CSAF cites importance of joint approach to enhancing language skills

News > CSAF cites importance of joint approach to enhancing language skills

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• Strengthening Air Force Language Skills and Cultural Competencies

CSAF cites importance of joint approach to enhancing language skills

Posted 1/26/2011

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1/26/2011 - 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)

Comments

2/20/2011 8:12:17 AM ET
Agree with SoCal Senior's comment 100 percent. The Army pays for all ranks, all specialties, regardless of position, to use Rosetta Stone, currently the best system for self study around. If you have ever used it then you know that this is not a paid advertisement. Meanwhile the AF only sees fit to pay for officers who want to grow up to be RASs or who want to boondoggle in foreign lands with the immersion programs. This is not an E-vs-O debate, just reality. Our forces deserve better if they are to be expected to build language skills on their own.

Nobody, Afg

1/31/2011 4:36:17 AM ET
Jerry in Oklahoma - We ought to be promoting based on performance and leadership potential. The ability to speak a foreign language has nothing to do with your ability to lead and care for Airmen.

Rob, Somewhere in Retirement

1/28/2011 10:12:56 PM ET
I agree the AF is NOT putting their money where their mouth is on this. Surprised? They denied me critically-needed language training prior to an assignment as an exchange officer in a non-English speaking country due to lack of funds. After I leave my exchange country I could qualify for training to maintain proficiency but not before the tour in order to establish proficiency... Sounds like the people who control the money didn't get the Chief's memo, huh!

Dissed Linguist, Virginia

1/28/2011 4:16:27 PM ET
SoCal Senior - I don't know if this applies at all bases but our library has Rosetta Stone access from home computers for free. So the capability to learn does exist. I just received 30 hours of Pashtu training for an upcoming deployment and it was the best part of pre-deployment training. Understanding the language and the culture will lead to great strides in our endeavors.

Barlow, New Jersey

1/28/2011 3:50:50 PM ET
Until foreign language proficiency is a factor for promotion not much will change. The LEAP program is a step in the right direction as is the addition of language skills to the officer selection brief. Also good to see HAFA1 has been going around to figure out what our language/cultural requirements actually are. Nonetheless it's amazing this issue has persisted for decades and now we're spending a lot of money on contract linguists/translators.

PBAR, Camp Smith HI

1/28/2011 12:26:50 PM ET
A cheap and easy way to have more enlisted Airmen with necessary language skills is to give promotion points for critical need language skills. Airmen who are looking for promotion will be motivated to obtain the skills.

Jerry, Oklahoma

1/28/2011 10:25:28 AM ET
If language skills are so important, why won't the AF pay for off-duty language training through proven programs such as Rosetta Stone? It's good enough for the Army but not the AF. Put your money where your mouth is.

SoCal Senior, SoCal

1/27/2011 5:03:21 PM ET
Program like the Language Enabled Airmen Program is definitely a step in the right direction in bolstering our LRC capabilities. Identifying RAS candidates early on in their career and streamlining the dual career track process would also be helpful.

Kevin, California

1/27/2011 3:37:08 PM ET
In training as an airman, I was told that the U.S. military did not have enough people in language school nor enough people skilled in using the languages needed to carry out our military mission. I attended the school in Monterey, California, where airmen and soldiers studied 33 languages at that time. We were always being told the military services didn't have enough language proficiency.That was in 1957.

Robert F. Dorr, Oakton Virginia

1/26/2011 9:25:29 PM ET
I think a good step in enhancing the AF's language skills would be to return the ability to identify by language family the languages that are seeking personnel for cross-training.

Thomas, Osan

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