thedrifter
06-27-06, 02:58 PM
July 03, 2006
Corps advances language pay plan
By Gordon Lubold
Times staff writer
The Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force have all finalized details on the new Foreign Language Proficiency Pay program, which was due to be implemented a month ago.
That leaves just the Army still scrambling to put finishing touches on its programs and language pay tables.
The program, which now pays up to $1,000 per month for know-how in multiple languages, was to be in place June 1, according to Pentagon officials. The Navy announced its program in an administrative message in May, and the Marine Corps and Air Force announced their programs June 1. It is unclear when the Army’s program will be announced, and representatives from that service were not available to provide details on the issue at press time.
The Foreign Language Proficiency Pay program is part of a broader language initiative introduced in January by David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
Each service is expanding its existing language program by offering new pay tables for proficiency. Also included are new and more robust education programs and other options to entice service members to learn skills in “nontraditional” languages, especially those spoken in countries to which U.S. forces are now deployed, including Iraq, Afghanistan and others.
“We need a stronger capacity to understand and work with the cultures and people of other nations,” Chu said in January. “An essential part of that capacity is linguistic facility.”
The Defense Department is trying to put its money where its mouth is, announcing in May a higher $1,000-per-month cap for proficiency in at least two foreign languages, and $500 per month for proficiency in just one language. But the Pentagon is leaving it to the services to implement programs for their own people, with different education programs and pay tables for each.
Languages are being grouped into three categories: one called “immediate investment” that pays the most, an intermediate level called “strategic stronghold,” and “other,” which pays the least.
Pentagon officials will not disclose which languages are on which lists, saying the list is classified as “for official use only.” To date, they have not said why the list cannot be disclosed publicly.
Nonetheless, the program aims to encourage members to identify themselves as foreign-language speakers, study languages they don’t already know, and sustain and increase their proficiency in foreign languages over time, according to Martin.
Marine Corps officials were not immediately available to discuss details of their program.
Like the Pentagon policy, the Air Force’s policy increases single-language proficiency from $200 to $500 per month, and from $300 to $1,000 per month for multiple-language proficiency. For the most part, the Air Force will no longer give proficiency pay to airmen who can speak Spanish, Tagalog, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Korean and French. These are languages the Defense Department deemed “abundant or surplus,” according to the Air Force memo on its program.
However, the service will pay airmen if they speak those languages as part of their authorized job or another language-designated position. Airmen who now get proficiency pay for languages that will no longer rate payment under the new program will see the money shut off as of July 1, officials said.
Like the Air Force policy, the Navy’s program allows proficiency pay of up to $500 per month for a single language or $1,000 per month for any combination of more than one language, according to a Navy message released in May.
The message did not detail pay rates for each language for which sailors are eligible.
In line with Defense Department policy, the Navy will pay only for specific languages that it needs.
“The overarching goal of the program is increased force capability and capacity in foreign languages considered critical to the Navy mission,” the message said.
Ellie
Corps advances language pay plan
By Gordon Lubold
Times staff writer
The Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force have all finalized details on the new Foreign Language Proficiency Pay program, which was due to be implemented a month ago.
That leaves just the Army still scrambling to put finishing touches on its programs and language pay tables.
The program, which now pays up to $1,000 per month for know-how in multiple languages, was to be in place June 1, according to Pentagon officials. The Navy announced its program in an administrative message in May, and the Marine Corps and Air Force announced their programs June 1. It is unclear when the Army’s program will be announced, and representatives from that service were not available to provide details on the issue at press time.
The Foreign Language Proficiency Pay program is part of a broader language initiative introduced in January by David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
Each service is expanding its existing language program by offering new pay tables for proficiency. Also included are new and more robust education programs and other options to entice service members to learn skills in “nontraditional” languages, especially those spoken in countries to which U.S. forces are now deployed, including Iraq, Afghanistan and others.
“We need a stronger capacity to understand and work with the cultures and people of other nations,” Chu said in January. “An essential part of that capacity is linguistic facility.”
The Defense Department is trying to put its money where its mouth is, announcing in May a higher $1,000-per-month cap for proficiency in at least two foreign languages, and $500 per month for proficiency in just one language. But the Pentagon is leaving it to the services to implement programs for their own people, with different education programs and pay tables for each.
Languages are being grouped into three categories: one called “immediate investment” that pays the most, an intermediate level called “strategic stronghold,” and “other,” which pays the least.
Pentagon officials will not disclose which languages are on which lists, saying the list is classified as “for official use only.” To date, they have not said why the list cannot be disclosed publicly.
Nonetheless, the program aims to encourage members to identify themselves as foreign-language speakers, study languages they don’t already know, and sustain and increase their proficiency in foreign languages over time, according to Martin.
Marine Corps officials were not immediately available to discuss details of their program.
Like the Pentagon policy, the Air Force’s policy increases single-language proficiency from $200 to $500 per month, and from $300 to $1,000 per month for multiple-language proficiency. For the most part, the Air Force will no longer give proficiency pay to airmen who can speak Spanish, Tagalog, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Korean and French. These are languages the Defense Department deemed “abundant or surplus,” according to the Air Force memo on its program.
However, the service will pay airmen if they speak those languages as part of their authorized job or another language-designated position. Airmen who now get proficiency pay for languages that will no longer rate payment under the new program will see the money shut off as of July 1, officials said.
Like the Air Force policy, the Navy’s program allows proficiency pay of up to $500 per month for a single language or $1,000 per month for any combination of more than one language, according to a Navy message released in May.
The message did not detail pay rates for each language for which sailors are eligible.
In line with Defense Department policy, the Navy will pay only for specific languages that it needs.
“The overarching goal of the program is increased force capability and capacity in foreign languages considered critical to the Navy mission,” the message said.
Ellie