R 101400Z DEC 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(uc)
TO AL ALMAR(uc)
BT
UNCLASSIFIED
ALMAR 072/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CMC//
SUBJ/IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAPABILITIES//
POC/LTCOL ROVIRA J. D./DEPUTY G-3/TECOM/-/TEL: DSN 278-9581
/TEL: COMM (703)784-9581/EMAIL:ROVIRAJD@TECOM.USMC.MIL//
RMKS/1. BACKGROUND. RECENT OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE HAS HIGHLIGHTED
THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE AS A WARFIGHTING ENABLER
AS OUR FORCES HAVE CONDUCTED OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, THE HORN
OF AFRICA, AND COLOMBIA.  MARINE COMMANDERS HAVE IDENTIFIED THE NEED
FOR A CAPABLE CADRE OF LINGUISTS/INTERPRETERS TO FACILITATE
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS, CIVIL AFFAIRS PROGRAMS,
AND THE INTERACTION OF MARINES WITH COALITION FORCES AND LOCAL
POPULATIONS.  WHILE OUR CURRENT FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM PROVIDES A
CADRE OF PROFESSIONAL LINGUISTS FOR INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS, OUR ABILITY
TO MEET OTHER OPERATIONAL TASKS IS INADEQUATE.  FUTURE WARFIGHTING TASKS
WILL REQUIRE LANGUAGE CAPABILITIES IN SUFFICIENT DIVERSITY AND NUMBERS
TO ENSURE SUCCESS ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
2.  INTENT.  WE MUST DO MORE TO DEVELOP OUR FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAPABILITY.  
DURING APRIL S EXECUTIVE OFFSITE, I DIRECTED CG MCCDC TO CONDUCT A
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF OUR MARINE CORPS FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM.  
THE REVIEW WILL RECOMMEND A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE OUR
ABILITY TO SCREEN FOR, IDENTIFY, TEST, SUSTAIN, ENHANCE, TRACK, AND
RETAIN MARINES WITH FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAPABILITIES.  I AM ASKING ALL
COMMANDERS TO PLACE INCREASING EMPHASIS ON FOREIGN LANGUAGE
CAPABILITIES AND ASSIST ME IN IMPROVING FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAPABILITY
ACROSS THE CORPS.
3.  ACTION.  FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAPABILITY WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY AN
ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THE MARINE CORPS  BATTLEFIELD SUCCESSES.  IN SUPPORT
OF THIS PROGRAM REVIEW, I WILL ASK YOU TO DO TWO THINGS.  ALTHOUGH
THESE TWO ACTIONS WILL REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT EFFORT ON THE PART OF
INDIVIDUAL UNIT COMMANDERS, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THE MARINE CORPS WILL
BENEFIT TREMENDOUSLY FROM THE RESULTS IN FUTURE CONTINGENCIES AND
OPERATIONS.  CONCURRENT WITH THE RELEASE OF THIS ALMAR, CG MCCDC WILL
ISSUE MESSAGES PROVIDING DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR CARRYING OUT
THESE ACTIONS:
A.  FIRST, I WANT THE MARFORS TO REVIEW INDIVIDUAL LANGUAGE
REQUIREMENTS TO SUPPORT THEIR CONTINGENCY PLANS, THEATER SECURITY
AND COOPERATION PLANS, AND OTHER POTENTIAL OPERATIONAL COMMITMENTS.  
I WILL DIRECT THE MARFORS TO COMPILE THESE REQUIREMENTS AND FORWARD
THEM TO HQMC AND CG, MCCDC TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AN
ENHANCED FOREIGN LANGAUGE PROGRAM.
B.  SECOND, I WILL DIRECT A COMPREHENSIVE SCREENING OF ALL MARINES
FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAPABILITY.
4.  ONCE WE HAVE A SOLID PICTURE OF INVENTORY AND REQUIREMENTS,
CG, MCCDC WILL CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF HOW BEST TO MEET
THOSE REQUIREMENTS.  I ANTICIPATE THE SOLUTION WILL ENCOMPASS A
COMBINATION OF:  INCREASING OUR INVENTORY OF LANGUAGE CAPABLE MARINES,
PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR MAINTAINING/ENHANCING LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY,
IMPROVING ENHANCEMENT/SUSTAINMENT TRAINING, RETAINING LANGUAGE CAPABLE
MARINES, AND IMPROVED WAYS TO UTILIZE LANGUAGE CAPABLE MARINES IN
THE USMCR.  I EXPECT COMMANDERS AT ALL LEVELS TO PROVIDE ENTHUSIASTIC
SUPPORT TO BOTH THE REVIEW AND THE FOLLOW-ON IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, M. W. HAGEE, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//