Army Foreign Language Program
Summary of Change
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1775
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
9 May 2024
*Army Regulation 11–6
Effective 9 June 2024
Army Programs
Army Foreign Language Program
By Order of the Secretary of the Army:
RANDY A. GEORGE
General, United States Army
Chief of Staff
MARK F. AVERILL
Administrative Assistant to the
Secretary of the Army
History. This publication is an administrative revision. The portions affected by this administrative revision are listed in the summary of change.
Authorities. This regulation implements in part 37 USCUSCUnited States Code 353, DoDD 5160.41E, DoDI 1340.27, DoDI 1315.20, and DoDI 5160.70.
Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve unless otherwise stated. It also applies to Department of the Army Civilians.
Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–2. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency, in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. Commanders or senior leaders of the requesting activity will endorse all waiver requests and forward them through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25–30 for specific requirements.
Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11–2 and identifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (appendix F).
Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on a DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–2 (DAMI–OIO) via email at usarmy.pentagon.hqda-dcs-g-2.list.foreign-language-office@army.mil.
Distribution. This publication is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States and the U.S. Army Reserve.
*This regulation supersedes AR 11–6, dated 25 February 2022 and DA PamDA PamDepartment of the Army Pamphlets 11–8, dated 28 February 2022.
AR 11–6 • 9 May 2024
UNCLASSIFIED
TOCTable of Contents
Chapter 1Responsibilities
Chapter 2Establishing Linguist Requirements
Requirements
Chapter 3Linguist Readiness Reporting
Chapter 4Reporting Language Proficiency
Chapter 5Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus Eligibility and Payment Criteria
Chapter 6Policy
Chapter 7Language Programming and Budgeting
Chapter 8Contract Linguist Support
Chapter 9Command Language Program Inspection Program
Appendix AReferences
Appendix BDepartment of the Army Inspection Checklist for Participating Command Language
Programs
Appendix CCommand Language Program Development
Appendix DGuidelines for a Successful Command Language Program
Appendix ETraining Resources
Appendix FInternal Control Evaluation
Glossary
Acquisition language training Initial language training conducted at an accredited institution of higher learning (DLIFLC or college) with the express purpose of learning a foreign language.
Army Command Language Program Manager’s Database See paragraph 3 – 18.
Army Strategic Language List See paragraph 4 – 8.
Conversion Training an Army linguist in an additional foreign language designed to meet the Army’s proficiency standard, for example, DLIFLC basic course. Conversion courses are for similar languages (for example, Russian conversion course to Serbian-Croatian or Persian-Farsi to Dari conversion course); not the same as a cross-training course.
Cross-training Foreign language training that is designed to provide limited capability in another language. Not consid- ered an acquisition course.
Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center The primary DoD school for providing resident foreign language acquisition training. DLIFLC also offers intermediate/advanced language courses, nonresident language training programs (for example, MTTs), and CLPM certification and refresher courses.
Defense Language Proficiency Test 5–Computer Adaptive A DLPT designed to evaluate global proficiency from ILR 0+ to 4.
Defense Language Proficiency Test System The DoD standardized testing system for measuring an individual’s proficiency in a language. It consists of a battery of tests that measures the general ability of a native or near-native speaker to comprehend a spoken and written language and to speak the language. The OPI can test both native and non-native language speakers. DLPT and OPI scores are reported as ILR skill levels in accordance with DoDD 5160.41E and the Federal Government ILR website (see DoDI 5160.71).
Enhancement language training Training which improves the general language skills and proficiency of already qualified linguists.
Executive agent The DoD component head, or official required in statute, to whom the SECDEF or Deputy SECDEF has assigned specific responsibilities, functions, and authorities to provide defined levels of support for opera- tional missions, or administrative or other designated activities, that involve two or more DoD components (see DoDD 5101.01).
Interpretation Spoken rendering of a conversation from one language into another. For example, a Soldier interpreting (speaking) a conversation between a Russian speaker and an English speaker and providing either sim- ultaneous or consecutive feedback in either language.
Language identification code The two-digit alpha code used to designate a particular language as prescribed in this regulation.
Language proficiency The continuum—from memorized proficiency to functionally native proficiency—that describes the ability of an individual to function in the reading, listening, and speaking modalities of a foreign language as as- sessed by the U.S. Government ILR proficiency rating scale (see DoDD 5160.41E).
Linguist Language professionals and language skilled individuals (see DoDI 5160.70).
Proficiency level Quantitative statement of the degree of overall ability using a language based on the ILR skill level de- scriptors and associated 0 to 5 level scale.
Senior Language Authority An individual at the general officer/flag officer, senior executive service, or equivalent level designated in writing by the head of the military departments, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, combatant commands, and Defense Agencies to represent their organization’s foreign language equities in the Defense Lan- guage, Regional Expertise, and Culture Program and participate in the DLSC. The SLA must have direct access to their component’s senior leadership and understand the joint capabilities in foreign language, regional, and culture capability needs of his or her component. SLAs are responsible for drafting, coordi- nating, and executing their organizations’ language, regional expertise, and culture capability strategic plans and for overseeing capability allocation and utilization policies within their component (see DoDD 5160.41E).
Sustainment language training Training that prevents skill deterioration through periodic general language review and frequent practice, but not specifically designed to improve proficiency.
Target language The foreign language in which one is trained, sustained, and tested.
Translation Written rendering of text from one language into another. For example, a Soldier translating from a for- eign language into English will produce a written version of the foreign language into clear, concise, idio- matic English while conveying the meaning of the original text to the English language reader.
