Readers Respond: What's Your Experience in this Navy Job?

Responses: 5

By Rod Powers, About.com Guide

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Share your experiences in this Navy Rating. Share YOur Experiences

Definitely, those who went to DLI having had some foreign language training had an advantage. I am glad to see that GoodFellow is no longer a stop for training. It really wasn't critically relevant for the 1st duty station. Now, granted, I have been away for a while but I still believe there are pretty good adventures out there. I did everything from office environment, to surface TAD, to subs, to different, foreign TAD. I loved that the Dets. were only a few weeks to a month or so long and we weren't usually ship's company. Not that we were elitists (don't get that way...) but it was nice having the autonomy. I'll never forget the places I have seen and people I have met. You have to make your own experiences but don't let any advice pigeon-hole your perception of what's possible. Work hard and have fun!
—Guest CTI3 Moore

I guess I was one of those extremely motivated people that Tatiana eluded to in her assessment. I came straight in to DLI from boot camp. To choose a language, we had to score better than 120 on the DLAB. You really had to study everyday. Those that want to go out and party or see the sights will not make it. There's all the services here and many people to meet, but this isn't social time. This is as in-depth as education goes and if you're serious, you'll be fine. They have many processes in place and steps to take to help you succeed, but in the end it is your motivation and choices that will determine your fate. You've already taken aptitude tests and passed, so the Navy knows you can do it. I doubted myself too, maybe it's human nature, but I made it...and made it to CTI2, CTI2, and then Intel Officer. If I could do it, anyone can because I sucked in high school and part of college. Good luck!! - Lt. F9911
—NikF9911

Thanks for the good info Tatiana, I am only beginning looking into a CTI position, any more info would be great.
—Guest jen

This description is a little dated, CTI's no longer go to goodfellow in texas, all follow on training is given at your first duty station, which varies depending on your language. The course at DLI is very demanding, the fail out rate is about 25%, and the average student has about 3 hours of homework a night, plus studying for tests. There is potential for travel in this job, and there is the added bonus that you will not be sent on deployments like other sailors. Most CTI deployments are only a few weeks long, the absolute longest being three months. And you wont find too many specifics on what the job actually is until you actually do it, because so much of what you do is highly classified, but jobs we do vary greatly, giving many possibilities as to what you actually will do.
—Guest CTI3 Locher

I'm currently a student at DLI and I looked at this article a lot before I left for RTC and a couple of things I wish I had known before were 1) your DLAB score doesn't matter. You'll get what they have available at the time. (which could mean spending 16 months learning a language you have no interest in) 2) this is not a rate that involves a lot of travel or excitement unless you're willing to do SEARS school 4) If you fail your language, the command here almost never re-languages and if that happens there's a very good chance you'll go to the fleet undesignated 5) These classes are the most difficult military training probably other than BUDs or Nuclear training. People that have never had to try in school to succeed won't find that kind of situation here. I recommend this rate for sailors that plan to be in the Navy for a long time and already have some experience with languages. The CTI's here say they love their rate though. You have to have extreme motivation to succeed here.
—Guest Tatiana

Rod Powers
US Military Guide