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Linguist Training–Not Solely DLI
Training begins in Monterey, California at the Defense
Language Institute (DLI). DLI structures training for a Service
Member who has no knowledge of the CLANG and strives
to train service members to pass the Defense Language
Proficiency Test (DLPT) with a 2/2 or higher. The training
is rigorous–the work and schedule are on par with leading
universities. Daily, the linguist completes 8 hours of
classroom study, followed by two hours of study hall, and
assigned homework which includes memorization of an extensive
vocabulary list. DLI supplements the study with a
barrage of tests (Defense Language Institute). Upon completion
of DLI, Soldiers begin Advance Individual Training
(AIT). AIT trains Soldiers to use their language operationally,
and upon completion of AIT, Soldiers must maintain proficiency
in their CLANG (DA Pam 611-21).
Responsibilities–Engaged Commander, CLPM,
Linguist, NCO
There is a shared responsibility for each linguist to maintain
proficiency in their CLANG. Soldiers have a personal
responsibility, NCOs are responsible for sharing their institutional
knowledge by teaching, coaching and mentoring
linguists, commanders are responsible for facilitating training,
providing resources and enforcing disciplinary standards,
and CLPMs are responsible for managing language
resources.
The role of a mentor is vital. Mentors act as an advocate
for the linguists to the chain of command. They effectively
map out an appropriate course of study, provide motivation,
track progress, and readjust a linguist’s training to improve
weaknesses.
A command team’s role is to be the honest broker. The
unfortunate reality is not every DLI trained linguist is proficient
enough to maintain their language skills outside of
the school environment. According to MILPER Message
Number 14-083, Soldiers sub-proficient in their CLANG will
have an immediate reenlistment prohibition, are not eligible
for promotion, and can be separated or reclassified.
Additionally, commanders must address current language
proficiency scores on the NCO evaluation report. Although
there are some exceptions, the standard is clear. Keeping
a sub-proficient linguist does nothing to help the Army or
the Soldier. Commands must give their linguists every opportunity
to succeed, and then honestly assess the retainability
of the Soldier with deference to the Soldier’s overall
performance.
Command Language Mentor Program
The program the 717 th Military Intelligence Battalion utilizes
has the benefit of a thoroughly engaged CLPM at the
battalion level. The CLPM manages the funds required to
provide Soldiers with opportunities for CONUS or OCONUS
language immersions and other language training. The
CLPM also publishes the current and subsequent fiscal
year’s language training based on the training available, and
works in conjunction with the brigade headquarters and the
NSA/CSS Associate Directorate of Education and Training.
The CLPM at the battalion level provides companies with
the resources; however, a company-level CLPM is necessary
to manage the commander’s program. The CLPM should be
an NCO highly proficient in their CLANG and show the qualities
of a professional Soldier. Proper management of the
Command Language Mentorship Program is key to the program’s
success and will pay dividends for every linguist in
any language.
Daily Mission
The overall goal is to produce competent, confident
Soldiers capable of utilizing their language within operations.
Slang and colloquialisms can make even the best linguists
second guess their abilities. Experienced language
mentors offer insight into the target language that a classroom
or self-study guide cannot provide. Focusing solely on
passing the DLPT will only improve the linguist’s DLPT score.
The DLPT is intended to assess the general language proficiency
on a foreign language and is meant to examine how
well a Soldier will fare in real-life situations. A 2/2 linguist
shows an advanced level of proficiency; however, linguists
need to strive for superior proficiency. Most linguists will
work, at some time or another, in a mission for NSA/CSS.
In this capacity, it is paramount the Army provide the NSA
with superior linguists who are experts in their field. It is
the opinion of some senior leaders that the Army is behind
other military services when it comes to providing superior
linguists. The lack of a large pool of high caliber linguists is
understandable given the last decade of conflict the Army
has endured.
However, as deployments decline, commanders should
refocus their attention on their language program. This attention
cannot afford to be myopic in scope and must cover
the spectrum of resources available to linguists. In a battalion
with different mission sets requiring different languages,
Soldiers are afforded the added benefit of having
the opportunity to work with their CLANG on a daily basis.
On the occasion a linguist does not understand something,
there will be time to sit and decipher the problem or work
with someone who may be more proficient in the language.
The Army and the intelligence community does not need
mediocre linguists but experts.
April - June 2015
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