Some info about DLI

[Spinner]

Saw the following info posted on www.about.com

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/education/a/dliarticle.htm

some good info, but I had a chuckle about the soldierization process for initial entry troops. When I arrived straight from basic in Feb, 1988, I basically had the run of the place. Very few restrictions and a loose atmosphere. They started a more stringent soldierization program about the time I left, but didn't have drill sergeants until much later. How things change.

[Caddy]

Ok....current corrections to the DLI atmosphere as found on about.com, just in case you're on your way or are curious about what has happened since you've been here.

1) There are 5 companies A,B,C,D,F - which hold stundents from the ranks of SSG and on down. If you gots da long tab, you're going to E...be happy..trust me! So the companies are now formed as normal (well only slightly normal), with squad leaders and platoon seargents and the like.

2) No more tape players, it's all MP3 compatible, portable cd players. And when I got my books, I got them in my classroom.

3) The company you are in will determine your PT time. I'm not positive when C does theirs but B,D,F are in the mornings at 0515 and A does theirs in the afternoon. And PT is Monday through Thursday (for Fco that is)

4) Don't forget the volunteer medal. Seen that handed out a few times for volunteer hours.

5) I have no fricken clue what an alchohol pass is and have never heard of it.

6) Oh yeah....all the gate guard and policing duties are outsoruced. No more soldiers on the gates. Have your shit in order for your vehicle when you get here!!!

7) Barracks is still at a premium, however, a new barracks is nearly complete. I'm not too sure how this will effect the overall spacing (some Phase 5 are still living in Bco barracks.) But there is space opening up.

My suggestion to anyone on their way to DLI is this. LEAVE EVERYTHING BUT YOUR PEN AND PAPER AT HOME. Distractions will kill you when you're studying a language. I'm being sarcastic here, but I will say that if you let yourself get deistracted here, you are DOOMED!!!!!

[TPD1280]

Seems some things have changed since I was at DLI (Co. G, Presidio of San Francisco, 1985-86). Alcohol pass? That's what we did every morning at the urinal! I did more damage to my liver during that 8 months than I have in all the years since. DLI was a complete party, Defense Love Institute! wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more!

The "soldierization" was a complete joke. I had already been to one permanent duty station, but most of the students were there between basic training and AIT for an MI mos. By the time the MI students left DLI, any bit of military bearing or discipline they may have learned was shot.

I still laugh at the fact that we had a bunch of college Spec 4's. They were specialists without a specialty! None of them had been to an MOS producing school yet.

Realistically, spending 4+ years in Germany did more for my language skills than DLI accomplished. I still test out at a 2+/3.

[Spinner]

Don't forget the volunteer medal. Seen that handed out a few times for volunteer hours. LMAO! What the hell is a volunteer medal? Sheesh, they got a medal for everything now.


Originally posted by Caddy


My suggestion to anyone on their way to DLI is this. LEAVE EVERYTHING BUT YOUR PEN AND PAPER AT HOME. Distractions will kill you when you're studying a language. I'm being sarcastic here, but I will say that if you let yourself get deistracted here, you are DOOMED!!!!!

I'll have to disagree with this last quote. For sure, be diligent in your efforts to study and learn the language. The tougher the language, the more effort required. Having said that, Take advantage of the many distractions that are offered on the Monterey Peninsula. I was in the Arabic program and spent just under two years at the Presidio. Once I got my study habits down and got in a groove, the pressure subsided. It's important to take your mind off EVERYTHING associated with school whenever possible. It helps to decompress, because the pressure to succeed is so intense. Just my .02, adjusted for inflation.

[Caddy]

I agree....guess I'm just reeling from my recent performance on the DLPT.

[GackMan]

Get a good study /drinking program figured out right at the start.

It took me about 4 months to get my own program figured out. I It seemed that everyone had thier own study progrma/system. By that thime, they had booted about 40% of the class and the train had left the station. We lost another 10-15% in the next 8 months. I got a 2/2/2 out the door... only 5 of us made it.

[Tokan]

I'll be heading to the Presidio sometime in April. My language hasn't been assigned yet (2600 series, as opposed to a specific one), but hopefully that'll be squared away by the time I get there. I'm going for Chinese as a first pick if there is a need, and failing that Arabic.

