A New Sailor
My daughter graduated from Navy Boot Camp on February 27th. For those occsional Readers who’ve been around for a while, you may know that this is a journey that started way back in the days post 9-11, when a 12 year old asked the question, “Dad, could I go to the Naval Academy?” The rest is history.
The Idaho Daughter didn’t make it into the Academy after two tries, so she decided to serve her country anyway. She signed up for the Delayed Entry program last fall and flew away to Great Lakes, Illinois on January 6th. She had her ups and down (it is Boot Camp, it’s supposed to be hard) but it was mostly a positive experience. Especially now that it’s done. And after she’s been in a while it could still be possible to switch to the officer track if she wants to put in the work.
As a father, I’ve always been proud of all my children, which include an older and younger brother and five exchange students who were on loan to us for a year. But I have to be honest and say seeing her march into the drill hall with 561 new Sailors was the thrill of a lifetime. I only knocked over three little old ladies and a Chief RDC trying to get to her for that first hug.
I’m sure, just like any job, I’ll hear complaints about the Navy from my daughter over the years ahead, but they sure can put on a ceremony. The honorary inspecting officer was a Rear Admiral (forget his name) who works in the Pentagon. He said a lot of good things about our Saiors and the Navy in general and then mentioned he had a special feeling for this class, since his kid was out there with them. I thought he was going to lose it for a minute, and I sure came close.
The girl called this morning from O’Hare and said she was on her way to Monterey. She’ll be there for about a year and a half, learning a foreign language. She’ll eventually head to the fleet as a Navy interpreter and I’m sure I’ll quit hearing what’s going on as things get sensitive.
Thanks to everyone who gave us so much encouragement and advice over the years.
One Happy and Proud Dad,
Idaho Joe
Posted by Idaho Joe
On March 4th, 2009 under Family, Military, Sea Stories.
Comments: 13
Comments
Comment from claudio
Time: March 4, 2009, 11:26 am
Congrats to the new sailor. She must be pretty smart and must have done well on the DLAB, the language aptitude test. Other than the actual language proficiency test, prob one of the hardest tests I’ve ever taken in the Navy.
CTI is a great job, great post nav prospects also.
Congrats again, and if I can only offer the following
Keep your nose clean and to the grindstone, take advantage of every educational programs the Navy has, have fun and flower wherever you’re planted.
Claudio
Comment from MissBirdlegs in AL
Time: March 4, 2009, 11:37 am
Congrats to you both and all the best to the new sailor! Loved the way you wrote the post.
Comment from SJBill
Time: March 4, 2009, 3:41 pm
Congratulations!
Too bad she didn’t get to meet and greet a ‘nother regular ’round these parts.
The WX here is currently clousy with major spatterings of rain. Should clear out by the weekend.
Comment from Michelle
Time: March 4, 2009, 7:03 pm
Congratulations!
Both to the new sailor and her father!
Now how shall we ever figure out which is the two is the prouder? 
Comment from virgil xenophon
Time: March 5, 2009, 12:37 am
Monterrey is great duty and her specialty will put her in great demand.
A proud Pappa? How could anyone possibly tell?
Comment from OldT6Flyer
Time: March 5, 2009, 7:12 pm
Congratulations!
A fine accomplishment and I wish both Father and Daughter good luck in the future. It is gratifying to see too people with displaying such well-earned pride in serving our Country.
Comment from Idaho Joe
Time: March 6, 2009, 9:13 am
Thanks for all your nice words. The Idaho Sailor is now safely aboard the Presido of Monterey and we have a mailing address. Her cell phone is headed there now, so hopefully soon there will be a little mor regular contact. Then she’ll get so busy she’ll forget about us. Oh well, you have to let them grow up sometime.
Now, if I can just get rid of her younger brother, my wife and I can each have our own office in our four bedroom house, and still keep a guest room.
Comment from lex
Time: March 8, 2009, 11:07 am
Great news! Congrats to you both. And it sure is nice seeing the National Defense Service Medal.
Comment from Idaho Joe
Time: March 8, 2009, 5:37 pm
The real uniform is now sporting two stripes on the left sleeve and a Marksman’s ribbon also. She was a little unhappy that she didn’t earn a Sharpshooter’s “S” or an Expert “E” (I think I’ve got those right) since she was the Division’s Recruit Weapons Petty Officer, but I guess there will always be time to requalify.
