Hey all,
I'm trying to sign up for the Air Force as a linguist (ground/airborne, I don't really care). Obviously, I might not get it, but that's less important to me than just joining and serving.
If I am able to get it, however, which languages am I likely to get assigned? Is there any choice at all? Some legitimate websites (such as the Air Force's own website) say that your preference is taken into consideration alongside the service's needs, but it was more in reference to the job choice, I believe, and I'm not sure if it means most choices in the service.
Update:Ah, thank you Archangel. That is very helpful to me. I'm aware about Chinese, too. 我二年以前在大學學中文. Out of the languages of our most likely near/moderate future enemies, I'm most interested in Mandarin or Russian, but the job sounds fun (even if I can't ever talk about it), so I'm sure I'll like it no matter what language.
Now to pass that DLAB and hopefully the AF wants me to be a 1A8X1! lol
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Jeeper_peeper is mostly correct. It is needs of the service, however, they also try and put you in a language you are more likely to have an affinity for. Before anyhting happens, you have to pass the DLAB. After the DLAB, you will take a series of tests to see which language family would be a good fit for you (Indo-European, Afro-Asiatic, Altaic, etc.) and then you will get your language assignment. What is most in demand is determined by the number of people currently in that branch of service with that language, current usage level based on current operations, and on attrition...both due to people leaving the service or people washing out of DLI. That means what is "most" in demand is always changing. However, the languages given by Jeeper_peeper are always in demand. BTW, Chinese is not a language, but an ethnic origin. The Chinese people speak many languages, but most speak either Mandarin or Cantonese.
Based at the demands of the Air Force and your DLAT rating. The AF determines what number of persons they want in every language and at what pay grades. They then appear at what they presently have and what they challenge they are going to have within the close long term. IE: if 20 russian linguist determined to go away the AF after thier first enlistment this 12 months, alternatively than reenlist, then the Air Force might want extra russian linguist But if each Farsi linguist determined to reenlist and keep within the AF, then there is not any want for extra Farsi linguist. two. Then its situated in your DLAB ratings, with better ratings, going in the direction of the Category four languages. three. there is not any solution to guarentee what language you'll be educated on, every now and then, you can get a alternative among one or 2 languages, however most likely its gonna be what the AF demands on the time you move to Tech School. four. Pay is the identical as every person else makes, situated in your paygrade. Plus enlisted flight pay
Arabic, Pushtu, farsi, korean, chinese, russian, Swahili
You may or may not get a choice of language to learn
As they say, needs of the service comes first
Arabic and Chinese.
arabic