What were you referring to a waiver for? Are you saying that if I have already taken the DLAB I need a waiver to go to SFAS? Or that if I score below an 85 I will require one?

http://www.bragg.army.mil/sorb/SF_criteria.htm

The referenced website does not state any DLAB minimum for enlisted personnel.

Thanks again for any responses, advice or input.

I just took the test and scored a 46. I had no idea it was even possible to get such a low score :confused:. Apparently, I'm not qualified to speak English, never mind Arabic or Farsi. Needless to say, it's become a huge priority of mine to retake the thing as soon as possible, preferably before I get out of basic. Not so much for language school or SFAS (though those are important) but as a matter of personal pride.

Anyways, there's a question here as well; where did you hear that? I've been trying to find information about how the DLAB is scored, bell curves for the test and the like and I've found absolutely nothing.

Now your screen name makes a whole lot of sense.

Well played sir.

I actually did just sit in the counselor's chair, looking at that score silently for a minute or two. I didn't believe it then and I still don't believe it but there's not much I can do but move on to the next target and hope I get a chance at redemption.

Apologies: didn't realize this was in the SFAS section. I'm just a support soldier and NOT a Special Forces soldiers. I just do language stuff and support the guys that are.


DLAB - Defense Language Aptitude Battery

Given limited time and brief samples of a "language", do you have the aptitude to convert the sample symbols & sounds into English.

Is there an correlation between a code-breaking and a linguist? Why are MOST linguists good in either math and/or music? (I'm personally an exception because I suck at both.)

Languages, math, music, and codes are all about patterns and predictions based on analysis of previous established patterns. This is exactly what the DLAB measures. Can a person improve their scores? Sure. I would suggest looking at word jumbles, crossword puzzles, etc as well as understand English grammar.

Example: the ending -u on a verb is always first person singular whereas -it, -et, or -at is third person singular.

Which sentence means "I am going to the store."

1) On peshkom khodit.
2) Tot magazin nakhodit'sya tam.
3) Ya idu v magazin. <------------- otvet (answer)
4) Ehti primeri ochen' glupoy!

(note: this isn't a DLAB example but actually simple Russian sentences.)

That's funny. Even a language as simple as Spanish is giving me fits, but I'm quite skilled in both music and math.

Also, I'm going with "C." as the answer to your question.

Spasibo balshoye. I didn't study going into the test because, like you said, it was an aptitude test. I was confident that passing it was not going to be a problem.

I guess my test score was so surprising because a) I really didn't realize it was possible to score that low. The lowest score I've ever seen posted was about an 80. b) The test (except for the first part)* didn't really seem all that difficult to me. c) It's the compete opposite of my usual performance on standardized tests, especially ones requiring pattern analysis. From the LSAT to the ASVAB, I've always done very well on them and d) I actually speak Levantine Arabic passably well. Languages have never been easy for me, but they haven't been impossibly hard either.

Ma shee hal. I'll work DLAB prep into my training cycle and try again once I'm a soldier instead of a "future soldier" (does anyone else find that term mildly euphemistic?) I don't want to hijack this thread and make it about my terrible DLAB score.


*I will say this, a written DLAB would be much easier than the audio-heavy format they use.

Ok, I have searched high and low and keep coming up with two separate answers for how many time you can take the DLAB. I'm hearing you can go every 6 months or until you get a passing score, and the other one is you can only take it three times in your military career. Does anyone have the right answer?, or know where to find it? I have a soldier that has taken it three times already and we can't get him MOS Q till we can get him cleared.

Thanks in advance


I found the answer.
AR11-6
3–5. Approval for Defense Language Aptitude Battery reevaluation
a. Personnel may be reevaluated on the DLAB up to two times after a 6 month waiting period each time, if they have not achieved the minimum qualifying score on the initial test or first retest.
b. Requests for more than two retests. Requests for exceptions to the waiting period, and requests to retest after attaining the minimum score or higher, should be sent to Commander, AHRC (AHRC–PDE), 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332–0472.