Need to Improve Foreign Language Training Programs and Assignments for Department of Defense Personnel
Abstract
The Department of Defense, primarily because of its intelligence responsibilities, requires more personnel with foreign language capabilities than any other Government activity. The Services estimated that 10,200 military positions require foreign language proficiency and that 42,000 military personnel are at least partially proficient in foreign languages. The Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey, California, is responsible for managing the Defense Department's foreign language training programs. Our Jan. 1973 report to Congress addressed language requirements, training programs, and language-related staffing for several Federal departments and agencies and recommended improvements. At that time, we found that language essential positions at certain overseas locations were not adequately staffed, criteria for identifying foreign language requirements were not adequate, language proficiency tests needed to be improved, and the Defense Language Institute lacked adequate technical control over Command Language Programs. Our follow-up review showed that these conditions continue to exist.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 24, 1976
- Accession Number
- AD1174382
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office