Alright here's my situation. I currently very much dislike my job. I'm trying to get into something where I can use my brain a little more. I like the BEAR program, and I'd like to use it to re-class to 35P Cryptologic Linguist. Is this going to require a TS or am I safe with my secret?
I have a little less than a month before I can re-enlist, and I'd like to know what needs to be done, and the entire process I'll go through. Also any information on the 35P AIT would help. Thanks. =]

The MOS probably requires a Secret but plan on having to get a TS.

Linguists go to school in Beautiful Monterey, California. I believe AIT is at Ft Huachuca, AZ.

Go talk with your career counselor to even see if this is going to be a possible option for you!! (Maybe BEAR program?)

That's correct, 35P requires a TS/SCI clearance. You will also need to take the DLAB (Defense Language Aptitude Battery) to see if you qualify. Language training is held at DLI in Monterey and ranges from 6 mo to 18 mo depending on your language. AIT is at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX. Length of that school also depends on your language.

Sounds pretty decent. I shouldn't have an issue getting a TS interim, and I have all decent scores from when I took my asvab back in Feb of 08. The only thing I haven't done is a DLAB. But I like to think I catch onto languages pretty easily.
Another option for me is to go 35S. My friend was one and what he described sounded like something I would want to do for a little while.

Yeah great luck on the DLAB. I failed it 2X. Scored 87 on my ASVAB. But when/if you do fail it, even if its 6 months from now, come back on this forum and let people know that the exam is no joke. I know 6 people off of the top of my head that have failed it 2X's or more. I am kinda jaded about people saying they would like to do the 35P who have not taken the DLAB. Now there is an alternative. If you are fluent in a language all ready you can take the DLPT. That is how most people do Crypto is because their native tongue is a foreign language. Here is the other downside. (unless your native language is a foreign language) When you deploy to say Afghanistan or Iraq (yes you DO THIS even if your language is freaking Mandarin Chinese) you are no longer immersed in the language, and most people loose much of their fluency, since on deployment they fall into a analyst role if their "language" is not the one predominately spoken. 35S......now you are talking sense on that one. I really would not do Crypto though unless I was all ready fluent in a language. But for now get the DLAB scheduled through your local ed center, since on many installations it is only offered every 6 months. So you have a six month wait after you fail it the first time.

I'll believe my section sergeant when he told me it isn't shit. And I like to think I could pick up another language easy. But who knows. We'll see what happens, though.
And being in Korea, I'm limited to DLAB's and other shit like that.

Get it scheduled. Or if you allready have it scheduled, when is the date you will take it? You do not have to be in a language MOS to take the DLAB.

My husband joined the army as a 35p. He did very well on his testing. He didnt speak any fluent language at the time of testing either. He did speak fluent french as a young child. He also went through basic with another guy that did very well on the DLAB. Good luck....you will do just fine.

I cant give you too much info on the training because we are finding out as we go. He is attending DLI and goes to goodfellow after DLI in. The time at goodfellow is supposed to be 16 weeks. They provide you with more than enough tools to learn the language. It is definitely intense. My husband studies about 3 hrs a night including doing his homework.

All right so why isn't your section sergeant in a language MOS instead of his current one if it really isn't sh!t? He prolly has it confused with the DLPT as most idiots due. But if I am wrong let me know, currently it has been a couple of weeks and you have not mentioned getting it scheduled or anything.

Im not sure if your (corvette 1140) post was for me but my husband has nothing confused. He is in it now. He is learning Indonesian as we speak. He passed the DLAB and was given his mos with the language. He unfortunately has no college degree so was not able to go in at a higher rank. The DLPT he takes once he learns the language which tests for the proficiency of the language (listening, reading and speaking)

Nope, it was meant for JD. Even though your husband obviously did pass the DLAB, I am sure he can attest to its difficulty or at the very least, that he was dumbfounded as to his score on it until he actually saw what he received. The test is a beast and it goes all the way up to 176. Indonesian is a desirable language, he must have scored well. Did he choose his language or was he offered a list of available languages. Either way, when did he actually find out what language he would end up learning?

My husband was definitely nervous when taking his DLAB. The recruiter had told him that it is very difficult and there is no way to study for it. He said it was the worst test he had ever taken because it is not the typical exam. He was not able to choose his language...he was really hoping for Italian or German. He does plan on going back to learn those at some time. He found out he was learning Indonesian when he got his orders out of basic. He was not given a list of languages to choose from. He is seeing a tutor now because the class is so overwhelming. We are hoping that he does well. Everyone else in his class are much higher in rank and already know other languages so it is easier for them. He is just happy that he has the opportunity to be there and was very happy and shocked that he made it.

One of the few things that really piss me off is when people say that the test is cake or have no idea how hard the field is to actually get into and think they will just get right on in. You either have to be a very smart cookie to be in a language MOS or be a native speaker of the language to be successful. From what I gather it only gets harder since he can still deploy to countries where the Native language is not Indonesian and he would fall into an Analyst role and could loose the immersion that he had before and loose a great deal of fluency.

I past the DLAB and got a passing score of 112. Also I have a Top Secret clearance. But my career counselor told me that the BEAR 35P program now requires me to:

1. Take a Counter-Intelligence Polygraph

2. Take some kind of phonetic testing

She said that she just found this out from the division level, after she had submitted my package up to Army HR for a class seat.

She said that she is not sure of what the phonetic testing is about but that I should talk to my S-2 for the specifics.