I would like to apologize in advance if this belongs in the 11X/Option 40 Section.

I have been researching the various phases of training for a Green Beret and the one part that seems to have the last amount of information available is the fifth phase. Because of this I have a few questions if anyone is willing to answer them.

1) How are the language(s) you learn chosen?
-I figured that what you learn is dependent upon what Group you are placed with but I just want to be sure.

2) Do they simply "shotgun" you with languages so that you have a general understanding of as much as possible?

3) If someone is already multilingual is that taken into consideration?
-I'm currently learning German and I am also refining my French and I just want to know if my time was spent wisely.

4)I have been told that more people fail out of this phase of training than any other. Is there a good way to prepare for this part of training?

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I have been researching the various phases of training for a Green Beret

A green beret is a hat. The job is called Special Forces.

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How are the language(s) you learn chosen?
-I figured that what you learn is dependent upon what Group you are placed with but I just want to be sure.

Yes, it is by group e.g. if you are going to 1st Group you may get to learn Thai, 5th Group Arabic, etc...

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Do they simply "shotgun" you with languages so that you have a general understanding of as much as possible?

I don't know what you mean by "shotgun". You spend many hours in an academic enviroment being taught by native speakers. The intent is to make you minimally functional in the language in a metter of months. It is like drinking from the firehose.

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If someone is already multilingual is that taken into consideration?
-I'm currently learning German and I am also refining my French and I just want to know if my time was spent wisely.

Yes they take it into account. You have to be able to score high enough on the DLPT to qualify as "funtional." All language training is god training. FWIW, German isn't going to be all that valuable (other than for personal use if you go to 1/10th) but French can be really valuable if you are going to 3rd.

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I have been told that more people fail out of this phase of training than any other. Is there a good way to prepare for this part of training?

Not sure about that failure rate in language school. In my day it was at DLI and yeah, after 12 months of Russian you either swam or sank. OTO, learing your current langauges at home is a good way to keep your mind sharp for linguistics. Languages add up, each one is easie than the last

Roger that, thanks for the assist there. I should have worded a few things differently on my end before sending that up though. Growing up and even since joining the military I have heard numerous adjectives used to describe the Special Forces solider, among them "Green Beret". Alas, this word has passed from the realm of the noun and into that of the adjective. Also, if you've ever fired a shotgun loaded up with bird shot, that was kind of what I was trying to get at with the term "Shotgunning". You get a whole bunch of shot, languages, and shoot them at the student. They either get the lesson and absorb the knowledge or just don't. All you can do is hope that you hit, teach, them.

does the dlab i took determine the language i learn, or the speed at which i learn, im guessing everybody is required to learn at the same speed... fast, and if u dont cope you drop, is that a correct assumption?

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Originally posted by SFrecruit_89:
does the dlab i took determine the language i learn, or the speed at which i learn, im guessing everybody is required to learn at the same speed... fast, and if u dont cope you drop, is that a correct assumption?

My info is 2 yars old but I doubt it's changed all that much.

Your DLAB score determines the category of language you are qualified to take. Spanish = Cat 1, German = Cat 2, Russian = Cat 3, Chinese = Cat 4.

Everyone learns at the same speed, fast. You fall behind you may get recycled (sent to a class a few months behind you) or possibly sent to a different (easier) lanuage. Some of our bolos from Russian were sent to German.

Remember, language will be your job. 8 hours a day, five+ days a week. It's up to you if you pass or fail.