Russian at DLI

[bpcampbell]

Her language training will be determined by "the needs of the service." When I went to ALS (now DLI) I enlisted from UC Berkeley specifically for Russian language training.

Toward the end of the obligatory Infantry Training at Fort Ord, CA I got my orders -- Korean: 12 mos.

I ask for and received a pass to visit the Presidio and speak to someone about this "mistake." I actually saw the Commandant, Col Collins (a sobering experience for an  Infantry Recruit!) and it was he who explained to me "the needs of the service." The only alternative he could offer me was Vietnamese: 12 mos. I was impressed that I was offered any alternative at all.

The Korean training was interesting and challenging -- and ultimately opened professional doors to me that I had not known existed -- but nobody (and I mean nobody) volunteered to spend 12 months studying Korean. I can't imagine that it's all that different today.

I suspect that regardless of what's agreed to in the enlistment contract, her ultimate language training assignment will be determined by "the needs of the service." Of course, I was in the Army and this was years ago. The other services may treat these contracts differently today.

Good luck.

Brewster Campbell



-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Peschio <peschio at UWM.EDU>
Sent: Apr 1, 2005 12:43 PM
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
Subject: [SEELANGS] Russian at DLI

Dear SEELANGers,

One of my students wants to do Russian at DLI.  She got a very high
score on the aptitude test, and she's worried that she'll end up doing
Arabic or Farsi (or some other language) instead of Russian.  Does
anyone have a sense of how actively DLI is presently training people in
Russian or about how much choice she would have once she enlists?

Many thanks for any info,
Joe Peschio
UW--Milwaukee

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