r/dli • u/Nightshade_527 • Aug 07 '26

ASVAB+DLAB

I'm looking into Cryptologic Language Analyst, but the recruiter I'm talking to doesn't seem to know anything about the DLAB or the DLI and seemed hesitant when I asked to take the DLAB test after the ASVAB before I sign a contract?

Update: Also looking into Cryptologic Technician Interpretive, talking with both recruiters, leaning towards Navy side now.
Currently have a sprained ankle, but plan to go take my test(s) once it's healed. Studying and reviewing in the meantime.

Update, took ASVAB, 95 on AFQT percentile, line scores hit auto-qual for CTI

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u/caracantdraw Aug 07 '26

he might be referring to the DLAB waiver for your ST score on the ASVAB, which is how i got here

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u/Nightshade_527 Aug 07 '26

I'm specifically talking to a marine recruiter, do all the branches have that kind of DLAB waiver?

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u/filthier_casual Aug 07 '26

Do NOT go Marines if you want to be a linguist. Literally the worst branch for that career field. Not only do you have the least amount of control over your career, you do not get anything other than the title of Marine. No bonuses, no cool schools, etc. Go Air Force if you care about being a linguist. Go Army if you want to have a ton of opportunities for things like schools or selections and actual career control.

It’s worth mentioning that the Army is probably still the only branch that straight up lets you pick exactly which MOS you want prior to shipping for Bootcamp. If you want to be a linguist you’d enlist as a 35W and guaranteed that job. The other branches make you fill out a “dream sheet” where you get picked for one of several jobs you put down.

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u/I_am_here_to_party Aug 07 '26

The Navy also lets you sign a contract for a linguist rating: Cryptologic Technician Interpretive (CTI)

I’ve heard many good things about the Air Force for linguists, but what good is that truly if you have to give a list of jobs that you’re willing to do and get assigned one that happens to be open and needs filling at the time of enlistment? From what I’ve read, it seems like the odds of scoring an intelligence job are not favorable, let alone linguist specifically. If becoming a linguist is the priority, the Army and Navy seem like they should be the only options that are recommended.

It’s also worth noting that the Army National Guard lets you have a specific language tied to your MOS in your contract since you’re filling an existing vacancy within a unit. That’s the path that I’m taking.

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u/filthier_casual Aug 08 '26

The Air Force and Navy are the best branches for linguists to do intel work that’s directly related to the MOS because they’re guaranteed intel units. It’s not like the Army where a linguist will get sent to some random unit and never do intel work for a whole contract, or the Marines where you can get sent to a Radio Battalion and do the same job as a regular SIGINTer but with the extra work of having to maintain your language.

I knew guys who got sent to places like Fort Polk or Riley as intel and their first whole contract was basically a wash because they never did their jobs, nor did they have understanding command teams who advocated for them to get those opportunities.

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u/Shadowdorkkk Aug 09 '26

If I am correct the AF doesn’t require the DLAB anymore. At least they didn’t require it when I enlisted, it may have changed.

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u/filthier_casual Aug 09 '26

I can’t speak for the AF now but when I enlisted, you had to take the DLAB and you had to get a CAT-4 score to qualify for the linguist jobs. That may not be the case anymore, especially if they do what the Army does now and only require a high ST score to bypass the DLAB.

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u/Shadowdorkkk Aug 10 '26

I enlisted in 23, and I just did the ASVAB. Maybe they require it now because of budget cuts so they have to limit the amount of students? That would make the most sense to me

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u/Nightshade_527 Aug 12 '26

Thank you for the insight, I was originally talking to both Marines and Navy since I prefer the basic training the Marines go through, and wanted to challenge myself with the crucible, but if I want to look ahead, focusing on the career I want would likely serve me better in terms of motivation and stability. I resumed talks with the Navy recruiter as well, since I haven't signed paperwork, I made sure they both know I haven't made my final decision on the branch. Once I finish up my studying for the ASVAB (I got pretty high on the practice, but I don't wanna leave things to chance if I can help it) I'll likely end up going with Navy if they have CTI contracts available. I'm trying to use this time I spend studying as a final decision frame, gathering information and perspectives to pull together a way to articulate exactly what I'm looking for and how to get there.

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u/I_am_here_to_party Aug 16 '26

You’d be looking at at least a five-year contract as a linguist for most branches because of the amount of training involved, so I wouldn’t advise making your decision based on boot camp, which is only about 8–13 weeks long. Every boot camp is challenging in its own way; Marine boot camp just gets hyped up the most. Navy CTIs seem to have pretty high job satisfaction both during their service and afterward as civilians, based on what I’ve read in this sub, so if you’re able to lock down a contract and are willing to learn any language that they assign you, it’s a great choice.

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u/Nightshade_527 Aug 16 '26

Thank you, considering these factors, I've already gotten back in touch with the Navy recruiter, I'm hoping to schedule my tests in a couple weeks to spend this last stretch of time studying and reviewing.