Building Language Skills and Cultural Competencies in the Military: DOD's Challenge in Today's Educational Environment

摘要

There is no doubt that foreign language skills and cultural expertise are critical capabilities needed by today's military to face the challenges of our present security environment. But, only a small part of today's military is proficient in a foreign language and until recently there has been no comprehensive, systematic approach to develop cultural expertise. This serious national security challenge led the Subcommittee to examine what the Department of Defense is doing to address the need for these capabilities. The military's lack of language skills and cultural expertise is a symptom of the larger problem facing the nation as a whole. As we heard in our hearings, our educational system does not place a priority on, and lacks the infrastructure to support, the widespread teaching of foreign languages, not to mention the less commonly taught languages needed by today's force. Very few states even require language study at all. This significantly limits the pool from which the Department of Defense can recruit linguistically-able personnel and greatly increases the Department's challenge. Consequently, the Department finds itself in the unlikely position of advancing a national educational agenda that encourages states to recognize the importance of language skills and cultural awareness, not only to meet national security needs, but for the United States to remain competitive in the global marketplace, and for states to provide basic services to their citizens. Today's military establishment, its active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel, must be trained and ready to engage the world with an appreciation of diverse cultures and to communicate directly with local populations. These skills save lives. They can save lives when the military is performing traditional combat missions, just as they are recognized as critical for performing irregular warfare missions.