90's, which ever type of assignment you were sent to first ended up being the one you'd be "stuck" in for the remainder of your contract. While I enjoyed field exercises the first couple of times, being out in the field for 2 to 6 weeks at a time every 3-4 weeks got old fast. And it got even older when the next assignment had the same FTX cadence.

I do hope the Army has figured out the rotation to give tactically assigned linguist some down time and strategic linguists a refresh on field combat training.

Good luck, SPC.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2019 6:38 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 18:38:30 -0400

Congrats! I recently graduated last April, and I am a korean linguist. I found out my language before I went to basic, but in your situation you will probably find out once you get to DLI and in-process. Whatever language you get just try to immerse yourself in the culture and keep an open mind. It is a lot easier to do well when you enjoy what you're doing. Also, take advantage of 7th hour and study hall. The teachers will usually let you stay and do speaking practice as well. Just keep your head down and try to balance studying with having fun.
As for horror stories. I am currently in Korea doing more of the traditional "stuck in a box" part of the job, however my next duty station will be tactical. They try to give you a balance now rather than being stuck in one aspect your whole career.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Jun 21 at 2019 6:57 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 18:57:39 -0400

Very good chance depending on your launguage. See I self taught myself in German and Dutch. Plus on the afsb I passed the launguge test. Plus I used to date a SSG Russian linguist.