Candidates who seek to become Army interpreters and translators must meet these requirements:
- Age: You must be between the ages of 17 and 39 to enlist in the Army.
- Citizenship: You must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.
- Education: An associate’s degree or at least 40 semester hours of college coursework leading to a degree in a foreign language is preferred, but not a strict requirement.
- Language Fluency: You must have advanced reading, writing, and speaking proficiency in a language in addition to English that the U.S. Army may need. Your proficiency will be assessed during the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT).
Step 2: Enlist in the Army
You must enlist in the U.S. Army. Visit the nearest Army recruiting center to meet with a recruiter. You will be provided with information regarding Army interpreter opportunities as well as the enlistment process.
Step 3: Take the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB)
The DLAB is a test administered by the U.S. Army that measures your aptitude for learning foreign languages. You will need to score a minimum score on the DLAB to be considered for interpreter or translator training.
Step 4: Complete Language Training
You must have some level of fluency in the language that the Army needs your interpretation for. Your fluency will be assessed using the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT). If your score is below the level that the Army requires for your chosen language, you will undergo language training.
During the training, you will be provided with intensive language instruction that focuses on developing reading, writing, and speaking skills. The Army’s Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) in Monterey, California will likely conduct the training.
Step 5: Complete Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
After you have completed language training, you will attend AIT at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. It is a nine-week training course that provides military training to linguists. You will learn about military tactics and procedures along with Army culture and history.
Step 6: Become a Linguist in the U.S. Army
After completing AIT, you will be eligible to become a linguist in the U.S. Army. You will usually be assigned to a military intelligence unit where you will use your language skills to support military operations.
