army special forces language training?

Question

I was thinking about enlisting to become an an sf solider and was wondering how hard the language training is if you dont know how to speak a second language?Do alot of ppl drop out because its to hard to learn the language?

Answer 1

How much do you actually know about the Special Forces? Would it be just what the Army recruiter has told you or do you actually know someone in Special Forces. Requirements are that you Must be very intelligent and the fact that you even have to ask a question like this......makes me shake my head and tells me a lot about you.

It's hard....VERY HARD!!!!!!!!
It takes some one who is very strong, NOT only in their bodies but also in their minds!

It also takes a long time to achieve it. You HAVE TO BE the BEST of the BEST!

If anything, I would worry about Boot Camp.....you have to get past that first and a lot of them don't make it....It is amazing to me just how many drop out...and trust me when I tell you....they DO go to jail.......

And lastly.......DON'T BELIEVE "A WORD" YOUR ARMY RECRUITER TELLS YOU!!!......OR.......ANYTHING THEY TELL YOU WHEN YOU GO TO SIGN YOUR LIFE A WAY!!!!!"

I should know.......I have a child in the army right now, in training to go to Iraq.....

Good Luck!!!!..............and God be with you!!!!!

Answer 2

Special Forces Languages

Answer 3

I was in the Army a while ago (not as SF) and I was sent to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey CA. as far as how hard it is...it is very hard (my program was 8 hrs/day for a year (weekends off) and that was for a very easy language) ....but some languages are harder than others! You will take a test called the DLAB when you first join ...(defense language aptitude battery) it is the hardest test I've ever taken...you go in a room and they just start a tape going of a made up language...that has certain rules to it etc...and it just keeps on rolling, whether you are ready to be answering the questions you are supposed to be on or not...anyway enough about that...but the minimum used to be a score of 89 (max is more than 100 possible...it goes way up there though...I know a guy who scored 117 and he got Korean)...I got a 90 and barely passed and was placed into Spanish at first...but later, there was an opportunity to trade into German which I did...(I had 3 years of German in HS)...Yes I remember a lot of people "rocked out" (that was the term then anyway for flunking out) I shouldn't say a lot...depends on which language really...my best friend had been in "Turbo Russian"...he rocked out...(but ended up with a better MOS than me and also he got stationed in Japan and Hawaii ..while I was stuck in the states....it just wasn't right!....but as you can tell I'm over that now... :) ) in my class we only lost a couple...also one thing in the Army or in a military school is that they can force you to show up for extra homework!! (it is a MILITARY school)....
But if you have the determination to be a SF soldier I am pretty sure you can get the language learned by sheer determination and work...I was distracted for sure...it is a beautiful area! and you have lots of time off...some or rather a large part of that time should be used for homework and personal study...In hindsight it probably was not a good idea for me to be learning how to play the guitar then also...or travelling around so much or playing so much basketball... etc...but since your housing is paid...and they pay you...it is easy to go out and party and play when you have free time...I would DEFINITELY reccommend the language thing at DLI if you are sure you are wanting to go into the military...I learned a lot ...the place is awesome...

Answer 4

As others have said, language is the least of your worries. There are direct accession programs to the 18X MOS right now because they need people. That means you can start in basic training, make the cut while at basic, and then head directly to SFAS, the Q-course, SERE, and all that other high speed stuff. I don't know where DLI falls in the pipeline. I doubt your recruiter can promise that to you right off the bat--you have to distinguish yourself, volunteer, and make the cut at basic training. Ask him, but get it in writing.

The DLAB will be required before you can even ask for SF. If you don't have the aptitude, they're not going to take you unless you already speak a second language (you'll have to take a proficiency test to demonstrate that you know it). The DLAB will challenge your sanity--the description above pretty much nails it. I speak French and some Korean (and have picked up a smattering of probably 6 other languages), and the test drove me nuts. Don't believe anyone who says you can prepare for it. The only thing you can do is make sure you're rested, sober, and clear-headed when you take it. The max score is 176. DLI has different difficulty ratings for languages. Spanish is easier than Russian, which is easier than Arabic, which is easier than Korean, and so on. I don't know where the cut-offs are, but I scored a 123, which would allow me to go for level 4 languages like Arabic and Korean and Mandarin.

Answer 5

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RE:
army special forces language training?
I was thinking about enlisting to become an an sf solider and was wondering how hard the language training is if you dont know how to speak a second language?Do alot of ppl drop out because its to hard to learn the language?

Answer 6

You know qualifying for special forces is not like picking up the controls of a video game. If you're fretting about learning languages, you would better give yourself more time to gain maturity.

Answer 7

I am a Vietnam era Green Beret.....you go to several schools prior to going Special Forces (SF)......basic.....advanced training....Airborne....sometimes Ranger School and then you request assignment to an SF class and the selection process is I am sure still hard.....you don't enlist for it....you have to walk to it earning your way with training......if you played football in high school and went thru 2-adays.....that will not even be close to what you will go thru.....it was the hardest thing I have ever gone thru outside of Vietnam.....( actually life in general is just as hard)......everything will seem like gravy after you earn the "Beret".....that and my Ranger tab is my proudest moments I have ever gone thru........AIRBORNE!!!.......GOOD LUCK YOU WILL NEED IT!!

Answer 8

My husband is an 18A and his response was that language training is the EASIEST of all schools. Selection, the Q course, SERE training are damn hard and if you make it through those than you should be in good shape.

Answer 9

One of the first things they will make you do on the language aspect is make you take the DLAT: Defense Language Aptitute Test. If you pass it, they will send you to language school for a language that conincides with the 'need of the service'. If you flunk the DLAT, ... ... ...

Answer 10

Normally, no one speaks the languages groups are looking for. But beleive me, language training should be the least of your worries. If you make it to that point, you should have no worries. No one is dismissed from an assignment because of lang. lab performances.

I would be more concerned about all the steps to get to that point: SFAS, Q-Course, SERE, etc......