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**The Reaper** · 12-19-2014, 19:57

A major problem is that language requirements change.

Prior to 9/11, I do not think we even taught Pashto or Dari. Probably not a lot of Chinese, either.

Lots of Russian and Eastern European language training though. The first teams into Northern Afghanistan did not speak the language and finally had to speak Russian (which they were not trained for, but a couple of guys had been in Russian slots before) with the Alliance as that was the only language they had in common.

Do we change soldier's languages to meet the emerging requirements, or keep older, less necessary languages on the books?

How many guys can we get to learn a new language to a 2/2 standard every five years? Some will never learn an additional language beyond their native tongue to that standard, no matter what the investment.

And who can say what the needs will be in ten years?

Makes me glad to have been a 7th Group guy who spoke Spanish.

TR

12-19-2014, 19:57	#4
The Reaper Quiet Professional Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Free Pineland Posts: 24,816	A major problem is that language requirements change. Prior to 9/11, I do not think we even taught Pashto or Dari. Probably not a lot of Chinese, either. Lots of Russian and Eastern European language training though. The first teams into Northern Afghanistan did not speak the language and finally had to speak Russian (which they were not trained for, but a couple of guys had been in Russian slots before) with the Alliance as that was the only language they had in common. Do we change soldier's languages to meet the emerging requirements, or keep older, less necessary languages on the books? How many guys can we get to learn a new language to a 2/2 standard every five years? Some will never learn an additional language beyond their native tongue to that standard, no matter what the investment. And who can say what the needs will be in ten years? Makes me glad to have been a 7th Group guy who spoke Spanish. TR __________________ "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910 De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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