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Marines Clever Language Bonus

4 August 2006: The U.S. Marine Corps has announced its plan for allocating extra pay to Marines who speak foreign languages. Before, the most a Marine could get for knowing a much needed foreign language, was $700 a month. That now goes up to $1,000. Typically, Marines who are very good with Arabic, qualify for this bonus. The languages most in demand are Arabic, Farsi (Iranian) and Pushtu (spoken by many Afghans and Pakistanis). One unique aspect of the Marine program is that you can qualify for a $25 a month bonus if you are very good at the several dozen Arabic words and phrases most used in combat. All Marines headed for Iraq are supposed to know these phrases. Now, those who know them best, will get the $25 a month bonus. Very clever use of bonus money. So far, about a thousand Marines have qualified for one language bonus or another, but many more are expected to qualify under the new plan.

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FIELD 27, LINGUIST

The linguist OccFld contains skill designator MOS's broken down to identify specific foreign language skills. Qualifications require that Marines obtain and maintain a minimum Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) skill proficiency level of 2 in at least two out of the three tested areas (listening, reading, and speaking). The DLPT is the current Department of Defense standard to determine foreign language proficiency and maintain quality control . Duties may involve direct supervision and participation in language translation/interpretation activities in support of the full range of military operational and intelligence matters encountered during contingencies, operations, and exercises . Formal schooling is provided to those Marines entering this OccFld as a part of the comprehensive training program for designated Moss within the 02XX (Intelligence), and 267X (Signals Intelligence), OccFlds .

However, required foreign language skills may be obtained through any combination of formal or informal training.
Requirements/Prerequisites

(1) Successfully complete the required course of instruction at the Defense Language Institute . (Note : Individuals may also qualify for this skill designator MOS by demonstrating proficiency in the appropriate language by achieving a minimum level 2 proficiency in both the listening and either the reading or speaking portions of the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT).

(2) Maintain a current qualifying Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) score of Reading Level 2/Listening Level 2.

Duties
(1) Conducts bidirectional consecutive interpretation of target language to English and English to target language using phraseology selected to preserve the original intent, meaning, and emphasis.

(2) Phrases ideas to avoid language that is stilted, unnatural, and difficult to understand.

(3) Displays an impartial attitude toward each speaker and to facts and opinions expressed.

(4) Interprets into either English or foreign language statements made by participants in conferences, working parties, and all similar activities.

(5) Interviews friendly non-English speaking civilians such as police, clergymen, and other citizens to obtain information of military value.

(6) Writes reports, including opinion as to the credibility of the person interviewed, for use by unit commander and for dissemination to lower, adjacent, and higher headquarters.

(7) Translates into either English or the foreign language, written material of both a technical and non-technical nature.

(8) Establishes a file of language reference materials, English and foreign language dictionaries, and glossaries of military terms.

Skill Designator MOS's

• 2711 -- Afghan Pushtu
  
• 2712 -- Arabic (Modern Standard)
  
• 2713 -- Arabic (Egyptian)
  
• 2714 -- Arabic (Syrian)
  
• 2716 -- Amharic
  
• 2717 -- Bengali
  
• 2718 -- Hebrew
  
• 2719 -- Hindi
  
• 2721 -- Kurdish
  
• 2722 -- Persian-Farsi
  
• 2723 -- Somali
  
• 2724 -- Swahili
  
• 2726 -- Turkish
  
• 2727 -- Urdu
  

Asian Pacific Linguists

• 2733 -- Burmese
  
• 2734 -- Cambodian
  
• 2736 -- Chinese (Cantonese)
  
• 2737 -- Chinese (Mandarin)
  
• 2738 -- Indonesian
  
• 2739 -- Japanese
  
• 2741 -- Korean
  
• 2742 -- Laotian
  
• 2743 -- Malay
  
• 2744 -- Tagalog
  
• 2846 -- Thai
  
• 2747 -- Vietnamese
  

European (West) Linguists

• 2754 -- Dutch
  
• 2756 -- Finnish
  
• 2757 -- French
  
• 2758 -- German
  
• 2759 -- Greek
  
• 2761 -- Haitian-Creole
  
• 2762 -- Icelandic
  
• 2763 -- Italian
  
• 2764 -- Norwegian
  
• 2766 -- Portuguese (Brazilian)
  
• 2767 -- Portuguese (European)
  
• 2768 -- Spanish
  
• 2769 -- Swedish
  

European (East) Linguists

• 2776 -- Albanian
  
• 2777 -- Armenian
  
• 2778 -- Bulgarian
  
• 2779 -- Czech
  
• 2781 -- Estonian
  
• 2782 -- Georgian
  
• 2783 -- Hungarian
  
• 2784 -- Latvian
  
• 2786 -- Lithuanian
  
• 2787 -- Macedonian
  
• 2788 -- Polish
  
• 2789 -- Romanian
  
• 2791 -- Russian
  
• 2792 -- Serb-Croat
  
• 2793 -- Slovenian
  
• 2794 -- Ukrainian
  

Note: A Skill-Designator MOS is a "job within a job." It denotes a special skill or training that the Marine holds in addition to the general requirements of his/her Primary MOS.

