Developing a Unit Language Capability for War

摘要

The Language Enabled Soldier (LES) program is a locally designed and implemented 10-month Arabic language and culture program for selected Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) Soldiers at Fort Lewis, Washington. The student body ranges in grade from private first class to lieutenant. The concept began as a somewhat traditional Arabic language program. Based on feedback from deployed 4/2 ID (SBCT) LESs, however, it has evolved into more theater-specific training. . The LES is considered part of the intelligence warfighting function rather than merely a Soldier devoted to cultural awareness/ understanding because 5/2 ID (SBCT) has adopted the Army's counterguerrilla doctrine in Field Manual 90-8, Counterguerrilla Operations. LESs are expected to look for and investigate indicators of enemy activity (based on an understanding of language, culture, and profiling), assist in the initial evaluation of information at or near the point of capture, question civilians (detainees remain the realm of military intelligence personnel), and deliver command messages to Arab media, among other things.