View Full Version : 10th group languages
I will be enlisting with an 18x contract in one year.
I am currently doing the max PT I can to prepare for selection.
I am also doing research to be mentally prepared as well.
I have started studying Farsi and Russian.
I like them both but will only pick one to focus on and take the DLPT for.
I very much like the Colorado area and if selected and attached to 10th group it would be a very big plus. I understand it's up to the needs of the Army and I will be grateful just to be selected. I do however wish to increase my chances of being stationed at Ft. Carson.
Which would you recommend I focus on Farsi or Russian?
I am not too familiar with how AOR works and doubt I can find any good info online due to security; I will only focus on studying one and would appreciate any input you can give!
I have been exhausting the search button without much result, perhaps I could get some assistance with my search query if this has been covered?
Cheers,
Civil-
This is pretty accurate:
Scroll down to Groups.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Army_Special_Forces
Gluck auf!
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Thank you for confirming the Wiki accuracy Richard!
Based on that it appears 5th group covers the Middle East so that would give them Arabic and Farsi (I believe Iran is the major country for Farsi and parts of Afghanistan)
I will focus on finding a language I am interested in that most benefits 10th group. Russian and Hebrew are at the top of my list to research now.
A good friend of mine teaches Hebrew and there are a few temples around I could practice at so that's a benefit.
It would be a real treat to work in Israel, a friend of mine is there right now and having a great time, always wanted to visit as well.
Cheers,
Civil-
The Reaper
08-26-2009, 15:03
I would stick with Russian.
There is no current requirement for Hebrew for Gentiles.
You need to search and read more.
We are looking for self-starters.
TR
Russian may also get you a 5th SFG assignment (think about the -Stans).
Peregrino
08-26-2009, 17:20
If you already have native fluency in a language, maintain it. Otherwise concentrate on those things the SFQC won't give you - like motivation and physical conditioning. Read Warrior-Mentor's book and apply the information you find there. He and his co-author did a lot of work to make SF accessable to self-starters. Language requirements are currently in a "state of flux". What you think you know today about requirements is likely to change significantly in the near future. I know whereof I speak (i.e. what I'm talking about!:cool:). If you want to do something really useful, improve your command of English. It'll pay greater dividends over the long term and provides the necessary foundation for learning other languages.
Thank you Reaper, Razor, and Peregrino.
I had found the Wiki page in my research and was unsure of its accuracy.
I have already gathered the materials necessary to obtain a proficiency in Russian, Farsi, Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi and Urdu. Now I am researching to see which is the most beneficial.
I will go pickup an ASVAB book and college grammar book to further study English before I proceed with a foreign language.
Thanks again, now back to searching :D
You seem a bit confused and overly focused on language skills - understand that although a Group has some regional orientation as a part of its primary area of responsibility, the following also applies:
Language is not a guarantee of any particular Group affiliation - MOS needs are trump
Groups contain a collection of languages from all over the world for a number of reasons - e.g., Why would the 3rd SFG need - say - Chinese Mandarin speakers? Because there are a lot of Chinese living and working/advising in AFRICOMs AOR.
Deployments by ODAs cross regional areas of responsibility PRN - e.g., SWA has been visited by ODAs from 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 19th, and 20th SFGs ( Did I miss any? ;) )
Your penchant and seemingly hyper-focusing on languages might make you a better fit for an MI/SIGINT MOS - think about it :confused:
Good luck with your efforts - I hope you get where you need to be.
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Thank you Richard I see your point.
I have already gotten my PT schedule in line and a few other areas so now I put my focus on language and proceeded to learn all I can about the needs and requirements for SFAS and SFQC, upon completion of that I shall move forward to my next step.
I will stick with Farsi (I just like the language) and continue learning everything I can about SF before signing the 18x in 1 year.
*edited from Russian to Farsi, no idea why I put Russian...
