R 182120Z MAR 15
MARADMIN 139/15
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC I//
SUBJ/2014 MARINE CORPS COMMAND LANGUAGE PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AND LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARDS//
POC/T.P. JORDAN/MSGT/UNIT CMC WASHINGTON DC I/-/TEL: DSN 224-6561/EMAIL: THOMAS.P.JORDAN(AT)USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE 2D RADIO BATTALION (RADBN) AS THIS YEAR'S MARINE CORPS COMMAND LANGUAGE PROGRAM OF THE YEAR, AND SGT NIELSEN J. RIVERA (PMOS 2676), 1ST RADBN, AS THIS YEAR’S MARINE CORPS LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR. A PANEL OF SENIOR LANGUAGE PROFESSIONALS SELECTED 2D RADBN AND SGT RIVERA FROM A LIST OF HIGHLY COMPETITIVE NOMINEES. NOMINATIONS WERE OPEN TO ANY COMMAND WISHING TO RECOGNIZE AN OUTSTANDING COMMAND LANGUAGE PROGRAM OR LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL, ACTIVE DUTY OR RESERVE.
2. 2D RADBN’S LANGUAGE PROGRAM PROVIDED SUPPORT TO OVER 150 LINGUISTS ENGAGED IN GLOBAL MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM AND OPERATIONS CONDUCTED BY THE 22ND, 24TH, AND 26TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNITS. THE COMMAND’S LANGUAGE TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUDED INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED PLANS FOR MARINES AND COLLABORATIVE TRAINING EVENTS WITH VARIOUS OUTSIDE AGENCIES SUCH AS COASTAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION, AND THE PARTNER LANGUAGE TRAINING CENTER, EUROPE. THE COMMAND’S INVOLVEMENT AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO TRAINING ENSURED LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AT THE UNIT AVERAGED 86% IN 2014.
3. SGT RIVERA’S LANGUAGE SKILLS SUPPORTED OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, WHERE HE PARTICIPATED IN 25 COMBAT OPERATIONS, PROVIDING HUNDREDS OF THREAT INDICATIONS AND WARNINGS REPORTS. SGT RIVERA ALSO SERVED AS AN INTERPRETER FOR SUPPORTED UNITS AND TRANSLATED WRITTEN MATERIALS. FURTHER, HE DEVELOPED NEW PROCEDURES FOR EMPLOYING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES IN SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS, RESULTING IN UNIQUE COLLECTION OPPORTUNITIES. IN ADDITION TO HIS PRIMARY LANGUAGE, PASHTO, SGT RIVERA MAINTAINS PROFICIENCY IN SPANISH AND BOTH EUROPEAN AND BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE.
4. 2D RADIO BATTALION AND SGT RIVERA ARE THE MARINE CORPS NOMINEES FOR THE 2014 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COMMAND LANGUAGE PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AND LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR, RESPECTIVELY.
5. SERVICE AND DOD COMMAND LANGUAGE PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AND LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR SELECTEES WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE COMMAND LANGUAGE PROGRAM MANAGERS CONFERENCE DURING MAY 2015, IN MONTEREY, CA. THEY WILL ALSO BE RECOGNIZED AT THE MARINE CORPS ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION INTELLIGENCE AWARDS DINNER DURING SEPTEMBER 2015, IN ARLINGTON, VA.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN M.S. GROEN, DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE, U.S. MARINE CORPS.//