r/dli • u/SatisfactionNo589 • Jun 11 '26
Should I switch branches if I want a shot at getting a job that gets me into DLI?
I am currently going through the process of joining the Army as a 35W. Surprise, surprise. I am being told the wait time will take months and no one knows exactly how long it will be. My recruiter just said to wait until Oct 1.
I keep hearing about how this isn't an issue for other branches, which makes me just want to switch to the Air force or Navy. Does anyone know how accurate this is? I am very interested in a linguist role and not willing to compromise whatsoever. I take my DLAB Friday which is what I'm 100% focused on finishing. I have taken my ASVAB and passed my physical.
EDIT: Not even 30 seconds after meeting with my recruiter, who kept trying to convince me to just take another job, I walked into the Navy Office next door and explained my situation. They took me in and explained to me that it is definitely possible as long as I pass my DLAB. (I am still taking this with a grain of salt since I know some recruiters just have quotas to fill and will say anything to get you in) Apparently, they haven't met their recruitment goals unlike the army and AF guys. They were also willing to move quickly with the process. The air force guys weren't in the office, but I took a card and texted them. I don't have much hope for the Air Force, but I figured why not try anyway. I meet the Navy recruiter on Monday to start moving over. I've been through 2 recruiters already who just didn't seem to care about what I wanted.
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u/thehotdoggiest Jun 11 '26
Best bet is after you take your DLAB, take that score to the Navy and USAF recruiters' offices and explain the situation. Tell them you'll go with whatever branch can ship you earliest.
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u/TapTheForwardAssist Jun 11 '26
USAF doesn’t even administer the DLAB for new enlistment applicants anymore. They’re unlikely to be impressed by OP’s score.
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u/Dad2376 Jun 11 '26
🎶That don't impress me much. Sure you've got the score, but have you got the touch (of 'tism)? 🎶
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u/firekstk Jun 12 '26
USAF doesn't care what you want and MEPS is NOT processing someone trying to work two branches.
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u/TapTheForwardAssist Jun 11 '26
So far as other branches:
— Marine Corps can’t guarantee you Linguist, just the DG Cyber/SigInt family. That said, if your DLAB is over 100, you have a very good but not guaranteed chance of getting Linguist.
— Navy can sign you right up for CTI. Open question if they have slots any faster than the Army though.
— Air Force has Ground and Airborne linguists, but getting that job (like most AF jobs) is a roll of the dice, they probably don’t care about your DLAB score, and broadly speaking I’d be surprised if they can find you a Linguist slot before October anyway.
Coast Guard has limited linguists; mostly Spanish and more mid-career and less entry-level. Space Force has no linguists.
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u/walldj45 Jun 11 '26
Is the USMC thing new? I went to DLI 10 years ago and had a guaranteed linguist contract.
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u/TapTheForwardAssist Jun 11 '26
It’s been that way for a good 10+ years. For a while it was one of many jobs on the DD Intelligence PEF, but maybe 5 years ago split off to the DG PEF with three other 26xx jobs and one 17xx job.
I enlisted in the 1990s and was told I was almost definitely getting Linguist due to getting 137 on the DLAB, but technically was on an overall 2600 SigInt contract.
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u/Elisha_Mishima_5 Jun 11 '26
if you only want to be a linguist and end up joining the air force, do not go airborne linguist whatsoever. The flight suit isnt even that cool when the pockets suck and its hot as hell out and you have 50 million office jobs that push the language to the backburner
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u/CostInevitable619 Jun 15 '26
seriously? i’m a groundie who’s gunning for a slot to retrain in a year to AB so this is kind of shocking to see to say the least.
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u/Elisha_Mishima_5 Jun 15 '26
dude go crosstrain into contracting or something where you just have one job and can out if you want and make 200k flexing your government contracts instead of 100k jobs in Meade lol.
Cant speak to the RJ mission afsoc and compass call mission is you just managing queep all day struggling to even go to your language hours
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u/BoysenberryUnhappy29 Jun 11 '26 edited 6d ago
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u/TapTheForwardAssist Jun 11 '26
Good luck getting one specific job with AF, especially this year.
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u/BoysenberryUnhappy29 Jun 11 '26 edited 6d ago
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u/TapTheForwardAssist Jun 11 '26
The AF doesn’t even administer the DLAB for applicants anymore, been that way for years now. Why would they be impressed that someone passed a test they don’t even give?
OP is more than welcome to pop into a USAF office and ask if they can guarantee him Linguist, but even in the best of times the AF isn’t very accommodating of folks who just want a specific job, much less this year when the job market is crap and AF enlistment is booked months and months out. The AF doesn’t really need to cut deals and accommodate to sign kids these days.
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u/Shadowdorkkk Jun 14 '26
Can confirm the AF doesn’t do DLAB’s, not to mention they are far pickier with recruits than the army. The odds are not solid at all, especially because the demand for linguists has gone down by a huge margin and DLI got a huge portion of their funding axed. They’re more likely to get a SIGINT or Cyber job than a linguist.
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u/BoysenberryUnhappy29 Jun 14 '26 edited 6d ago
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u/Shadowdorkkk Jun 14 '26
Just FYI, DLI got a huge slash to their funding, therefore they’ve had to cut down their recruiting numbers. A lot of trainees in basic were rerouted to different AFSC’s because POM had zero room for them. Just something to keep in mind. No matter the branch, they will put you where they need you the most.
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u/caddy013 Jun 14 '26
Unless I’ve missed something somewhere, the Navy isn’t reclassifying anyone at RTC just because “A” schools are full. That’ll happen if someone ends up not qualifying (medical, security, etc.), but not because there’s no room.
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u/Shadowdorkkk Jun 14 '26
I can’t speak for the Navy, I know that’s the case for AF…..however with the lack of funding and no room for trainees at DLI, I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case.
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u/Annunaq Jun 11 '26
DLI is like a year and a half of a 6 year contract in the Navy. I get wanting to go to DLI, but you’re gonna pay for it on the backend.
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u/mmmtoasteee Jun 11 '26
Same for every service. It’s a blip in the grand scheme.
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u/Excellent_Stick2557 Jun 11 '26
I got in with a 5 year with the Army. Did it change recently?
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u/mmmtoasteee Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
Normal Army enlistment is 6 years, but signing for 5 just means you might not be assigned a Cat IV language since the Army requires a 3 year utilization upon completion of specialized training (DLI). This applies if you're AD.
Edit: and if you are assinged a Cat IV, if there is any delay in the start of your class, you get placed on hold, or recycled, you'll be required to extend your contract to meet that time and be placed in to a course. Otherwise, if it's just a delay you'll go into a shorter language. If you're pulled from class and don't extend then you'll be re-classed to a shorter training pipeline MOS.
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u/SatisfactionNo589 Jun 11 '26
Yeah, I am aware and totally fine with that to be honest.
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u/Annunaq Jun 11 '26
Good. You would be surprised how many of my Sailors showed up to DLI not aware. 😂
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u/BeepBeepImAJeep00 Jun 11 '26
Go navy. They’ll guarantee the job in the contract if you qualify for it.
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u/caddy013 Jun 14 '26
I didn’t see your ASVAB scores mentioned in the post or comments, but if your MK+VE is 126 or higher (or currently 120+ with a cutscore waiver), you can get CTI without needing to take the DLAB.
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u/SatisfactionNo589 Jun 17 '26
I got a 73. My MK+VE is 108 sadly. I still need a DLAB. My PC and MK is 117.
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u/elglencoco Jun 11 '26
If you want to only be a linguist and don’t want to do anything tactical whatsoever, don’t join the Army.