I shall leave it up to the DLAB and Uncle Sam's infinite wisdom to place me where needed (I say that like I had a choice ;) )
Hoping for 18c with 10th group, happy with anything!!!
Military Intelligence...Isn't that a contradiction of terms (talk about an old joke) :munchin
Cheers,
Civil
P.S I appreciate all the wisdom you guys share!
Next step is the Get Selected book
The Reaper
08-27-2009, 11:56
Farsi is not a 10th Group command language. I can pretty much guarantee that if you tested out for Farsi, you are NOT going to 10th Group.
That is one that will put you in 5th or 3rd, for sure.
You need to listen to what you are being told.
TR
Civil:
Our cadre told us that we were all going to learn Arabic. If we sucked we might be able to take French.
Either way, that's a 200m target, and I have more important things to worry about in the meantime.
FWIW.
Yes sir I have been listening, I apologize if I wasn't clear I will learn Farsi for my own benefit not to test out on.
I will let the DLAB determine which language I will learn for SF to be placed in the group that can utilize me the most.
What I have gotten out of the posts is that the language requirement is not a definite indicator of group assignment and subject to change as the needs change. To better my chances of 10th group Russian is the best option over Farsi or another Middle Eastern language, but it all depends on the needs of the group at the time I go through.
Rather than trying to go through the brick wall I shall go around it and utilize the time and energy in a much more productive manner and in areas that are more pivotal such as conditioning.
To earn a better score on the DLAB I will pick up a grammar book and begin studying. I took a practice test (10 questions) on the Navy website and received 10 out of 10 but imagine the DLAB will be MUCH more difficult and I would like to study to do my best.
Cheers,
Civil
SkiBumCFO
08-27-2009, 14:31
Your penchant and seemingly hyper-focusing on languages might make you a better fit for an MI/SIGINT MOS - think about it
As a former 10th Grouper and current resident of Colorado I can understand your desire to get to 10th but Richard is right if you are that focused on language MI might be the right place. I am both MI and SF and would highly recommend what the Reaper said and focus on what is important for getting qualified. That is the holy grail the rest is secondary. If you like languages that much you will enjoy whatever they stick you in so focus on conditioning, map reading, etc.. there is plenty of info out there to help you prepare. The Army is big enough to jump around later in your service (different Language, MI, etc..)
Thank you for the advice SkiBumCFO :)
Since the young man is a year away from signing a contract, I can't see where studying another language can hurt him, because as far as I know learning a new language is good exercise for the brain. Heck he can practice counting in the new language while PT'ing.
:munchin
SkiBumCFO
08-27-2009, 17:42
WCH - I was using learning a new language as an excuse for destroying my brain i guess i will have to come up with another excuse :)
WCH - I was using learning a new language as an excuse for destroying my brain i guess i will have to come up with another excuse :)
Perhaps, it's the altitude in CO that did it!!;)
SkiBumCFO
08-27-2009, 18:53
Thanks WCH that will be my new excuse :)
My son just graduated on Friday and he's with 10th Group. His language was French. 10th Groups main focus is with Europe and North Africa where French is spoken. I don't think that Farsi would be a 10th Group language. I also don't think that the language you take is the thing to focus on. There are so many other aspects to the job to deal with. He was assigned French, he didn't request it, but that language seemed to orient him toward 10th group. He knew sometime during Q course that the odds were 90% he'd be with 10th group. His MOS is 18B.
My son just graduated on Friday and he's with 10th Group. His language was French. 10th Groups main focus is with Europe and North Africa where French is spoken. I don't think that Farsi would be a 10th Group language. I also don't think that the language you take is the thing to focus on. There are so many other aspects to the job to deal with. He was assigned French, he didn't request it, but that language seemed to orient him toward 10th group. He knew sometime during Q course that the odds were 90% he'd be with 10th group. His MOS is 18B.
10th's focus shifted last year to Europe and all of Africa. Lots of oppurtunities for him to practice his French language skills there. Focus on the language that you were trained in, and learn new languages as things like Bosnia and Kosovo fade to OIF.
