Posted on Oct 25, 2014
Should soldiers be REQUIRED to know a certain amount of target language before deplying?
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When I say "know," I mean be able to stop traffic, direct it, Ask basic questions; let's say something like a Pilmser's (or however you say it) CD worth of phrases.
Posted in these groups: 
Languages
Deployment
Languages Deployment
Posted 10 y ago
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Yes, I did and a basic understanding should be required. When I was deployed I learned a bit of Arabic and I will tell you it paid off when you can key into background conversations and get instant atmospherics and I knew who to talk to with my terp.
I also read the Quran a few times to the point I could have religious debates without pissing off the other person.
I also read the Quran a few times to the point I could have religious debates without pissing off the other person.
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I attended a two-week Headstart class that gave me just enough of the target language (Arabic) to get by with very basic things. I spent only six weeks in an Arabic speaking country (in the mid 80s), and I still remember some basic greetings, so I think it's a very good idea.
Like COL Vincent Stoneking, though, while I think it's a good idea to have it, I do not think it's realistic to require it.
Like COL Vincent Stoneking, though, while I think it's a good idea to have it, I do not think it's realistic to require it.
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SSG (Join to see)
Understandable to a point. I would not say that at a strategic level it should be required. I'm saying that at a company level, I suspect that most, if not ALL senior individuals would want their personnel to succeed and get past the usual 'get up and go to work for nothing' mentality. As SGT Curtis sort of pointed out, "atmospherics."
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