Military Training: DOD Needs a Strategic Plan and Better Inventory and Requirements Data to Guide Development of Language Skills and Regional Proficiency
Abstract
Violent extremist movements and ongoing military operations have prompted the Department of Defense (DoD) to place greater emphasis on improving language and regional proficiency, which includes cultural awareness. GAO was asked to assess the extent to which DoD has done the following: (1) developed a strategic plan to guide its language and regional proficiency transformation efforts, and (2) obtained the information it needs to identify potential language and regional proficiency gaps and assess risk. To conduct this assessment, GAO analyzed DoD's Defense Language Transformation Roadmap, reviewed the military services' strategies for transforming language and regional proficiency capabilities, and assessed the range of efforts intended to help identify potential gaps. GAO recommends that DoD do the following: (1) develop a comprehensive strategic plan for its language and regional proficiency transformation, (2) establish a mechanism to assess the regional proficiency skills of its military and civilian personnel, and (3) develop a methodology to identify its language and regional proficiency requirements. DoD concurred with GAO's recommendations and stated it is taking related actions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA500731
Entities
People
- Catherine H. Brown
- Chad Reed
- Gabrielle A. Carrington
- Gregory Marchand
- Jay Smale
- Joanne Landesman
- John Bumgarner
- Kathryn Smith
- Mackenzie Cooper
- Patricia Lentini
- Sharon Pickup
- Traye Smith
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office