Language options sure have changed. As you all know, it used to be German, Russian, Polish, and Czech. Now it's Russian and ????
BTW, my oldest son is in his final month of Russian and then off to MPT (?) and the 18D course. Headed for 1/10.
Buffalobob
05-08-2010, 07:59
BTW, my oldest son is in his final month of Russian and then off to MPT (?) and the 18D course. Headed for 1/10.
How do you know he is headed to 1/10? Does he have orders? At what point in the process did he get orders assigning him?
We all went through the language of the month times, I finally stuck with German and have used it everywhere I was deployed, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq as well as Africa and most of Europe, it’s the language of money/tourist. Like Stras said, 10th is now refocusing on Africa, which means French. Learn a language in the spare time you have before the Q, knowledge is never wasted. As for reading books on motivation, just look at the guy to your right and left and remind yourself that it sucks but it looks like it suck worst for them. Having been an instructor at MacKall for phase 1/3, what got most of them were injuries. Walk with a ruck over hilly terrain for long distances and time. Don’t run with that thing on your back only amateurs and officers do that, you’ll thank me when you get older
Utah Bob
05-11-2010, 07:55
Perhaps, it's the altitude in CO that did it!!;)
There is no truth to the rumor that altitude affects brain func......
What were we talking about again?:confused:
Sonic03svtCobra
05-13-2010, 21:31
The two languages we have been putting alot of time in learning are, French and Arabic . Due to 3rd Batt. going to Africa, and 2nd Batt. still doing OIF rotations.
But as explained before it comes down to the numbers. Good luck
When I was at Devens and was doing a dog and pony show dress rehearsal for the Bn CO and XO, my spiel was something like "I am the junior medical sergeant, my duties are... and I have a working knowledge of German, Spanish, Hungarian and Texan." The CO got a good chuckle when I added "Texan" and the XO got a hemorrhoid. No sense of humor that guy.
The most helpful thing that I learned about languages is to pick one and learn it well, preferably German, Spanish or French. Many other languages will have similarities in syntax, word root, etc, and if you know one, it will be easier to pick another language up later. I discovered that when I would start one language and unconsciously insert a phrase or word from another, the person to whom I was speaking would often smile and say: "Is OK; I live in Spain (or Germany, Hungary, France, etc) 5 years, I understand what you say." It often formed a stronger bond with that person. One of my favorite examples was when a young lady at a safehouse came over to me and said: "I speak little English also. Do you know Elvis?"
One difference would be a language that doesn't use our alphabet (Chinese, Arabic), but similarities may still help. Once you condition your mind to realize that a ball point pen is also a "koogleschreiber" you'll find it easier to learn another word for it in a different language.
To echo an important point, don't focus on the language to go SF. Go SF and let the requisite language find you.
DOL
When I was in the 10th, most all of 1st and 2nd Bats learned German and 3rd learned the Slavic languages like Russian, Czech etc.
I was lucky enough to go to DLI for German and learned to speak Serbo-Croat during my 12 year stay in the former Jugoslavia.
I've got most of Northern and Eastern Europe covered except for Hungary which has it's own "special" language that no one can learn! :rolleyes:
I played waterpolo with a couple Serbians, Polish, Ukrainians and Hungarians. They could all communicate with each other except the hungarians. They knew Croatian so it was fine but, Hungarian is its own special language that bears no similarities to another language.
How do you know he is headed to 1/10? Does he have orders? At what point in the process did he get orders assigning him?
I greased the skids with Sekelsky and my old team leader, BG Ken Tovo. No orders yet so we'll see what happens. Graduation is on 6 April 2012.
Rx
My oldest son (18D) ended up on ODA 012 - MTN TM.
mark46th
12-01-2012, 09:19
If you are worried about being close to home, why are you going to try and go SF? The main reason I joined was to get the hell out of the country...