Is the DLAB Even Possible?

[@em4348]

Just to clarify, Esperanto is only used in the first 10 questions. Do not spend your time trying to learn the language. The rest of the test is 100% made up.

[@alondrasalas6497]

Thank you for clarifying that! I have both of the recommended study guides and they do mention that the stressed syllables section is in Esperanto but they don't really make clear whether the rest of the audio portion will be as well.

[@ylysergic1749]

There's wasn't any Esperanto in mine, I know Esperanto and I didn't see any

[@aproposracer855]

I took it a couple years ago and did relatively well, but I would also recommend a study guide. I admit, it won’t help you answer the questions, but it will make you more comfortable and not panic as much for when you see the strange questions it ask.

[@bobbiwingard2717]

My son is in Monterey learning Korean for the Navy. He loves it but it's very intense.

[@thebigdeal7003]

Bobbi Wingard I take the DLAB very soon. I hope to go out to Monterey next year. I’m so excited!

[@SapphicSnapple]

Ah that's so cool! That's what i'm hoping for

[@worldfilledwithmore]

Heck yeah, scored a 133 this week. Hoping I get the job. Recruiter pull through!

[@AndrusJones]

That’s a great score! Good work!

[@annajohnson8466]

How did you practice? any tips?

[@AndrusJones]

Anna Johnson there are practice tests out there, also studying up on grammar rules is a good idea. That’s what the test will have a lot of, made up grammar rules.

[@covvern3891]

NICE!!

[@uncb9628]

This video triggered lots of memories of being a young Marine at DLI. It's too bad we didn't have youtube back then to memorialize our times. As for all you kids who are fretting the DLAB; don't. When I took it, I recall it as being nothing more than a test of ones common sense. It was very straight forward, no trickeration. It's just a test to see how well you pick up on subtle cues to bring order to nonsense. Just channel your inner 1-day-old-infant self.

[@lovelygacha_uwu_8679]

Disagree the study guide he listed was the one I used and it was VERY VERY helpful. Plz guys get a study guide

[@ylysergic1749]

I'm gonna be livid if I don't get Russian as a crypto Linguist. But I'll just have to see

[@travisjett424]

YLysergic so what happened I’m about to take it

[@mhutton11]

I'm joining the aiforce and planning on taking dlab. I really pray I get that job. So lucky

[@mhutton11]

Also when you went to meps, did you sign in for the military ? Before or after taking dlab? Cause if I fail I wanna retake it but I didn't know of I had to sign contract once there.b

[@AndrusJones]

mhutton11 you shouldn’t have to sign a contract to take the DLAB, in fact I probably wouldn’t. If you do pass the DLAB you should be able to get the job. Good luck to you!

[@bonjo2-fn2nw]

I used the NEW DLAB study guide for 2023 onward, by Sam Newmann. Very similar to the test and I got 120+ Much higher recommednation than the older ones. Covers more info but also similar rules to the test.

[@JohnnyCNote]

I was in USAF, in between basic training and Monterey, in '75 when those of us waiting for the start of the next classes were sent to a language lab to take a beta version of the DLAB. We'd all scored sufficiently well on the older DLAT(est) to qualify to attend the Defense Language Institute, but it was strictly a written test. We never received any scores from the beta DLAB, but I personally didn’t find it to be very difficult. When I advised my recruiters that I was interested in language related jobs I was sent to the AFEES, conveniently located here in Jacksonville. I had no advance notice, but I did have a small ace up my sleeve. The test consisted of 50 questions and used a language created for the test. A minimum of 21(?) correct answers were required to pass. After I finished I called the recruiter and advised them that I achieved a score of over 40, though I can’t recall the exact number. The recruiter got very excited and said it was the highest score they'd ever seen. So I revealed my ace, that I'd studied 4 languages, including Latin and 3 years of Russian. I was hoping to get Russian and was lucky enough to get it. All of this is to say that, as I see it, it wouldn’t really be possible to get a study guide to score well on the test. The reason I scored so highly was due to my previous language studies. A female who took the test at the same time, but who’d not studied any foreign languages, scored maybe 15 correct. She said that she began to catch on just as time was running out. I’m sure she could have passed it if she had studied another language, but I can’t imagine a study guide would be anything other than a waste of time and money. If the DLAB depends on "utterances" like what was on the beta version, one would need a recording of something to develop that skill, and I have my doubts that it would even be possible…