For Marines, how is the phase system different from the other forces, given that we pass through SoI (from what I've read at about.com)? Also, to any former or experienced SIGINT bubbas, what training stations/timelines are followed for 2600 Crypto guys after language training? I still haven't been able to find out where the actual intel school for this job is based.

~ Tokan

[moobob]

C co does pt in the afternoons. If you want to see drill sergeants yelling at privates bct style, go running at 0515-0615 at Hilltop. Kinda funny sometimes.

Study/drinking program, thats important. I'm hanging on in the korean course. We only had 4/30 pass our last test, 7 or 8/30 pass the one before that. I failed the 4/30 one, but I had a death in the family and didn't study (stupid.) I won't have a problem on the next one, but I'm just good at figuring out the tests. They're poorly written and generally crappy, just like alot of our current textbook. Of our original 30, I'd say maybe 7-8 will make it if you allow for them getting recycled back into an earlier chapter eventually. Maybe 2-3 will make it all the way through. I think I'll be ok personally, but it'll be a real struggle.

Alcohol pass... they had those in Bravo until a year or two ago. Now phase 4/5 cannot drink. Phase 5+ is the phase for "fully soldierized" IET soldiers.

This place really drives me nuts. I can't wait to leave. Theres a soldier in one of the companys that has never been out of IET that is somehow a SGT (mighta been frocked somehow, no freaking clue.) He's on med hold and has never been anywhere but 97e course and DLI.

This is also probably the only place where you see alot of college grad military types that openly voted for Kerry. I got a kick outta that.

I regret picking the MOS I did to enter the army with. This is not the way for a soldier to be introduced to the army. IMO. Shoulda went 11bullets and reclassed.

[Spinner]

Originally posted by moobob
Alcohol pass... they had those in Bravo until a year or two ago. Now phase 4/5 cannot drink. Phase 5+ is the phase for "fully soldierized" IET soldiers.


LMAO! I arrived at DLI right from basic on 20Feb1988, a Saturday. Checked in, got my room assignment and 2 hours later I was down on the Wharf knocking back a couple of pops. I was on casual for the first month before class assignment. That following Monday I reported to the hilltop track with the rest of the company for PT formation. No matter who I talked to, nobody could tell me which platoon or squad to join. I did this for two days. So, being the good Specialist-in-Training PFC shammeister, I said fuck it and just slept in for the next two weeks. Ah...the memories. Best two years of my life.

[hugh_ct]

Originally posted by moobob
C
This place really drives me nuts. I can't wait to leave. Theres a soldier in one of the companys that has never been out of IET that is somehow a SGT (mighta been frocked somehow, no freaking clue.) He's on med hold and has never been anywhere but 97e course and DLI.

This is also probably the only place where you see alot of college grad military types that openly voted for Kerry. I got a kick outta that.

I regret picking the MOS I did to enter the army with. This is not the way for a soldier to be introduced to the army. IMO. Shoulda went 11bullets and reclassed.

Chin up, moobob. MI is full of and will always attract this type of person. If you don't fall into their slacker trap and always exceed the standards you will have a bright future. Don't stoop down to their level, do the right things.

Don't ever forget that you are a Soldier: learn to soldier, learn your trade and their will be many unique opportunities open to you. Your heart is in the right place thinking you should have been a 11B first. Don't ever forget that you exist to support those guys, to give them intel that makes their mission easier.
Intel for intel's sake supports no one.

BTW, if the guy has already been to 97E AIT, he's out of IET.

Hugh

[Purple36]

Originally posted by hugh_ct
Chin up, moobob. MI is full of and will always attract this type of person. If you don't fall into their slacker trap and always exceed the standards you will have a bright future. Don't stoop down to their level, do the right things.

Don't ever forget that you are a Soldier: learn to soldier, learn your trade and their will be many unique opportunities open to you. Your heart is in the right place thinking you should have been a 11B first. Don't ever forget that you exist to support those guys, to give them intel that makes their mission easier.
Intel for intel's sake supports no one.

BTW, if the guy has already been to 97E AIT, he's out of IET.