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Arabic-speaking Marine chosen as Linguist of the Year[/url]
By LCpl. Ruben D. Maestre, MCB Camp Lejeune


CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (18 November 2003) -- In waging the War on Terror, Arab linguists are a hot commodity for America and her allies. On the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, where many civilians and combatants speak Arabic, linguists are needed more than ever.

One Woolwich, Maine, native, was recently recognized for his linguistic skills and contributions during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and is currently assigned to 2nd Radio Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force here.

"I never thought I would have been doing what I've done," said Sgt. Chad E. Lindsey. The Chop Point School graduate now looks back on his career as a seasoned combat veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Lindsey's awards include recognition as the Marine Corps Linguist of the Year and as runner-up Linguist of the Year for the Department of Defense. Additionally, Lindsey was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his "operational and academic performance" during training exercises in Egypt and anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan by the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force during a ceremony here 7 Nov.

Second Radio Battalion's mission is to harness the skills of linguists like Lindsey and other Marines in relation to the various forms of available communications. Additionally, they support "special intelligence communications" for the Marine air-ground combat team.

In Afghanistan and in missions in Egypt and Iraq, Lindsey was a "signals intelligence, electronic warfare operator" inside a specialized light armored vehicle known as a Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System. Because of Lindsey's Arabic language skills, he was continually needed for his special language skill.

"I was assigned as the primary translator for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit commander during Exercise Bright Star in Egypt," Lindsey said of his liaison between U.S. Marine Corps and Egyptian forces conducting joint training.

Lindsey's versatility and use was also evident in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

"Being attached to the first 'on the ground' intelligence unit in Afghanistan, I was called to aid in the interrogation of Arabic-speaking detainees at the Afghan city of Kandahar," he said of his exploits there.

Practically hopping from operation to operation Lindsey had similar experiences in Iraq.

"In Iraq, Sergeant Lindsey was tasked with numerous jobs including translating and interpreting between his commanders and our enemy prisoners, to providing humanitarian relief to Iraqi civilians," said Staff Sgt. Jason K. Kendall, who has served alongside Lindsey for nearly two years as his supervisor here and in Iraq.

"Lindsey translated for our doctors giving aid to Iraqi civilians and even interpreted for a group of civilians trying to cross the battle line to conduct a proper Muslim burial," said Kendall.

"His expertise and willingness to volunteer even after little sleep or rest showed his professionalism to the continued tasks we faced in Iraq," he said.

Cool and collective, yet methodical in his approach to tasks, Lindsey also reflected upon the simpler interactions with his surroundings during his time overseas. He recollected the extreme climates he faced and the reactions of people who lived in those surroundings.

"In Afghanistan, I remember fighting off the insects, plus the goodwill of the locals," said Lindsey.

It was a sentiment he echoed of his time in Iraq and Egypt.

"In Iraq and while training in Egypt, I was truly surprised how well we were received by the local populations," he said. Lindsey's view was in contrast to the negative perceptions commonly portrayed in the regional media of Americans in that part of the world.

"In fact, the Iraqis we encountered during Operation Iraqi Freedom seemed very appreciative to us for liberating them from Saddam Hussein," he said.

In his more than four years of service, the Marine Corps has provided Lindsey the opportunity to travel to many countries while serving his country. While not ruling out continued military service, Lindsey future plans include attending college and pursuing a career in federal law enforcement.

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Originally posted by mack08:
i got three years of german, four acctually, but i never got credit for my first one in 8th grade... do you think thats worth much to the Marines?

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Originally posted by BrutalForce:
It would be very nice, but bad that in india, why not open in some place in europe and all EU citizens can apply.

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Originally posted by DeepRecon:
In summation...

If you have a good... head,
the Marines need cunning linguists.

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I really want to lat move into Crypto Linguist MOS, I am fluent in Russian, however I doubt I will get that TS clearance because I was born outside the US.

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Originally posted by 13725320:
Hi. I can speak and write Polish fluently. I have no problem writing whole essays in Polish or speaking with natives. They often confuse me for a native. Would this count as fluent?

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Originally posted by 13725320:
Hi. I can speak and write Polish fluently. I have no problem writing whole essays in Polish or speaking with natives. They often confuse me for a native. Would this count as fluent?