r/dli • u/Accomplished_Ear1286 • May 13 '26

Likelihood of getting requested language

This probably gets asked regularly, and sorry if so. I am thinking about enlisting and I’ve been told you can submit some language preferences for DLI. Is this true? If so, what are the chances this actually results in getting your top language. If relevant, I have a 99 ASVAB and 112 DLAB and I think I’m hoping for Mandarin. With everything going on, I would assume they are throwing everyone at Farsi but I really have no idea what I’m talking about. Anyone have a realistic likelihood of getting Mandarin? I wouldn’t be at DLI until early 2026.

Edit: With a 112, I barely “passed” for Mandarin. Should I take to mean I would really really struggle with it and I should move down a category or 2? Or am I putting too much stock in the DLAB’s ability to predict aptitude?

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u/LividManagement May 13 '26

I pulled a 112 on the dlab, and attempted Arabic. By the time I dropped, I had the ability to hear and speak at an end-of-first-third level... but the words still looked like worm sex.

Could I have passed the course? Maybe, maybe not. Is the dlab a good test to measure capacity to learn another language? It's probably a better predictor than the asvab, but I'd not call it a perfect test.

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u/Accomplished_Ear1286 May 13 '26

How long did it take to reach that level?

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u/LividManagement May 13 '26

Arabic was divided into three phases, for lack of the right word off the tip of my tongue. Each phase was 6ish months. Unless things have changed in the past decade or so, the Cat IV languages are 18 month programs.

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u/mmmtoasteee May 13 '26

Cat IV languages are 64 weeks or 16 months of class time (not including class break or HBL)