I'm really interested in linguistics and I'm considering serving in the military after graduation. Does anyone know which branch of the military would provide the best opportunities for someone who wants to study languages?
For anyone with a passion for languages and a desire to serve in the military, you might want to consider the United States Army or the Air Force.
The Army has the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), located in Monterey, California. It's one of the largest foreign language education institutions in the United States. Once you enlist and if you qualify for a language dependent Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), you could be sent to the DLIFLC. The center offers language instruction in more than two dozen languages, including Korean, Arabic, Mandarin, Russian, and more.
Similarly, the Air Force also sends its linguists to the DLIFLC. Air Force linguists handle translating and interpreting responsibilities and often work in signals intelligence. They interpret foreign languages to English and vice versa, working with spoken, written, electronic, and digital language materials.
Both of these avenues would give you an opportunity to work with languages in a military context. Remember, your career path in the military, in part, depends on your scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), including the language-related sections, so doing well on that test is important.
Additionally, if you're interested in going to college after high school, the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs at some universities offer language programs and scholarships for students who commit to serve in the military after graduation.
Again, these are just possibilities, and it would be beneficial to set up informational interviews or engage in other forms of direct interaction with recruiters or other individuals who have been in your shoes before. That way, you can gather as much information as possible and find the path that's right for you. Good luck!
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