Careers Career Paths Air Force Job 1N3X1: Cryptologic Language Analyst An Air Force Cryptologic Linguist Has a Special Role in the USAF Share PINTEREST Email Print Image Source / Getty Images Career Paths US Military Careers Technology Careers Sports Careers Sales Project Management Professional Writer Music Careers Media Legal Careers Government Careers Finance Careers Fiction Writing Careers Entertainment Careers Criminology Careers Book Publishing Aviation Animal Careers Advertising Learn More By Rod Powers Rod Powers Air Force NCO Academy Rod Powers was a retired Air Force First Sergeant with 22 years of active duty service. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 12/09/18 A land-based linguist in the Air Force serves an important role in the service, and those who are cryptologic language analysts are particularly vital. They must not only translate but also analyze messages that could offer important intelligence to the Air Force in combat situations. Duties of a Cryptologic Linguist in the Air Froce The biggest part of this job involves the translation of spoken or written material from one language to another, especially when from intelligence. People who work in this role operate—and manage the operation of—communications equipment such as radio receivers, recording equipment, typewriters, keyboards, and computer consoles. They monitor and record communications, adding appropriate comments to assist in transcription and analysis, and perform preventive maintenance on mission equipment. Specifically, the Air Force outlines the following five duties associated with this job: Use foreign language skills to search for identify, and process other communicationsOperate voice and graphic communications equipmentTranscribe, translate, and summarize intercepted voice and graphic communicationsProvide warning of adversarial intentions against U.S.Identify regional and cultural factors associated with activities of interest Qualifications If you're interested in this job, the most important skill you need to have is documented foreign language proficiency in a language designated by the Air Force. A score of at least 110 on the Defense Language Aptitude Battery is also necessary, and you'll need a score of at least 72 on the general (G) section of the Air Force Aptitude Qualification Area of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests. In addition, you'll need to complete a designated cryptologic language analyst initial skills course, after the requisite seven and a half weeks of basic military training (boot camp) and Airmen's Week. Other qualifications: No history of temporomandibular joint disorder or pain Ability to type at a rate of 25 words per minute Favorable completion and of a current Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) Completion of seven and a half weeks of basic military training as well as Airmen’s Week Must be between the ages of 17 and 39 Eligibility for a top secret security clearance, according to AFI 31-501, Personnel Security Program Management, and for sensitive compartmented information access Must be a U.S. citizen Must be familiar with: Formats, terminology, and theory of traffic analysis.Organization of designated military forcesProcedures for processing and distributing intelligence dataMethods for handling, distributing, and safeguarding military information Training Training for cryptologic linguist occurs in two parts. The first part is language training, conducted at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif. The length of the training depends on the language being learned. Language training lasts between 47 and 63 weeks, depending on the difficulty level of the language. Following language training, technical job training is conducted at Goodfellow AFB, Texas. Again, the length of the training depends on the language and can last between 10 and 22 weeks. Languages Any language has the potential to be important to the U.S. military, but a handful of languages are of particular interest to the Air Froce. Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Persian Farsi, Hebrew, Spanish, Pasto, and Urdu are of top priority to the Air Force due to current U.S. interests around the globe. Featured Video