Long Road Ahead

In January, more than four years after U.S. troops invaded Afghanistan, the department published a "Defense Language Transformation Roadmap," detailing a plan to boost language skills across the military during the next several years. The following are a few highlights from the bureaucratic path already traveled, as well as the road ahead:

NOVEMBER 2002:

David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, orders the military services to review language requirements.

AUGUST 2003:

Chu orders a review of operations at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center.

JANUARY-JULY 2004:

Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Plans Gail McGinn organizes Defense Language Transformation Team.

MAY 2004:

Paul Wolfowitz, then-deputy secretary of Defense, creates a Defense Foreign Language Steering Committee to develop a "Defense Language Transformation Roadmap."

AUGUST 2004:

Foreign Language Steering Committee approves roadmap and its recommendations.

APRIL 2005:

Junior officers are required to complete language training. Foreign language ability becomes criterion for general officer/flag officer advancement.

MAY 2005:

Language office established in Chu's department.

JUNE 2005:

First annual strategic language list is published. Guidelines are developed for recruiting personnel from non-English-speaking communities in the United States.

JULY 2005:

Update Defense Language Program policies and assign management responsibilities to improve accession and development of personnel with language skills.

SEPTEMBER 2005:

Combat commanders must identify linguistic and translator requirements as part of operational planning.

Develop language readiness index to measure gaps in resources.

Revise the civilian job application process to identify applicants' language skills and regional expertise.

Create database for tracking former service members with language skills so they could be asked to return to service.

NOVEMBER 2005:

Develop plan for recruiting officers and civilians with foreign language skills from universities.

DECEMBER 2005:

Identify language skills all military and civilian personnel possess and consolidate data into a central database.

Expand bonuses and other incentives to personnel who maintain language proficiency.

MARCH 2006:

Exploit study abroad program to facilitate language acquisition and cultural awareness. Hold participants accountable through proficiency testing.

JUNE 2006:

Publish guidance for language program management.

SEPTEMBER 2006:

Provide deployed forces with rapid interpretation and translation support via phone or computer network.

JANUARY 2007:

Improve and expand language aptitude testing.

JUNE 2007:

Develop pilot program to identify, recruit and track volunteer civilian specialists with advanced proficiency in languages to serve Defense during emergencies.

SEPTEMBER 2007:

Establish crash courses in language training for deploying forces.

OCTOBER 2007:

Improve and expand language proficiency testing system.

SEPTEMBER 2008:

Develop and maintain a database of accurate information on all Defense personnel skilled in foreign languages and with regional expertise.

Identify and create courses for emerging language needs that have developed across the department.

Assemble an on-call cadre of personnel with uncommon language skills.

SOURCES: defense department