jobs

[Anonymous]

I'm currently in training to be a linguist for the AF. Can anyone out there give me some more info on the good, the bad and the ugly for this job? In the past 2 months, I've had 9 of my closest friends get discharged from the military because they hated the linguist career. They were told that in this job you won't have time to take classes and get a degree b/c of the shifts and TDY. I heard that if you get stationed in Korea that there's nothing to do but get drunk. The job itself is sitting in a box listening to static. And that even when I get out of the military, I won't know the language well enough to really use it in civilian jobs. (most people only get 2's on the DLPT) I am really getting disouraged with all the negativity around me. Can someone who is currently a linguist please respond?

cruncher25@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

I'm not a linguist, but I am working in Intel.

The problem with being in training bases is that you hear all sorts of lovely stories that just aren't true. It sounds like your friends bought into a lot of BS.

Yes, you will probably be working shift work. You can make the time to take either day or evening classes, but it takes YOUR OWN effort to make it happen. A lot of places are willing to work with troops if there is a class you need at a certain time. One AF linguist I know of was taking classes over her lunch hour and was very close to getting her degree. All it takes is your desire and discipline.

As far as Korea. I've been here for three days. It's like any other place. Yes, a lot of people do nothing but drink here, but there is a lot more to do. There are tours that can be taken in your off time and there is a LOT of shopping to do. Everything around here is easily accessible by a good bus system for the military. Every military installation is what YOU make of it. If you are nothing but a barracks rat who never goes out and does anything, of course you will have a miserable time.

As far as your job. You are pretty close...you sit and listen to stuff, that's why you are learning a language. When you say that you won't know it well enough, you are wrong. IF you want to learn the language, go out and speak to people, it's the only true way to know it. You have to continue studying, they can't just teach you there and have you know Korean as well as someone who was born here. If you take the time to learn the language better while you are in, you have a very good chance of using it when you get out. Don't buy into the BS scores. People who get higher than 2's on their DLPT get them because they go above and beyond the scope of what they have to do to pass.

This is all on you. If you want to do something good for yourself, then get to studying and if you do get sent here, don't come with the attitude of "there's nothing to do."

nmdreamcatcher@hotmail.com

[Anonymous]

Hello Again, SGT D. Was wandering if you'd made it to Korea yet:). Have fun exploring around! And best of luck! Hilary

[Anonymous]

I am a linguist and I have been in the Air Force for 15 years. I did not start out as a linguist, I started out as an Administrative Specialist and one of my first assignments was in Korea. And yes, I was young and did a lot of partying. But it was there that I met some linguists who got me interested in retraining. So I went through the wonderful training in Monterey, California and spent my first 3 years in Japan. Now let me tell you, at first I hated it. It took a lot of getting used to. We worked odd shifts. And I was upset that I had left language school a 3/3 linguist and that I was not using my skills as I thought I would. But I was able to go to school. In fact, I was encouraged to go to school. After Japan, I went "airborne". This is a great option for you. I know that Korean linguists are needed in the airborne arena. It is a lot more exciting than some of the traditional linguist jobs. You'll get to go TDY a lot. You'll get paid a little more. But it is harder for an airborne linguist, who is often on standby, to go to school. Flying also made me sick. I can't tell you how many times I threw up. In my opinion, the airborne arena is still very much a man's world. Recently, I retrained again, learning a second language. That's the part I love the most. I am now in a job that I use my linguistic skills daily and they are quite good. I am getting paid more money for them and I have opportunities to go abroad to use them as well. I am also finding out, as I get closer to retirement, that there are opportunities for linguists out there. I hope this information has helped you make a decision. One of the things that you have going for you that I missed out on is the awesome bonuses the Air Force is offering right now. Good luck!

cebourq13@cs.com