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AR 600-20 Chapter 4 Paragraph 13, Army Language Policy
<a><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"></a><br><a style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"></a></p><p style="display: inline !important;"><font color="#000000" face="arial" size="3">English is the operational language of the Army. Soldiers must maintain sufficient proficiency in English to perform their military duties. Their operational communications must be understood by everyone who has an official need to know their content, and, therefore, must normally be in English. However, commanders may not require Soldiers to use English unless such use is clearly necessary and proper for the performance of military functions. Accordingly, commanders may not require the use of English for personal communications that are unrelated to military functions.</font></p></a><div><a><p style="display: inline !important;"><font color="#000000" face="arial" size="3"><br></font></p></a></div><div><a><p style="display: inline !important;"><font color="#000000" face="arial" size="3">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>I'm far from alone on this one, but I've been jumped on for having what are clearly personal conversations in foreign languages (to include being on the phone with my GERMAN wife).<br><br>I'd be very interested to know others' thoughts on the matter, especially since I've had off-the-record discussions with other officers who stated they would clearly violate this part of the regulation if they saw fit. (No, I'm not going to call those officers out...they were off the record discussions)</font></p></a></div><div><a><p style="display: inline !important;"><font color="#000000" face="arial" size="3"><br></font></p></a></div>
<a><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"></a><br><a style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"></a></p><p style="display: inline !important;"><font color="#000000" face="arial" size="3">English is the operational language of the Army. Soldiers must maintain sufficient proficiency in English to perform their military duties. Their operational communications must be understood by everyone who has an official need to know their content, and, therefore, must normally be in English. However, commanders may not require Soldiers to use English unless such use is clearly necessary and proper for the performance of military functions. Accordingly, commanders may not require the use of English for personal communications that are unrelated to military functions.</font></p></a><div><a><p style="display: inline !important;"><font color="#000000" face="arial" size="3"><br></font></p></a></div><div><a><p style="display: inline !important;"><font color="#000000" face="arial" size="3">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>I'm far from alone on this one, but I've been jumped on for having what are clearly personal conversations in foreign languages (to include being on the phone with my GERMAN wife).<br><br>I'd be very interested to know others' thoughts on the matter, especially since I've had off-the-record discussions with other officers who stated they would clearly violate this part of the regulation if they saw fit. (No, I'm not going to call those officers out...they were off the record discussions)</font></p></a></div><div><a><p style="display: inline !important;"><font color="#000000" face="arial" size="3"><br></font></p></a></div>
Posted in these groups: 
Foreign Languages
Foreign Languages
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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As long as you aren't doing it in a way to exclude or undermine your command or colleagues, go with it.
It's awesome that you speak a foreign language. More people in our Army should be able to do so. I'm constantly looking for people with your skill set. It's invaluable and should be encouraged in all ways possible.
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SGT (Join to see)
"As long as you aren't doing it in a way to exclude or undermine your command or colleagues..."
Spot on Sir!
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I speak spanish and italian as well as english and I was told by an EOA MSG that I cannot speak other languages but english if military personal is around, I explained with all the respect MSG, I am having a personal converstion and according to the regulation I am not required to restrain myself from doing so, and I pulled out the reg out of my pocket, I carry it out with me because some people will not understand unless is in black and white.
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Chief,
It is interesting that you bring this up as I was just having this conversation. I am stationed in Korea and we work along side the KATUSAs. One of my KATUSA Soldiers was writing an essay on how to change the culture in the Army. I used the example of; if I came for a place where every person speaks English then I come in the Army telling others they cant speak in their native language; that is an example of changing the culture in the Army. We are all from different places how can we tell someone they must stop being who they are. Here in Korea if these KATUSAs couldn't speak Korean then we may not get the mission done.
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