CADRE Quick-Look: Foreign Language Posture in the US Air Force

Abstract

The Air Force has no central language program or an overarching language plan. These issues are not new nor have they been ignored. In the past two decades numerous articles, studies, and Process Action Teams have reported the same problems and all have recommended numerous solutions, to no avail. Why are these problems so thoroughly articulated but not resolved? One explanation is that the Air Force has successfully met each immediate language challenge, but just barely. Over the years, "just in time" language training, contract linguists, and most recently, two-year mobilization of reservists all helped to meet active force shortfalls with varying degrees of success. In short, the Air Force has muddled through its language crises. It's time to publish and promulgate clear guidance and a single vision for the Air Force language program from the Secretary of the Air Force. To do this, the Air Force must be a full partner in the Department of Defense (DoD) language transition initiative to make sure all Air Force language needs are fully articulated. This issue of CADRE Quick-Look presents some solutions for the lack of foreign-language proficiency in the Air Force.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA477413

Entities

People

  • John L. Conway Iii

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Personnel
  • Cold War
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Education
  • Electronic Mail
  • Emerging Technology
  • Foreign Languages
  • Language
  • Military Organizations
  • Personnel Management
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Education

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Computational Linguistics
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.