Recruiting for Foreign Language Skills

The shortage of officers with foreign language skills has long been a problem in the U.S. military and other agencies, but since the war in Iraq began, the President and Congress have directed the Defense Department, State Department, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other agencies to increase the numbers of foreign language speakers in their workforce. Many efforts are underway, but it will take a comprehensive approach to address short and long-term needs. A brief examination of the historical context will help explain the current problem and what approaches might be taken by the Department of Defense (DoD). Organizations faced with language skill shortfalls typically use one or a combination of three approaches to fill the need: recruitment, training and technology. While this paper will provide some information on training efforts, the primary focus is on recruitment efforts and recommendations for the Air Force, DoD and other federal agencies.