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A few questions I have about this. Is Arabic and Chinese, for example, considered advanced languages in college? If someone wants to take an Arabic language course (just take a course or two..not major in it or anything ), is it a prerequisite that you take other language courses like Spanish or French first?
You planning on working in the Middle East? 🙂 CIA? I think you'd get in with them with either of those languages under your belt. I do not see why you'd have to learn Spanish or French before taking one of those languages, since they're both Romantic languages (based on the same roots, along with Portugese, Italian, etc). I really think you can just sign up for an introductory Chinese or Arabic course and learn from there. In fact, I'm pretty positive about this – there are likely no prerequisites.
A few questions I have about this. Is Arabic and Chinese, for example, considered advanced languages in college? If someone wants to take an Arabic language course (just take a course or two..not major in it or anything ), is it a prerequisite that you take other language courses like Spanish or French first?
Nope. If you can find a school with an introductory level class you should be able to take it.
OK. I'm considering enlisting. I look at it as a career change. Would like to get a Psy Op or Civil Affairs job which seems very possible. It would be to my benefit I think if I have an Arabic class under my belt. I'd have the opportunity, hopefully, to continue that in the Army, and then after 8 or whatever years of service, try to get a job at the NSA or some other intelligence agency. Then at last I can spy on my own American citizens. muwahahahaha.
Wonder if I could do something like this? I'm betting my hearing and eyesight would be two strikes against me, but I have a degree so I would qualify for officer training school. I'm 32 so I'm not too old to do it. I'd work for the NSA in a heartbeat. 🙂
NSA would probably be asking for you, Don.
They probably submit you to a psych test I'm sure to make sure you aren't some whack job trying to infiltrate the government or something. 🙂
From what I understand, some of these jobs require likely require extensive background checks, as well as interviewing people who know you well. I applied to both the FBI and the CIA in the past, and one thing I recall about one or both of them is that foreign language skills in Arabic were in demand, though I think Chinese skills were as well.
From what I understand, some of these jobs require likely require extensive background checks, as well as interviewing people who know you well. I applied to both the FBI and the CIA in the past, and one thing I recall about one or both of them is that foreign language skills in Arabic were in demand, though I think Chinese skills were as well.
So you applied? Did they reject you or did you turn down an offer? If they rejected you, what was their reason or did they bother to say? Just asking, you don't have to answer if you prefer not to.
I feel I have to clarify somethng. I said I was looking at this as a “career change”, well, yes, but not only that. It's not about the money, but I will use everything the Army has to offer. I hope to take the DLAB (Defense Langauge Aptitude Battery) test and score well enough on it so I'm qualified to take Arabic courses. With a PSYOP job, the chances are high that they will at least let me take that test. I support the GWOT and I want to serve in it. I think PSYOP/Civ Aff are two of the most important jobs in the Army right now. I don't dislike my present job. I don't feel down on myself, and I consider myself a good person, but the Army will only make me better in many ways. It's going to be one heck of an experience and a great honor. For the record, I was not influenced by anyone, just helped and encouraged. When Army guys tell me they could use men like me, then I know I'm doing the right thing. Donnie, if you are thinking of it, just realize that PSYOP troops are some of the most deployed in the Army. Don't know much about intelligence analysts.
So you applied? Did they reject you or did you turn down an offer? If they rejected you, what was their reason or did they bother to say? Just asking, you don't have to answer if you prefer not to.
I don't remember getting a response from the CIA, though from what I can remember they said they received thousands of applications per month. I didn't get past the first stage of the FBI application process probably because I wasn't qualified enough in some category. While I am qualified to a degree, there are specific requirements they're looking for (Arabic and Chinese sound like big ones). Also, a person's particular skills might not be in demand in one city – say Cleveland – but they might be in demand in another city like Santa Fe (when you apply, you apply to a particular region/city). I have an uncle who worked for the Bureau for many years in New York and from what it sounds like the requirements may have changed some. He really enjoyed his time with the FBI and I know he worked on black radical and mobster cases during his time (~1960s, 70s, 80s).
I feel I have to clarify somethng. I said I was looking at this as a “career change”, well, yes, but not only that. It's not about the money, but I will use everything the Army has to offer. I hope to take the DLAB (Defense Langauge Aptitude Battery) test and score well enough on it so I'm qualified to take Arabic courses. With a PSYOP job, the chances are high that they will at least let me take that test. I support the GWOT and I want to serve in it. I think PSYOP/Civ Aff are two of the most important jobs in the Army right now. I don't dislike my present job. I don't feel down on myself, and I consider myself a good person, but the Army will only make me better in many ways. It's going to be one heck of an experience and a great honor. For the record, I was not influenced by anyone, just helped and encouraged. When Army guys tell me they could use men like me, then I know I'm doing the right thing. Donnie, if you are thinking of it, just realize that PSYOP troops are some of the most deployed in the Army. Don't know much about intelligence analysts.
Skiguy, you do sound like you'd be a good candidate for serving your country as you sound like a patriot. It sounds like what Pat Tillman did when he joined the Army. I only know about Psyops what I've read about it briefly, and it sounds like a key component of modern warfare (links are here http://www.psywarrior.com/links.html ). Keep us posted on how the application process and everything goes.
Thanks, Phid. I like how you put it: “application process”. I look at it more “signing one's life over”. :-DI can still get in at my geezer age, but has to be in the Guards. Wish I could as Active, but not now. The recruiter (who really isn't at all helpful or knowledgeable..I had to tell him some things) says I can change to active once I'm in. Need to find out a few more things, and find a good home for my dog (which is not something easy for me to do), then I'm good to go. Time is running out though, so if I'm going to do this, I must move quickly.
