R 171724Z MAR 16
MARADMIN
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC I//
SUBJ/2015 MARINE CORPS COMMAND LANGUAGE PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AND LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS//
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 3d Radio Battalion (RadBn) as this year's Marine Corps Command Language Program of the Year, and SSgt Matthew E. Paisie (PMOS 2671), Company D, Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion (MCSB), as this year’s Marine Corps Language Professional of the Year.  A panel of senior language professionals selected 3d RadBn and SSgt Paisie from a group of highly competitive nominees.
2. 3d RadBn’s Command Language Program effectively prepared over 100 Marine cryptologic linguists to support operational requirements levied by III Marine Expeditionary Force and the Marine Corps joint and coalition partners within the U.S. Pacific Command area of operations.  As a result of a 500 percent growth in significant training events, the revitalized program achieved a 20% increase in target language proficiency among the command’s linguists, from 68% to 88%.  Leveraging Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community, and academic resources, 3d RadBn’s professional development model employed a wide range of proactive initiatives to improve foreign language capabilities including the establishment of job qualification standards and a performance evaluation system for its linguists; the implementation of Language Mentor Groups, which partner more skilled linguists with those who may not be as experienced or proficient; and the creation of a pilot program with the University of Hawaii, Manoa desiged to assist cryptologic linguists in earning their bachelor’s degrees. 
3. While assigned to Company D, MCSB, SSgt Paisie contributed exceptional linguistic support to the National Security Agency, receiving over 100 customer rating reports from the White House, U.S. European Command, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Cyber Command, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Departments of State and Homeland Security.  As a result of the quality and impact of his contributions to national security, SSgt Paisie was the first Marine to receive the Colonel Alva B. Lasswee (USMC Retired) Award, an award for excellence among mid-career cryptologic linguistics presented by the Crypto-Linguist Association, an NSA-based professional organization that supports the continuing development and advancement of cryptologic language analysts.  Also serving as a platoon sergeant and martial arts instructor, SSgt Paisie’s achievements exemplify the “Total Marine” concept and are a testament to his abilities as a leader and an intelligence professional.
4. 3d RadBn and SSgt Paisie will compete for the 2015 DoD Command Language Program of the Year and Language Professional of the Year, respectively.
5. Further, 3d RadBn and SSgt Paisie will be recognized at this year’s DoD Command Language Program Managers’ Conference in Monterey, CA and the Marine Corps Association and Foundation Intelligence Awards Dinner in Arlington, VA, both of which will be held during September 2016.
6. Release Authorized by BGen M.S. Groen, Director of Intelligence, U.S. Marine Corps.//