Linguist

Photo By Staff Sgt. Joshua Ford | A linguist (right) assigned to headquarters and headquarters company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, interprets Arabic to English to Maj. James J. Gotlewski, B company commander, 416th Civil Affairs Group, during an engagement exercise April 11, 2006, at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. US Army photo by Spc. Joshua R. Ford (released)  

04.24.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Spc. Joshua R. Ford
3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office
82nd Airborne Division

Since the beginning of both Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom the United States Army has been hiring translators from outside organizations to help break the language barrier between Soldiers and the foreign population.

Now the Army is experimenting with a new linguist position, enlisting Soldiers of Middle Eastern descent into the ranks of deploying brigade combat teams.

"Before the founding of the new job title the Army did not know who they were hiring half of the time," said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Lucas, Intelligence and Surveillance noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. "The position is cutting out the chance of hiring double agents gathering intelligence for the insurgency."

The linguists enlist voluntarily in the Army just like any other Soldier. They then attend basic combat training and advanced individual training where they learn basic Soldiering skills such as first aid and weapons marksmanship, as well as their role as Army linguists.

"The position is also good for the Army in the fact that not much training is required for these Soldiers because they're already fluent in the languages we require them to speak," said Warrant Officer Anthony L. Barnett, all source intelligence technician, HHC, 3rd BCT.

In 2004, when the Army began to experiment with the new position, linguists would only attend Basic Combat Training for three weeks and then move on to Advanced Individual Training for four weeks, said a linguist assigned to 3rd BCT.

This was changed later because the interpreters did not feel they were trained at their full potential. Now the interpreters attend the same nine-week basic training cycle that every new Army recruit endures. Their AIT was also extended to seven weeks, the linguist added.

Becoming a linguist requires a minimum two-year enlistment and the individual must already know one or more languages used in areas where U.S. forces are deployed.

Linguists must also take a series of tests that include written and verbal tests in both English and whatever language or languages the individual speaks.

"In AIT you are taught that the four most important things in our career field are Soldier skills, interpretation, translation and being a cultural advisor and educator to the unit's command," said another linguist assigned to 3rd BCT.

Although the linguists are treated just as any other Soldier, the Army takes specific precautions, such as having the linguists wear false name tapes, to protect themselves and their families from the possibility of being threatened, harassed or even attacked.

Currently more than 200 Soldiers serve as linguists in the Army.

At AIT linguists are taught the different dialects used in the Middle Eastern region concentrating on Arabic, Pharisee, Kurdish, Pashto and Urdu.

Recently, three linguists were received by 3rd BCT from the Army's sixth graduating linguist class.

Third brigade is the first 82nd Airborne Division unit to put linguists into action and will be the first unit to deploy the all American linguists in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

"I will be very happy to help with communication between us and the Iraqis," said a linguist with 3rd BCT. "It is good because we will help the people of Iraq and this could possibly save lives."

• Date Taken: 04.24.2006
• Date Posted: 04.24.2006 10:30
• Story ID: 6085