We’ve talked to her a couple of times now since she got to Monterey. Don’t tell the Navy, but she’s ecstatic, loves the place, and can’t wait to start studying.
Comment from Babs
Time: March 9, 2009, 10:25 am
Congratulations to you and your daughter!
I do have a question to ask: Did she take the DLAT prior to or after enlisting? In other words, was she guaranteed a spot in language school prior to or after enlisting?
Did she already speak a second language? If so, did she test on this language? Was it prior to or after enlisting?
I would really appreciate your answers as I have a son that speaks several languages and is wondering if he has to enlist before being considered for a language school.
Best,
Babs
Comment from Idaho Joe
Time: March 9, 2009, 11:21 am
My daughter took the Defense Language Apptitude Battery (DLAB) after she had actually signed on the dotted line and was sworn in, but while she was in the Delayed Entry Program. She had the option of waiting to swear in before taking the test, but she was going to serve one way or the other. You’re son will have to talk to a recruiter, but I believe he can take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Apptitude Battery) and the DLAB without any obligation.
When she scored well, they immediately threw out her old contract and gave her a new one that said she was going to be a CTI (Cryptological Technician, Interpretive.) If I remember correctly a perfect score on the test is a 150 and in the Navy you have to score at least 110 to be considered for the highest tier of languages, which are Arabic, Chinese Korean and Farsi (Persian.) As of this moment my daughter will be studying Arabic, but it’s really up to the needs of the Navy. She had no guarantee going in which language she would study and only found out for sure the last week of Boot Camp.
My daughter already speaks German fairly well, but had no other really complex language training. The DLAB tests your ability to learn a language and not your knowledge of any particular language. There was no test for existing languages at that time. If you go to Military.com and work your way down to the info on joining the navy there is a practice test.
From what I’ve been told by people who’ve been there the Defense Language Institute is a really good school but more people wash out of it than even Navy Seal training. CTIs tend to promote quickly, like Nukes and seem to have a pretty good job.
I’ve made a lot of good contacts with people much smarter and more knowledgeable than me over the last several years, so if I can be of more help have Capt. Lex give you my e-mail address and I’ll pass on more information. I think something that would be helpful is if my daughter talked to your son, when she has e-mail access again.
Idaho Joe
Comment from Claudio
Time: March 9, 2009, 9:24 pm
Babs,
my info is a little dated, but as far as I know…
Your son does not have to be under contract to take either the ASVAB or DLAB.
There is no set “study guide” for the DLAB that I’ve found but there is plenty of info on the web. A couple of links I just found
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/joiningup/a/dlab.htm
http://www.deltagear.us/Kit&Tools/Kit/DLABsample.pdf
I enlisted in the Navy to be a CTI but for reasons left unsaid, I did not get to go to DLI. I already spoke Romanian, Russian and was passable in several other European languages. Having learned English as a second language helped with the DLAB due to the grammar knowledge. If I can offer some advice, have your son brush up on grammar and syntax. A LOT. The test uses a made up rules and language, but you HAVE to know what a verb, noun, adjective etc are and their use.
Also, listening comprehension and speed is a must.
As far as DLI, Idaho Joe’s daughter can provide more up to date info. I’ve never made there but worked with a lot of graduates. It is TOUGH. But, good study habits and applying yourself will serve him well.
He can take the Proficiency tests in other languages he is fluent in if he wants. Word of warning, very tough tests. DO NOT take more than one test in a day. I took two language tests in same day and felt like I ran a marathon. Also, brush up on military terms. Although fluent in Russian/Romanian, some of the specific military stuff threw me for a loop and had to resort to root use etc to make sense.
Like said before, great job/career in the navy. If not flying, riding in some cool platforms, he’ll spend most of his time in a windowless environment. The SCIF… he’ll learn more about it eventually.
Good luck to him
Comment from Wilko
Time: March 13, 2009, 12:16 pm
A belated but hearty congrats to both you and your daughter. Great to see that you’ve passed on virtues such as love of country on to your children.
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