Defense Language Institute

Was there in 1967 learning Vietnamese. It was a great place almost 50 years ago. Can’t imagine what it is like now.

THE FARSI/​Persian F DEPARTMENT,
Beware of the ignorant former cab driver instructor cadre that have gained easy employment here. %80 of the cadre do not have a degree in the language they are teaching, this is including the six or so chairpersons presiding over the departments. I was an instructor here my first year and was discriminated against by the Farsi/​Persian chair person Burnside. I personally made a formal complaint against Burnside, stating that she had violated the federal personal prohibited practices act; this is through the office of special counsel and US Merit protection board. Both of which failed due to a high volume case load existing at these agencies and my mistake of resigning. I also made a written complaint to congressional representative Sam Farr. Burnside decided to built a termination packet against me from day one, under the monitoring of then Dean Zhu Shensheng, (the most incompetent dean in the history of the DLI’s Farsi/​Persian department). I know this because I requested my termination packet from the US Merit Protection Board. I had tried to change my chair the first day on the job, but my supervisors and peers had prevented me from doing so. Later these very peers and senior supervisors had immediately requested to be transferred to another department. Little did this ##### know that I had passed the FLPT in the Farsi/​Persian five times and that I had served some eight years in the armed forces, including a deployment to Iraq. Later I deployed as a Dari linguist to Afghanistan, making $ 107,000/year.
If you feel that you have been wronged by any means by Burnside or her lower staff members then you should change your department immediately and make a formal complaint to your chain of command.

The post takes base security seriously, so you can feel confident that security measures are in place to prevent any threats attempting to gain entrance to the base.
The instruction, classes and training atmosphere is more like a college campus than basic training.
Back in the day, if you were in Special Forces you could get sent here for language instruction but that all changed a while back and all language training is consolidated at Ft. Bragg, NC now.
There’s a running track for those of you who run at odd hours like me.
The PX used to carry a HUGE variety of DLI sweatshirts, polos, fleece zip ups, etc.
Considering cheap hotels run over $ 100 a night in the summer and during holidays, as well as difficult parking, I recommend you take advantage of the local sights rather than driving 2 hours up to San Francisco every weekend.
Besides the beaches and the aquarium there’s scuba diving, driving along the coast and even hang gliding on the beach.
If you’re into golfing there’s plenty of locations to choose from.
If you’re into rock climbing, further south is Pinnacles.
Don’t bother with Carmel, it’s over-​rated.
Avoid Salinas for the most part.

It is THE premier destination for learning a foreign language, short of actually immersing yourself in the country of your target language. And yes, you are in beautiful Monterey, CA. Don’t be fooled, though. If you think you’re coming here for a vacation you are in for a rude awakening. The work load is intense, even for «easier» languages. Of course, it is run by the Government, so you know there are flaws here and there, but all in all they live up to their «premier» title.

Language learning at its finest. Beautiful campus. What more could you ask for in an institution? Come prepared to work your butt off because they don’t play here at the DLI.