Recruiting for Foreign Language Skills Strategies for the Air Force
Abstract
How well the U.S. forces analyze and interact with the local people they deal with during the Global War on Terror will be a decisive factor in whether the United States succeeds or fails in counterinsurgency operations. The expeditionary Air Force (AF) mission demands Airmen with international insight, foreign language proficiency, and cultural knowledge to understand the specific regional context in which air and space power may be applied. Lack of necessary linguistic skills could lead to grave consequences. Some impacts include the inability of service members to communicate with coalition partners or local populations, failed diplomatic efforts, delays or inability to translate large volumes of documents which may provide vital intelligence, and an inability to surge during a humanitarian crisis. Language shortfalls are especially damaging to timely and accurate intelligence collection and analysis, where the proper linguistic skills could be more important than firepower. The shortage of officers with foreign language skills has long been a problem in the U.S. military and other agencies, but since the war in Iraq began, the President and Congress have directed the Defense Department (DoD), State Department, Central Intelligence Agency, and other agencies to increase the numbers of foreign language speakers in their workforce. Many efforts are underway, but it will take a comprehensive approach to address short- and long-term needs. A brief examination of the historical context will help explain the current problem and what approaches might be taken by the DoD. Organizations faced with language skill shortfalls typically use one or a combination of three approaches to fill the need: recruitment, training, and technology. While this paper will provide some information on training efforts, the primary focus is on recruitment efforts and recommendations for the Air Force, DoD, and other federal agencies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 15, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA489249
Entities
People
- Maureen B. Higgins
Organizations
- Air War College