Military Training: Continued Actions Needed to Guide DoD's Efforts to Improve Language Skills and Regional Proficiency


Book Description

Today, and in the foreseeable future, military operations require U.S. personnel to work alongside multinational partners and among local populations. The DoD has placed a greater emphasis on transforming language and regional proficiency capabilities, which includes cultural awareness. This testimony summarizes recommendations on DoD's efforts to develop language skills and regional proficiency and the steps DoD has taken to implement these prior recommendations. Specifically, the testimony addresses the extent to which DoD has: (1) developed a strategic plan to guide its language and regional proficiency transformation efforts; and (2) obtained the information it needs to identify capability gaps and assess risk.




Military Training


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Military Training: Continued Actions Needed to Guide DOD's Efforts to Improve Language Skills and Regional Proficiency




Beyond the Defense Language Transformation Roadmap


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Closing the Language Gap


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Military Training


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Violent extremist movements and ongoing military operations have prompted the DoD to place greater emphasis on improving language and regional proficiency, which includes cultural awareness. This report assesses the extent to which DoD has: (1) developed a strategic plan to guide its language and regional proficiency transformation efforts; and (2) obtained the info. it needs to identify potential language and regional proficiency gaps and assess risk. To conduct this assessment, the auditor analyzed DoD's Defense Language Transformation Roadmap, reviewed the military services' strategies for transforming language and regional proficiency capabilities, and assessed the range of efforts intended to help identify potential gaps. Illus.




Report of Committee Activities


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Interagency Collaboration


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While national security activities, which range from planning for an influenza pandemic to Iraq reconstruction, require collaboration among multiple agencies, the mechanisms used for such activities may not provide the means for interagency collaboration needed to meet modern national security challenges. This report addresses actions needed to enhance interagency collaboration for national security activities: (1) the development and implementation of overarching, integrated strategies; (2) the creation of collaborative organizations; (3) the development of a well-trained workforce; and (4) the sharing and integration of national security information across agencies. Charts and tables.




Foreign Language Capabilities


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This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. Foreign language skills are an increasingly key element to the success of diplomatic efforts; military, counter-terrorism, law enforcement and intelligence missions; and to ensure access to federal programs and services to Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations within the U.S. This testimony addresses the extent to which: (1) DHS has assessed its foreign language needs and existing capabilities, identified any potential shortfalls, and developed programs and activities to address potential shortfalls; (2) FEMA has conducted a needs assessment to help ensure access to its services for LEP persons; and (3) DoD and State have developed comprehensive approaches to address their foreign language capability challenges.




National Security: Key Challenges and Solutions to Strengthen Interagency Collaboration


Book Description

Recent terrorist events such as the attempted bomb attacks in New York's Times Square and aboard an airliner on Christmas Day 2009 are reminders that national security challenges have expanded beyond the traditional threats of the Cold War Era. Today's threats are diffuse and ambiguous, making it difficult for any single fed. agency to address them alone. Effective collaboration among multiple agencies and across fed., state, and local governments is critical. This testimony highlights opportunities to strengthen interagency collaboration by focusing on four key areas: (1) developing overarching strategies; (2) creating collaborative org.; (3) developing a well-trained workforce; and (4) improving info. sharing. Figures.