Thank you for your reply.

I'm well aware that there's a possibility I don't make it through the DLI. I didn't mean to imply it would be a cakewalk at all. My recruiter explained what he could to me, though he admitted he wasn't very familiar with that particular field. However, one of my best friends, and the one who got me interested in joining, recently finished his enlistment for the same job and he has answered a lot of my questions, and told me what to expect and how difficult it can/will be.
I completely understand how hard this will be, and I'm ready to face these challenges. Language has always been my passion, and this is definitely what I want to do in the Corps. I see no reason that I can't work hard enough and make this happen. If I fail, it's only because I didn't try hard enough.

That said, I think if I don't make it, and end up in a different MOS.. I'll be okay with that. It might not be the ideal situation, no, but I'll still be doing something I can take great pride in, and that will be plenty for me.

Yo Stud Muffin, was your friend a Marine or in another branch? You do not leave being a Marine at the door when you go to school, this is why we call you all Wannabes. You have no idea what it is to be a Marine until you become on. I urge you to talk to your Recruiter about the pit falls more. If not you have 6 years of being a Marine infront of you that you may not like.....

Yes, he is a Marine.

And I have fully researched this, and I am confident that this is what I want. I know it will be difficult, and I know there is a chance that it might not work out the way I'd like it to; but I can't let that stop me from trying to better myself. That's the whole point, isn't it?

I spoke with my friend, as well as another recruiter about this decision (My recruiter admitted to not knowing the answers to my questions, so he directed me to someone in his office who did). I am sure that this is the path I want to take.

you can only be a designated linguist in one language. but you can DLPT in other languages and if you do well enough you can get extra money for it. you only get the bonus if you pass the dlpt and go onto intel school in texas after DLI. if you get rolled you don't get the bonus.. it's pretty hard to get. the school in general is just hard. if you have any more specific questions let me know, im on leave right now so i have time

-pfc conroy

I have a question about that bonus.

I just (re)enlisted after getting ELSed 5 years ago from MCRDSD for a broken right foot and 4 months in MRP.

Anyway, I just signed my papers for 2600 with "Cryptologic Linguist Option" listed. My AFQT on the ASVAB was a 97, and I scored 109 on the DLAB. I'm aware that I qualify for all language categories, and I expect to be tossed into one of the ME languages when I get to DLI.

However, I haven't heard anything on a signing bonus until reading this thread. What specifically is the signing bonus for, and what are the restrictions/rules for it? I'm aware you have to pass the DLPT5 with 2/2 or above, get your TS/SCI clearance and all the other basics, but do I go to intelligence school after DLI or do I go to Fleet? I would be very happy either way, the more I learn the more I can contribute to the Corps.

Money was not and is not a deciding factor, but if there's a signing bonus out there for my job then I'll take it where I can get it. I know re-enlistment bonuses are quite high for Linguists but I've never heard about initial enlistment bonuses for any USMC job.

Thanks for any answers, I'll be back in the mix 26 May 2009!

After DLI you will go to Goodfellow AFB for more training before going to the fleet.

As for enlistment bonuses - only a recruiter is going to know what the current bonus is (if there is one for a particular MOS). These change all the time as the needs of the Marine Corps change (in other words they may offer the bonus until they get the desired number of enlistees in that MOS, then they will deauthorize it).

Good luck.

Cool, just what I expected on the bonus, I'll give my recruiter a call tomorrow. Goodfellow AFB is the base for intel training in Texas, I take it.

Hello Everyone,

What you'll read below might surprise you, as some of you think that U.S. Marine Corps desperately needs linguists.

I was surprised to see this post, as I posted in it more than 2 years ago and completely forgot about it (my posts are on the first page). At the time I was stationed in Okinawa and was interested in lat moving into Crypto Linguist MOS. I am fluent in Russian with a DLPT score of 3/3 and got paid for it.

After I finished my tour in Japan , I got sent to Cali, where I was finishing the remaining of my contract. I decided that I wanted to remain in the Corps only if I could lat move into HUMINT or Crypto Linguist. My base didn't have personnel that deals with security clearances so I went to Pendleton for that. At Pendleton, I was prescreened by a LCpl who told me that I didn't qualify for TS/SCI based on the fact that my immediate family member lived in Russia and wasn't a U.S. citizen. The immediate family member is my biological father. I also have an adoptive father who is a born U.S. citizen that resides in the U.S, as well as my mom who is a naturalized citizen and resides in the U.S. I explained that to the LCpl. The LCpl had to leave the room several times to go talk to his supervisor, because he didn't know how to deal with my particular situation. In the end I was told that I didn't qualify for TS/SCI because I keep in contact with my immediate family member (my bio father) that lives in Russia. I explained the LCpl that my bio father didn't count as my immediate family member, since I was adopted, and now have a father who was born in the U.S. Long story short, I was told I didn't qualify.

So I thought that I was getting screwed, and contacted 29 Palms this time to see what they had to say about my situation. 29 Palms referred me to an individual (GS position) that works at Washington D.C. and apparently is in charge of "the approving security clearances," and that individual told me that I qualified for a Top Secret clearance.

