Language Teachers Are Soldiering On

Chaz Penedes investigates the opportunities that exist for linguists in the Army Language Program.

The U.S. Army currently employs over 8,000 soldier-linguists both on active duty and in the reserve components. They are stationed in countries around the world, in Alaska, Hawaii and the continental U.S.

The Army Language Program recruits for many different language specialties. Those persons accepted into the program receive up to a TOP SECRET security clearance. Many people use this clearance for more favorable civilian and/or government employment opportunities upon leaving military service.

Individuals who possess language skills can enlist in the Active or Reserve Component in the MOS (military occupational specialty) 97EL, 97L, 98XL. Those who qualify may receive accelerated promotion to Sergeant within two months of completion of technical training under the Army Civilian Acquired Skills Program.

Individuals who have the desire to learn a new language may attend language training at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California. DLIFLC is a Department of Defense School that provides intensive language training to service members for 25 to 63 weeks. General qualifications are to be between 17 and 34 years old, a U.S. citizen and be generally free of serious law violations. Gender is not an issue.
Speaking to American Language Review in a recent interview, Staff Sergeant Bill Hudon explained, "First and foremost we are advocates and not recruiters. Our key mission is to promote opportunities for foreign language learning and employment both in and out of the military.

"Our program was started late in 1998 because of the general lack of public knowledge about foreign languages in the Army. We very much want to educate the world that the Army is much more tanks and living in the woods. We hope to generate interest while educating the world on our program. One of our major difficulties is finding qualified applicants who can pass the battery of tests we require."

Staff Sergeant Hudon said, "We are also looking for applicants for Civilian Acquired Skills program, through which we take already bilingual applicants and accelerate their promotions, the same qualifications apply but they do not have pass the language aptitude test. Instead they must pass the proficiency test for their own language.
Currently, the Army is looking for Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Korean and Russian speaking applicants who are either already fluent or willing to learn. "Of course, we also need many other languages but the above four are the most needed," added Hudon.

Those individuals accepted into the program will become soldiers and do have to attend basic training. Afterwards they will attend the DLIFLC. The classes are very small and taught by some of the best language teachers in the world, 90% of them being native speakers of the language taught. Classes are generally 7-8 hours daily, five days a week. All branches of the U.S. military attend DLIFLC. Of course, because the students are also soldiers in the United States Army they do not pay for any of the education and receive a good paycheck to boot.
Those students who take minimum residency requirements at Monterey Peninsula College (near DLIFLC) during their language course will receive an Associate of Arts degree from that school. (which really translates to a two-year degree within 9-19 months depending on the language.)

Graduates of DLIFLC complete their tour in one of three main jobs within the Army's Military Intelligence field. The Voice Interceptor/ Electronic Warfare Specialist, who covertly collects information transmitted through the airwaves, the Interrogator, who collects information from human sources, either enemy prisoners of war (EPW), defectors or other persons with information. And finally the Interpreter/Translator; the job is self explanatory, but it is limited to reserve (part time) only.

For more information, please contact Sergeant First Class Frank Marois (1.800.223.3735 ext. 61687) the Senior Advocate. The West Coast Advocates are Staff Sergeants Sarah Chapman and Bill Hudon; they can be reached at (702) 639-2047 or 2048 or by email at 6bde-cla@usarec.army.mil.

Chaz Penedes is a staffwriter for ALR.