 |
| News > International Affairs Specialist program implements language improvement initiatives |
|
|
| |
| Photos | |
 |
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz speaks at the Department of Defense Language and Culture Summit on Jan. 26, 2011, in Alexandria, Va. General Schwartz told the audience that the best way the U.S. armed forces will achieve the necessary level of language skills and cultural competencies is through a holistic joint and interagency approach. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)
|
Download HiRes
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
International Affairs Specialist program implements language improvement initiatives
Posted 2/4/2011
Email story
Print story
by Master Sgt. Amaani Lyle
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
2/4/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The International Affairs Specialist program has revamped its training, testing and maintenance policies to better prepare regional affairs strategists to meet mission demands, officials said here Feb. 4.
RAS officers serve as attachés and security cooperation officers. They also serve in other positions that require sustained personal interaction with partner nations and require professional foreign language speaking proficiency to be effective, said Lt. Col. Keli Bedics, International Affairs Specialist program chief.
"The IAS program office worked closely with our sister services, the Defense Language Office and the Defense Language Institute to tailor DLI's crypto-linguist-focused curriculum to meet RAS and foreign area officer mission demands," Colonel Bedics said.
Beginning in July, DLI officials will offer a new, specialized FAO curriculum in Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and French. These courses will focus on the speaking and active listening skills used by RAS officers and FAOs in the field. The DLI officials also increased the minimum speaking score required for graduation.
For fiscal 2011, the IAS program will require all RAS officers to take an oral proficiency interview, or OPI, to quantify actual active listening comprehension and speaking skills, Colonel Bedics said.
"Working with DLI, we've been able to develop an internet-based video OPI to provide 'anywhere, anytime' testing capability to our RAS officers in the field," she added.
According to Colonel Bedics, a new Air Force policy mandating at least 40 hours of annual sustainment training will help RAS officers maintain perishable language skills.
"A burgeoning partnership with the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency is providing RAS officers with innovative language training programs and equipment," she said.
The colonel also noted that RAS officers can participate in in-residence courses and seminars, one-on-one tutoring, internet-based courseware, downloadable language sustainment software and "e-mentor" language training.
"We're confident these new training opportunities and policies will provide RAS officers with the means to polish their verbal communication skills and will subsequently improve the Air Force's ability to build and sustain friendships and partnerships," Colonel Bedics said.
The changes align with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz's recent championing of new benchmarks within the joint FAO and language communities.
During a recent speech at the Department of Defense Language and Culture Summit on Jan. 26 in Alexandria, Va., General Schwartz said the U.S. armed forces can best achieve the necessary level of language skills and cultural competency through a holistic joint and interagency approach.
"Cultural understanding is extremely important to our ability to affect positive outcomes," General Schwartz said. "As we pursue our national interests in an interconnected, globalized world, we must be cognizant not only of socio-economic and political institutions; we must genuinely and increasingly appreciate linguistic, regional, and cultural constructs."
|
|
|
|
| FAOweb, Monterey CA |
| |
|
| Ceir Coral, WPAFB |
| |
|
| Maj Gibeling, Ft. Belvoir |
| |
|
| Marian Thier, Boulder CO |
| |
|
| Capt Jun, LA AFB |
| |
|
| Add a comment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