[@JohnnyCNote]

The number of questions for the DLAT may have been 60, which makes more sense if I scored 48, because I know of one person who did better. It actually worked in my favor because he was sent to the East Coast to study Cambodian, and was chosen by his DLAT score, and I wanted to study Russian…

[@em4348]

Also I highly reccomend buying the study guide, it contains the EXACT rules you will need for the audio portion of the DLAB. Given that they do change one or two from time to time, it is a good investment and allows you to study and at least know what youre getting in to before you take the test.

[@jacobashurov3476]

which one in particular do you recommend

[@jaygom9671]

@@jacobashurov3476 did u ever find this out

[@DevinPeralSmith]

I GOT 127 TOO. I took it about a week ago. I'm going in as a 35W, Human Intel Linguist (new MOS). I go to basic in 2 weeks :)

[@AndrusJones]

Congrats! You’re gonna have fun at DLI, and basic goes by fast enough haha

[@DevinPeralSmith]

Andrus Jones for sure. Super surprised you responded. If you don’t mind, what language did you get? I don’t remember you saying what it was in your videos. And what languages are the army likely to assign me? I haven’t been able to find much info online

[@AndrusJones]

devin peral Smith I got Pashto, but right now the Army is assigning a lot of Farsi, Russian, and Chinese. It’s all up to luck of the draw though, so don’t be surprised to get something super random!

[@DevinPeralSmith]

Andrus Jones I’m graduating from basic tomorrow. On family day today. Can’t believe you left DLI right as I’m about to arrive. Any tips before I arrive on Friday?

[@charleswoods993]

One of the jobs I am interested in in the Air Force is Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst. I'll probably let the DLAB determine whether or I go for it or not. Perhaps I'll see you in Monterey?

[@jeanroger4738]

Charles Woods have you scheduled the dlab yet?

[@Georgemanzz]

I wanted air born soooo bad, but the dumb depth perception test at MEPs took it off my list. So Im going in as a ground linguist now. I hope you get Airborne :)

[@AndrusJones]

Charles J. Woods perhaps. I’ll be here a long time, so there’s a good chance! It’s super nice in Monterey, all of the senior enlisted and officers love it here, so it much be one of the better bases.

[@AndrusJones]

George_alcatraz that’s too bad man. :/ I’m sorry to hear that.

[@charleswoods993]

Jean Roger I have not, but should be going to MEPS next week hopefully.

[@trashsauce9572]

The music in the background was a little unnecessary. 🤣

[@freedomatlanta1669]

Do I still need to get secret clearance or top secret clearance for 35P army

[@dannybee6677]

So how does the scoring work? The higher you score, the more complicated a job they assign you to learn?? I took the DLAB in 2002 and it was a bunch of gobbledygook, jibber jabber. only got a 90. I heard from the people who went to the language school , that it is friggin tough. You have to be able to learn a foreign language really quickly.

[@AndrusJones]

Daniel Bedoy I’m no expert in the scoring, but a 90 will qualify you in every branch except the Marines currently. They require a 100. There are 4 categories of languages though, and a 95 would qualify you for a Category I language, like Spanish, French, etc. 100 qualifies you for a Category II, like German or Indonesian. 105 is Category III, like Russian or Farsi. 110 or above is a Category IV, like Korea , Arabic, etc.

[@Thecrispy22]

Andrus Jones For the Air force you have to score at least a 110 (just booked a linguist job with the Air force).