Hugh

Ditto. Learn everything you can about your job, be the best damn linguist you can be-the Army needs you to be. One truly squared away MI person can make a significant difference in a conflict. Don't get too wrapped up by the MI attitude-you should've been there in 83, when I went through! :-) I'm shocked to learn that you now have to do CTT and no longer have beer machines in the barracks. The horror!
If you excell at your MOS and you're a squared away soldier-non whiney, go to guy, you will have unique opportunities and people come knocking. Trust us. Those whiny, non performers will be known and their reputation will follow them, such opportunities won't fall in their direction.

BTW, ENJOY DLI, it's one of the best places to be assigned in the world! I'd love to go back. Focus on the good, someday, you'll miss it. I'd kill for a good Dungeness crab and some of those artichokes, washed down by a glass o' wine.

[Spinner]

Originally posted by Purple36
. I'd kill for a good Dungeness crab and some of those artichokes, washed down by a glass o' wine.

I'll never forget my first squid festival. I didn't actually go anywhere, just down to one of the local, non-descript bars down on Lighthouse, right across from Bosso's in fact. The bartender came out with some squid that had been boiled, marinated and then chilled. Man, that stuff was good. First time I had calamari that wasn't breaded or deep fried.

[Jatekos]

First time I went (84) was for German.

Second time was for golf. I'd leave school riding my bike, stop at NPG, play a round, go home and lay in the bath with a margarita for an hour studying for the next day. Cleanest year of my life:)

[magician]

I was at Monterey for exactly one day.

As I stood in formation the first morning, they asked for volunteers to go up to San Francisco.

Whoo hoo! I was all over that.

Turned out I was the senior NCO up there, got a single room, bathroom to myself, all the trimmings, and all the trim that I could handle.

The Presidio of San Francisco was beautiful in those days....this was before the Army handed the property over to the city. Really prime real estate. I still cannot believe that I was paid to live there, get laid, and learn a language.

[Massgrunt]

Originally posted by magician
I still cannot believe that I was paid to live there, get laid, and learn a language. I hate you.

Nothing personal, you understand.

[Spinner]

Does anybody remember the title of the small book of cartoons that was sold in the PX? The one that lampooned life at DLI? I was thinking of trying to obtain a copy, but I can't remember the title or if it was only sold at DLI at the PX.

[hugh_ct]

Originally posted by Spinner
Does anybody remember the title of the small book of cartoons that was sold in the PX? The one that lampooned life at DLI? I was thinking of trying to obtain a copy, but I can't remember the title or if it was only sold at DLI at the PX.

I had forgotten all about that little cartoon book, I might have a copy; I'll look through my junk but it will take a few weeks...

[Spinner]

Originally posted by hugh_ct
I had forgotten all about that little cartoon book, I might have a copy; I'll look through my junk but it will take a few weeks...

Thanks, once I have the title I can have my cousin track down a copy for me, she's retired from DLI. I hope it's still in print. I always got a chuckle out of the comparison of the DLI soldier to a Fort Ord soldier. funny stuff.

We won't fight and you can't make us LOL

[sire24657]

Best place to be stationed in the Army, period.

GRAMMAR GRAMMAR GRAMMAR. Vocab you can learn anytime, but to learn how the vocab is used is priceless...

D Company, 1986-1988.

Ceskslovensko se mi libilo!!!

I went there 2 years ago with the family. My how it has changed. Marines took over my old barracks!! Roads closed, and Fulina's Chinese Restaurant is gone!!! THe horror!!

Sire24657

[hugh_ct]

Kde se pivo vaři, tam se dobře daři, Kde se pivo pije, tam se dobře žije!

I was there all of 86 for Czech, met my wife and amazingly enough still married to her....

[Spinner]

Still married. That's fantastic. Really.

Maybe SHE knows where you put that DLI cartoon book.:D

In my best english transliteration:

Aieed Meelad Saeed.

[GackMan]

Originally posted by sire24657
GRAMMAR GRAMMAR GRAMMAR. Vocab you can learn anytime, but to learn how the vocab is used is priceless...

D Company, 1986-1988.


Spoken like someone who learned a language with 9 grammatical cases!

In Korean it was the opposite. The language makes no sense anyway... learn as much vocab as possible so you can at least figure out what the hell it going on.