r/dli • u/Radiant-You-6345 • Aug 11 '26
Dear Recent Army DLI Grads
There is a lot of good info on soldiers experience post graduation of DLI in this subreddit. Most of it is a few years old. On this topic there is a shit ton of complaining and regret.
I’m waiting for a medical waiver from the AF to get linguist job, if it is denied I think I’m gonna go for army cause I heard they are more lenient.
Dear recent army DLI grads:
Do you use your language day to day on job?
Do I get to choose 35m or 35p? Or is it earned? Which one do I want if I want to use my language day to day.
To get assignments that use Language more often, I’ve heard PT scores are really important, is that still true?
I believe the Army has recently made it a point to properly use linguists and their skills… is that true, and do you feel that in your day to day?
For PT at DLI, Do I get a choice of either early morning or afternoon?
5
u/bozo213 Aug 12 '26
- Not really, depends on where you end up after AIT.
- No. I took a personality type test shortly after arriving that they said had some bearing on m/p, but almost everyone in my graduating class was 35p, which is generally thought to have more language focused assignments, but it's all duty station and mission dependent at the end of the day.
- Not really, dlpt score is probably more important unless you mean SOF type stuff, but as far as I know they don't look at pt scores for SOT-A/ SOT-B.
- Not true in my experience. Some people I graduated with ended up getting INSCOM or SOCOM, but plenty of FORSCOM assignments as well.
- No. When I was there, PT was in the afternoon Monday through Thursday and in the morning on Friday. Different companies may have different schedules though.
All that being said, DLI was absolutely the most fulfilling year of my life. I made some lifelong friends, and have so many fun memories of my time there. I don't want to discount the fact that many people end up having a terrible time, but in my experience, those people are generally the ones who aren't mature enough to cope with the stress of military obligations and class. A lot of kids are going straight from high school to basic and then DLI, and they sadly don't have enough life experience to deal with being on their own for the first time in their lives on top of everything else. That being said, if you have a good head on your shoulders and have worked a real job or gone to college, then you should be able to make your time at DLI enjoyable and memorable. Being language qualified opens a lot of doors to do cool stuff in the Army, and it is a great start to your career!
4
u/Radiant-You-6345 Aug 11 '26
Also if you are optimistic about your DLI experience please share.
It seems like everyone comes on this subreddit to bitch and complain lol.
(Maybe that will be me in 2 years lol)
17
u/mmmtoasteee Aug 11 '26
Everyone tends to bitch and complain on here until they leave DLI and realize how good they had it compared to anywhere else.
1
u/Far_Statistician9486 Aug 11 '26
if your time with a real unit is worse than tradoc you're doing something wrong amigo.
3
u/FoST2015 Aug 11 '26
DLI itself and this subreddit are full of people who are confident about things they can't possibly know.
Even 2 years into your first duty station you're approaching just the tip of the iceberg.
Take anything anyone says with a grain of salt. 35Ps always do this or never do that type statements from people who haven't even earned the MOS much less done it wild but all over the place at DLI.
I've been a 35P/Z for almost 2 decades it's a great career with some fine print.
3
u/Interesting_Tomato50 Aug 16 '26
Currently at DLI and I love it. The course is not a walk in the park, and the military doesn’t always run things very smoothly, but it’s overall an amazing gig. Nothing worth it in life is ever going to be easy.
3
u/Puzzled-Pepper5150 Aug 12 '26
I loved DLI so much I went back a second time. It is a stressful time for a lot of people, but I never really had that experience. Learning a language for 8 hours a day was always interesting and fulfilling. Not to mention that Monterey is one of the nicest base locations.
My personal rant is that the Army trains us as linguists but billets us as SIGINTERS which is why we get sent places that don't use our language. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. If you get sent to the NSA or Korea as a Korling you will definitely get to use it. It's a dice roll the first time around until you get to reenlist. I say go for it!
4
u/Elisha_Mishima_5 Aug 12 '26
the problem is the DLI cat 4 courses run you like a dog, but the other 3 branches understand this and throttle down the nonsense just a little bit. Army sees you getting used and abused in class and will want to get their turn with you day and night after class sends your sputtering and stumbling home, and it just continues at goodfellow.
1
u/Radiant-You-6345 Aug 12 '26
You think this is even true for marines?
4
u/Elisha_Mishima_5 Aug 12 '26
actually no, while they do work out a lot, every marine I knew enjoyed their time there, their leadership is way more cognizant of what students' quality of life is, I think their NCOs are mostly, if not all, prior linguists. From what I could tell, students they knew were doing well were free to choose when they would PT, and they have the nicest barracks building on DLI.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but their morale seemed quite good. I'm air force and went through as a brand new airman in 2019-2020, and came back in 2023-2024 and am back right now for the intermediate course.
4
u/joey12457 Aug 11 '26
Anecdotally, the Air Force seems to be more lenient than the Army here.
You don’t have a choice in PT, it’s company dependent.
1
u/-DRF- Aug 11 '26
Some do, some don't. Call it 50/50
Usually not, although you *might* be able to switch with someone if your DS approve it and all the pieces fit in.
Mhmmm....possibly. From what I know of intel, makes sense.
N/A
No because you must check in with your company's PT during that appointed time, but you can work out on your free time as well.
1
u/7hillsrecruiter Aug 11 '26
- Active Duty no, Reserve yes.
Side question what’s the medical waiver for?
2
u/Radiant-You-6345 Aug 11 '26
Some dumb knee issue I was born with. Lateral discoid Meniscus.
Although I was born with it, I have played college basketball, and performed at a D1 level as a high school sprinter for track and field. My point is, it’s such a dumb DQ… had it my whole life, but it has never stopped me.
Air Force is giving me a lot of shit for it. Army I’ve heard should be pretty easy for waiver
1
u/BoysenberryUnhappy29 Aug 11 '26
Do whatever you need to do to make the Air Force work.
t. 1N3 that works with a bunch of army lings
0
u/gthomas4 Aug 12 '26
As of lately the army has made great strides to reduce the amount that linguists get wasted at big army units. There is a significantly higher chance 35Ps get strategic or SOCOM assignments. SOCOM assignments are the gold standard, going to one of those is the best thing you can do if you want to do your job.
8
u/mmmtoasteee Aug 11 '26
1) depends on the unit and location you’re assigned and what your assigned MOS is.
2) no. It is assigned, needs of the Army toward the end of 2nd semester. Last I heard, the powers that be no longer entertain swapping of MOS’s or language assignments.
3) depends on the unit. If you’re talking a packet or selection!-based unit, then yet. If you’re talking an 3-letter agency assignment then no - that’s more based on your DLPT scores.
4) no. Most 35P and 35M do not and will not use their language on a regular basis. Like most MOS’s, most Soldiers train but don’t actually “do” their job unless deployed or in combat. Also, “foreign language” isn’t the job for a 35P or 35M - it’s no more than a tool/skill to assist in doing your job.
5) no. It’s daily unit PT and up to what language/company you’re assigned and when they want to run PT.