thedrifter
09-29-04, 06:17 AM
Military course helps soldiers overcome language barriers
Submitted by: Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa
Story Identification #: 20049266377
Story by Cpl. Jeff M. Nagan
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti (Sept. 23, 2004) -- The Corporal’s Course aboard Camp Lemonier has integrated Djiboutian soldiers into its current training cycle, which started Monday, marking another step in strengthening relations between U.S. forces and the Djiboutian military.
Three Djiboutian servicemembers joined more than 20 Americans in the 17-training-day-long course, where they will learn a variety of materials, which include fundamentals of Marine Corps drill, leadership and martial arts training.
“I think it will be great,” said Staff Sgt. Robert M. Garcia, operations chief, training, operations and troop movement, Marine Central Command – Djibouti. “The students are motivated. We want it to be a profitable experience, and with the level of motivation, it should be.”
This is something new for the Djiboutian soldiers, said Capt. Youssouff Abdallah Ali, Djibouti liaison officer. As noncommissioned officers, they seldom have an opportunity to interact with U.S. forces. This offers them a chance to communicate with American servicemembers and build a greater cohesion between the forces.
“This brings the forces together,” Ali said. “We already do a lot with the French forces, but this is the beginning for us and the American forces.”
The integration of Djiboutian soldiers into the course started out as just a hypothetical theory, said Garcia. But now, both the U.S. and Djiboutian forces have worked together to make it a reality.
One of the largest difficulties the Djiboutian soldiers will face is overcoming the language barrier, Garcia said. The three students have varying degrees of command over the English language. To help facilitate their need, the command formed a translation team interpret and translate all the class materials.
Although there is a language barrier, the course gives the Djiboutian students a chance to gain a greater grasp of English, Ali said. Only by learning English will the soldiers erase the language barrier and strengthen the relations between English speaking neighbors in the Horn of Africa.
The Djiboutian soldiers are split into different sections within the class to ensure they can interact with the American servicemembers and not feel alienated, Garcia said. The Djiboutian students have a desire to learn the material and the instructors are eager to teach it.
“The instructors are doing a great job,” Garcia said. “They’re the ones who put in the long hours to make sure the class is a success. If this works out well, it is because of them.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200492664330/$file/NCO(1)Vert_low.jpg
Sgt. Daniel Rodriguez, an NCO course instructor, assists Cpl. Ali Said Moham-ed, a Djiboutian soldier attending the NCO course, in Marine Corps sword manual. Photo by: Cpl. Jeff M. Nagan
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/4952669D573DFF9785256F1B003A5491?opendocument
Ellie
Submitted by: Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa
Story Identification #: 20049266377
Story by Cpl. Jeff M. Nagan
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti (Sept. 23, 2004) -- The Corporal’s Course aboard Camp Lemonier has integrated Djiboutian soldiers into its current training cycle, which started Monday, marking another step in strengthening relations between U.S. forces and the Djiboutian military.
Three Djiboutian servicemembers joined more than 20 Americans in the 17-training-day-long course, where they will learn a variety of materials, which include fundamentals of Marine Corps drill, leadership and martial arts training.
“I think it will be great,” said Staff Sgt. Robert M. Garcia, operations chief, training, operations and troop movement, Marine Central Command – Djibouti. “The students are motivated. We want it to be a profitable experience, and with the level of motivation, it should be.”
This is something new for the Djiboutian soldiers, said Capt. Youssouff Abdallah Ali, Djibouti liaison officer. As noncommissioned officers, they seldom have an opportunity to interact with U.S. forces. This offers them a chance to communicate with American servicemembers and build a greater cohesion between the forces.
“This brings the forces together,” Ali said. “We already do a lot with the French forces, but this is the beginning for us and the American forces.”
The integration of Djiboutian soldiers into the course started out as just a hypothetical theory, said Garcia. But now, both the U.S. and Djiboutian forces have worked together to make it a reality.
One of the largest difficulties the Djiboutian soldiers will face is overcoming the language barrier, Garcia said. The three students have varying degrees of command over the English language. To help facilitate their need, the command formed a translation team interpret and translate all the class materials.
Although there is a language barrier, the course gives the Djiboutian students a chance to gain a greater grasp of English, Ali said. Only by learning English will the soldiers erase the language barrier and strengthen the relations between English speaking neighbors in the Horn of Africa.
The Djiboutian soldiers are split into different sections within the class to ensure they can interact with the American servicemembers and not feel alienated, Garcia said. The Djiboutian students have a desire to learn the material and the instructors are eager to teach it.
“The instructors are doing a great job,” Garcia said. “They’re the ones who put in the long hours to make sure the class is a success. If this works out well, it is because of them.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200492664330/$file/NCO(1)Vert_low.jpg
Sgt. Daniel Rodriguez, an NCO course instructor, assists Cpl. Ali Said Moham-ed, a Djiboutian soldier attending the NCO course, in Marine Corps sword manual. Photo by: Cpl. Jeff M. Nagan
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/4952669D573DFF9785256F1B003A5491?opendocument
Ellie