There I was running out of time as my EAS neared, trying to solve my clearance issue. My Secret clearance was pending at the time. I contacted about 10 (!) times the Marine at my base that could look up my Secret clearance status, and always got an excuse as to why he couldn't provide me with the status i.e. system was down, computer was broken etc. Finally he told me info that ended up being incorrect. He told me that they denied my Secret clearance because I was a dual citizen. When I looked at the report myself, several weeks later (2 weeks before my EAS), it said that my U.S. citizenship couldn't be verified (which is no surprise as I became a citizen only 3 ago).

So there I was...could not get a straight answer from anyone. NOBODY helped me out, my chain of command wasn't interested. My Company Commander had to come and talk with OIC about my situation, because he knew that my section didn't give a damn about my lateral move desire. My section though that I was going to reenlist regardless.

So as I was sitting at S-1, signing my DD-214, getting ready to go on terminal leave the next day, I got a phone call from my career planner who said, "What if I told you that I could call the CO who would get you the clearance?" I couldn't believe my ears, he was trying the dirty recruiting trick on me. Are you serious? If it was that easy, why couldn't he had done that for me long time ago? The career planner knew about my situation. Like the CO could pull some strings! Yeah right, it doesn't work like that with a TS clearance buddy. You either get it if you're qualified, or you don't get it because you don't qualify.

The point is:
The Marine Corps doesn't do enough to retain qualified Marines. A lot of Devil Dogs with foreign language skills might think that they could lat move into Intel or Crypto at the end of their contract, but then it’s too late. they realize that it takes a year to get a clearance approved. If USMC really needs linguists, then they should create guidelines for all the Marines that may have interest. These guidelines should explain what needs to be done in order to qualify, and warn the Marines that it’s a long process.

So yeah Marine Corps, when there's war with Russia, don't recall me from IRR, because I tried to stay in the Corps, but now I'm in college.

Thanks for telling us how it really is.

Semper.

After doind a little more research along with all of your post i think that being a linguist is what id like to do but i have just a few more questions,
1) i was told that if u did go the 27xx mos that a another mos is needed, and that i was limited to [ 0121, 0151, 0211, 0231, 0241, 0261, 2621, 2631, 2651, 2671, 2673, 2674, or 2676], is this true?
2) If i do have to choose another mos is it limited to these?

27XX MOSs are secondary MOSs. You can have any primary MOS and have a 27XX as a secondary. 27XX is not a linguist MOS, it is a translator MOS. Linguist MOSs are 26XX. The difference is as a linguist that will be your primary job, as a translator you will have a different primary job, and will be used as a translator as needed. You don't enlist for a 27XX MOS, you are awarded it based on a DLPT score in a foreign language.

I study Russian and German. How likely is it that i could study one of these languages at DLI. I plan on going 02xx and also love learning languages.

Bump

Just gonna add - here in Europe, those five years aren't all they're cracked up to be, considering after two years in high school the foreign language was dropped in priority and we only had it like twice a week tops. My two cents - if you're going to do a linguist/translator MOS always remember to study the language EVERYday or you just forget it. I got an A in French in high school, now I've forgot it all from not continuing it, so now I've lost the confidence to learn a language, so don't make that mistake. I'm NOT a Marine, just a wannabe btw.

quote:

Originally posted by saoirsefreedom:
Just gonna add - here in Europe, those five years aren't all they're cracked up to be, considering after two years in high school the foreign language was dropped in priority and we only had it like twice a week tops.

Just wondering... did you receive an education on base by US DOD personnel or off base with the locals? The reason why I ask my ex is from Finland, and she received a far better education then I did. Plus, the Europeans I came across fluenlty spoke more then 2-3 languages.

quote:

I'm NOT a Marine, just a wannabe btw.

Yea... we know. Your profile picture gave you away.

Cheers!

Nope, we live way off base. About an hour, so I've gone to school all my life with other English people. Maybe it was just my experience at my particular school?

quote:

Originally posted by saoirsefreedom:
Nope, we live way off base. About an hour, so I've gone to school all my life with other English people. Maybe it was just my experience at my particular school?

Eh, I'll find out soon enough. I'm headed to England in a couple of days. I'm currently on mainland Euröpe, if you cån tell fröm the strånge äccent mårks ön this pöst.

HöllywöödMärine

Errrm, Czech Republic...Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Finland...)? Lol I'm out of guesses, you've caught me, I do not know my geography Have a good time in England, it's awesome!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: saoirsefreedom,

quote:

Originally posted by saoirsefreedom:
Errrm, Czech Republic...Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Finland...)? Lol I'm out of guesses, you've caught me, I do not know my geography Have a good time in England, it's awesome!

At the time I typed that, I was in Helsinki, Finland. I am currently in Munich (München), Germany. By Sunday I will be in Brussells, Beligium, followed by Paris, France; London, England then Dublin, Ireland.