[@susanleawouters6428]

Thecrispy22 they require a 95 for cat1 jobs and 100 for cat2 jobs, but those are few and far between since those are common languages

[@Onnanokono]

I got a 91 and I still can’t get the job I want

[@thestingraychronicles3369]

My Chief knew I liked puzzles (like sudoku and Princeton language puzzles) and since I scored high on the ASVAB he asked me jokingly if I spoke other languages. I said yes (because I learned Spanish and English at the same time). Anyways now I’m taking it tomorrow and if I don’t crush it that’ll be embarrassing lmao

[@AndrusJones]

How did the test go?

[@thestingraychronicles3369]

@@AndrusJones Only got a 113 but good enough to get the job lol

[@Cos12847]

Do you have to take the ASVAB first? Then the DLAB?

[@abeblopez6627]

Evelyn Rodriguez yes

[@susanleawouters6428]

I took my first one two years ago, second attempt today! Pray for me😂😂 I didn't fail bad the first time, got a 96, but it's a shot in the dark this time.

[@AndrusJones]

Susan Lea Wouters you got this!

[@susanleawouters6428]

Update, I passed!!

[@AndrusJones]

Good work! What score did you get?

[@susanleawouters6428]

107, qualified for Cat3 and up😁

[@AndrusJones]

Good work!

[@imivaxo9225]

Were the rules visible or an accessible reference tab you could use at any time? Or did they pop up and then once you had to answer they wouldn’t reappear?

[@Onnanokono]

I got a 91 and the 35p still pops up, this was a month ish ago and I haven’t gone back in(tattoo waiver waiting to be signed) so I’m going to be mad when I actually go back and it’s still an option. Like I don’t even know what to say lol

[@ethanrussell4742]

Is there an ASVAB score requirement to be eligible to take the DLAB?

[@AndrusJones]

Not that I know of, but most of the jobs that require the DLAB have high ASVAB requirements, so I would check those individual MOS requirements for the job you want.

[@infamousspace6658]

I just took the DLAB this morning, I got a 125. I also got a 95 on the ASVAB. I’m really not sure what to expect in regards to what language I’d have assigned to me in the Air Force. Does anyone know what the most common languages are for a score around 125?

[@AndrusJones]

That’s a great score! You’ll probably get a tier 4 language with that score, like Russian, Chinese, Farsi, etc.

[@infamousspace6658]

Andrus Jones awesome thanks!

[@tonysmith7702]

You most likely will get the language they need you to do. That could be Spanish, Chinese or any other language. I was a Farsi airborne linguist in the Airforce. I knew a lot of people with high ASVAB scores and DLAB scores at DLI. Most people there had high scores. Those scores only qualify you to get to DLI. All the students are very smart at the DLI. The only test scores that count there are the DLPT. You can do well, all your time there and still not do well enough on the DLPT and have to stay longer or get a new job. Trust me, you do not want to stay longer. I would not be concerned about what language you get, all of them are hard. People with very high scores rocked out and people with low scores also. People with low scores were the best in some classes and vice versa. Now just focus on basic training. DLI will be there when you get to DLI.

[@brionabrown3357]

Do you speak any other languages? How did you study for it?

[@AndrusJones]

I speak Spanish as well. I didn’t really study for the test, but I know there are some study guides out there.

[@Awilma101]

I want Korean too 😂

[@victoriaburns296]

Awilma Acosta me too!!

[@mysticfalcon8844]

I took the DLAB yesterday and got a 116! Going in as 35P! I'm leaving for Fort Sill soon, too. How's it going for you so far?

[@AndrusJones]

Congrats on that score! Can't complain, I'm loving Monterey, good luck at Fort Sill!

[@nickserna8320]

104 going in for same MOS 35P is there anything I can do to get ready for Monterrey, leave for Basic Mar 9th Ft Jackson

[@Fit_soldier]

@@nickserna8320how long was your AIT also I’m thinking of reclassifying to this mos next year would you recommend it?

[@vonnyk5845]

I’m looking to take the dlab this week too for 35p any advice on the test. I’m refreshing my grammar as well, French is my first language but I primarily speak English now

[@pep590]

Are you at DLI now? If so, what language did you get?

