I want to be a linguist in the Marine Corps. Can I pick my language or do they assign you one?

Question

I speak Swedish and Norwegian. Both of those have a Marine linguist MOS associated with them but is there enough demand for either for that to be a realistic goal? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

The question is do you want to speak these languages as a linguist. If you do and you are tested a a proficient level and there is a need for one you may be in luck. Other wise you will be given a Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB). You will also complete a wish list of languages you would like to study. Depending on how you score on the test and your wish list, they will attempt to accommodate you. In order to be a linguist you must also be able to have a security clearance and will complete a request for one. If your languages are native learned from family that immigrated the clearance process may take longer. In order to be considered proficient in a language you must take a three part test in writing, listening and speaking. You are scored on a scale if 1-4. They score a 1 1+ 2 2+ etc. Most languages require a score of a 2 or 2+ on all three aspects to be proficient.

Answer 2

first you take the DLAB.   what score you get on that determines what category language you get at DLI.  when you show up in Monterey, you will either:

be told what language you are getting or

be told to choose between  x language and Y language.

little to no need for the languages you currently speak.  

Answer 3

I was a 2674 (Spanish Cryptologic Linguist) in the Marines for eight years. There is pretty much no demand for the languages you are fluent in. However there is a demand for your facility at learning other (difficult) languages. You will be taking a Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) prior to being assigned any language. You will be assigned a language based upon the needs of Marine Corps and your potential to learn a specified language. The higher your score the better chance you'll be in a language such as Russian, Arabic, or Korean. The only other language that entry level Marines are sent to is Spanish. As you progress through the Marines you can request an additional language as a reenlistment incentive. (You may not get it, but first term reenlistments usually get what they ask for if it is at all possible.) Just to let you know, unless you've been formally educated in Swedish and Norwegian you could still have a hard time at the schools. Fail out rates for native speakers are much higher than for folks learning the language for the first time. Knowing how to street speak and trying to integrate that knowledge with what you are being taught grammatically can be difficult to say the least. Good luck to ya, you're picking a difficult but rewarding job field if you take advantage of all the opportunities available to you in this unique field.

Semper Fi!

Answer 4

depends if you are good at learning languages they might want you to learn a more "useful" one or they will just make do with what you have considering you already know ttwo  

Answer 5

talk to a recruiter but since you already speak 2 languages they will probably let you do them or something very close to them.