Last week I had to take the Defense Language Proficiency Test. This is an annual requirement for military linguists. We take the test to show that we have maintained our level of proficiency in our language. The results of this test are used in a variety of ways for or against the linguist. - We receive extra pay if our scores are high enough. In the Army, you can receive up to $300 extra every month if you can score high enough in three different languages. - We can...

I have been in the Army for nearly 12 years now and I have had the oppurtunity to do some things that I never thought I'd do before I enlisted. I've been to foreign countries. I've flown on helicopters and airplanes conducting missions. I've mentored and trained some of the most outstanding people I have ever known and helped them progress further in their careers than I have (without a hint of jealousy on my part). I've seen soldiers react to situations without a thought of personal safety, ...

So, I posted my very first blog earlier today and my score has risen to 35. Woohoo! I really have no idea what the score means or if it's going to go in my permanent record, but it's a thrill to see it skyrocket!!! I guess I could read the explanation on the JU homepage, but that will have to wait. I was talking with a buddy today about some of the shining beacons of leadership we've had the misfortune of crossing paths with in the past. I'm sure you've all had similar people to deal wi...

Well, hello, to any who stumble across this blog. This is my very first entry here at JU. I recently got in touch with a buddy of mine (greywar Link ) and while catching up via email, he told me to check out his blog. I read most of his posts and then moved on to some of the greater JU community, and now, here I am. I've caught the bug. Let me intro myself a little. I'm in the Army, currently serving in Monterey, CA at the Defense Language Institute Link . I serve as a Military Lan...