[@AndrusJones]

pep yeah I am currently at DLI studying Pashto :)

[@pep590]

Excellent! A category 5. I'm retired and cross trained in the Army Reserves to a German Linguist. I had a Minor in German. I would have never qualified for DLI when I was younger, but there was an opening later on and I got a 2,2 on the DLPT, so they took me. Did that for 4 years till I retired. Loved it! Congrats to you and the best of luck. You are living the dream.

[@AndrusJones]

pep wow! German huh? Yeah Pashto is pretty cool. I’m hoping they’ll let me DLPT in Spanish too. Living the dream 😎

[@pep590]

Andrus Jones Really pulling for you Andrus. They should let you take the DLPT as we could. In fact, a good percentage of linguists, maybe 25 to 30% in my unit also received at least 2,2's on the DLPT for a second language. Look forward to seeing how you do down the road. Would have loved to have gone to DLI.

[@shabaddeepsingh6577]

How you doing brother I'm currently active duty in the Army and I'm planning on reclassing for 35P and was curious what happens if you already know a language but do not know how to read or write in those languages? I speak Punjabi/Hindi fluently but do not know how to read and write in them so I don't get paid. Would I take the d-lab and still go and those languages or what I learn some other language? Thank you

[@AndrusJones]

That's a good question. I feel like a number of things could happen, but if you haven't taken the DLAB that will happen for sure and then maybe you can put in a word to get Urdu, but you'll probably end up getting whatever the Army needs at the time.

[@shabaddeepsingh6577]

I appreciate the response. Either way at least I got to go to Cali and be at DLI and go to college for free basically. Thank you brother.

[@kamileb4381]

Could always take the DLPT after you study up

[@Fit_soldier]

@@shabaddeepsingh6577hello I’m also thinking about reclass do you recommend this mos?

[@shabaddeepsingh6577]

@@Fit_soldier hey bro, I forgot I left this post, sorry for not being much help but I never reclassified and got out of the Army. I have friend currently in this mos so I can ask his opinion if you want, what’s your current mos?

[@auroramclaughlin6898]

Do you have to enlist before you take the dlab?

[@AndrusJones]

No, you shouldn’t have to. You should be able to take the DLAB before signing anything.

[@lillyL444]

Nope, but if you pass you can enlist the same day if you choose too!

[@luchen8301]

I am waiting for going to boot camp and my recruiter said they don’t know anything about it... Is there anyone can help me? I speak both English and Chinese.

[@AndrusJones]

Lu Chen your recruiter doesn’t know anything about boot camp? 🤔 well I can tell you about it, what would you like to know?

[@luchen8301]

Andrus Jones No I mean they said they don’t know anything about DLAB. One of the Petty Officer told me to ask once I get in boot camp... So I am just so confused. Also about DLAB, does it mean we need to translate the second language to English?

[@incogspectator3042]

I got a 61 😐😐

[@ToriKorte]

loved this video! i love your positive spirit. this video helped me realize that a cryptologic linguist is the perfect job for me. thank you for the info! and i like how you like that the DLAB really tests how quickly you can learn languages. i think that's very interesting

[@AndrusJones]

Hi Victoria, I’m in AIT now and I start my language (Pashto) this week. I think being a Cryptolinguist is going to be a lot of fun. Thanks for the kind words!

[@Fit_soldier]

@@AndrusJoneshow long is your AIT also I’m thinking about reclass to 35p do you recommend it???

[@Fit_soldier]

@@AndrusJonesalso what happens to my family while I reclass will I get to see them at all?

[@TmzRlol]

I just got Crypto Linguist :) 104 Dlab first try. Not bad

[@AndrusJones]

Good work! That’s a good score!

[@nickserna8320]

Wow I have the same MOS 35P TmzR and same exact score. Where’s your Basic, I’m at Ft Jackson

[@alivingtree]

.. zik.

[@hadcat1183]

Zikgum

[@lightsied3526]

Can u choose the language u want in the air force

[@AndrusJones]

You can’t pick, but they do give you a list to give your preferences while in Boot Camp. They usually just give you whatever the Air Force needs though. In DLI you could switch other Airmen for the language you want, that’s probably your best bet.