R 201552Z JUL 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 413/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP//                            
SUBJ/CLARIFICATION ON ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ORAL PROFICIENCY INTERVIEW (OPI)//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/I/IOP/YMD:20060606//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/DODI/YMD:20070620//
NARR/REF A IS DODI 7280.03 FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS (FLPB).  REF B IS MCO 7220.52E FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY PAY (FLPP).//
POC/Q. R. PEARSON/CAPT/UNIT:MPP-50/-/TEL:(703) 784-9367/ TEL:DSN 278-9367//
POC/O. E. PEARCE/SGT/UNIT:MPP-50/-/TEL:(703) 784-9368/ TEL:DSN 278-9368//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE OPI IS A PHONE CONVERSATION WITH A CERTIFIED OPI INSTRUCTOR WHICH DETERMINES A SERVICE MEMBER'S SPEAKING AND LISTENING PROFICIENCY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. RECENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF MARINES REQUESTING OPI'S FOR A SPECIFIC LANGUAGE WHEN THERE IS ALREADY AN EXISTING DEFENSE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TEST (DLPT) FOR THAT LANGUAGE. THIS HAS CAUSED A BACKLOG IN THE SCHEDULING OF OPI'S WITH THE DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE (DLI). THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ADDRESSED IN THIS MARADMIN WILL HELP MARINES BE BETTER INFORMED PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN OPI REQUEST AND ALLEVIATE THE SCHEDULING ISSUE WITH DLI. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT COST TO THE MARINE CORPS FOR EACH OPI ADMINISTERED. ESTABLISHING OPI ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE MARINE CORPS' COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADMINISTERING OPI'S.
2. THE OPI SHALL ONLY BE APPROVED FOR MARINES WHO MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
    A.  ACHIEVE A MINIMUM INTERAGENCY LANGUAGE ROUNDTABLE (ILR) SKILL LEVEL OF 2 IN BOTH LISTENING AND READING ON A DLPT.
    B.  ACHIEVE A MINIMUM ILR SKILL LEVEL OF 2 ON A ONE MODALITY DLPT.
    C.  IS A STUDENT ASSIGNED TO MARINE CORPS FORCES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (MARSOC).
    D.  IS DEPLOYED TO OR STATIONED IN AN AREA WHERE THERE IS NO ACCESS TO A TESTING FACILITY TO ADMINISTER A DLPT.
    E.  IS UNABLE TO TAKE A DLPT BECAUSE NO DLPT EXISTS FOR THAT LANGUAGE.
3. PER REF A, MARINES WHO TAKE AN OPI "MUST TEST ANNUALLY IN EACH LANGUAGE FOR WHICH THEY ARE RECEIVING FLPP IN ORDER TO CONTINUE RECEIVING FLPP."
4. PER REF B, ALL OPI REQUESTS MUST BE FORWARDED VIA THE NORMAL CHAIN OF COMMAND TO CMC INTELLIGENCE MANPOWER AND TRAINING (IOP) BRANCH FOR APPROVAL.
5. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//