When can you apply for Civil Affairs?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 12:49:01 -0500

I am working through the 35p training pipeline and I want to get into Civil affairs.
I am a specialist with 2 years of Service (Prior service national guard, now active duty) and a bachelors degree.
When can I apply for Civil affairs selection? Do I have to work as a 35p for a minimum amount of time or can I apply as soon as I'm MOS qualified?
Also trying to decide if I want to go through Airborne after AIT, however I'm nervous about how an airborne unit would utilize (or more specifically underutilize) a linguist. Can any airborne linguist advise?

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2020 4:14 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 16:14:10 -0500

Do you already have a language or are you going to DLI?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2020 10:51 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 10:51:16 -0500

CA is a packet MOS, you can drop it when you went as far as I'm aware. However, the Army is going to want it's pound of flesh from you for putting you through DLI.
As far as being utilized as an airborne linguist, I've definitely had some great times being assigned to an SF unit. A couple counterparts at the 82nd...that's a different story. I've had 3 deployments and have gotten a lot more and a very diverse set of SI trainings, in addition to everything I've earned by working with the ODAs.
Now it's your turn:
What's your language?
Why did you want to go CA?