Posted on Nov 15, 2017
If a SM makes a phone call to a family member in a foreign language and is reprimanded for speaking that language, is this an EO violation?
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Posted in these groups: 
Foreign Language
EO
Foreign Language EO
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 10
SSG (Join to see) You have to decide was this Army operations / official duties? Or personal conversation?
If unsure, Ask......if the SM states personal, the part of the concern is over as nothing is wrong with speaking in any language they want for a personal conversation...
However,,,,,
If you had task an SM to a duty and he turns speaks to a fellow SM in a foreign language you can assume it is a work related discussion....and then direct them to speak English....if they say it was a personal conversation, tell them its duty hours, task has been assigned its not break time, stop having personal conversations on work time...Speak English.
THEN, take lessons in the other spoken languages of those in your team.
If unsure, Ask......if the SM states personal, the part of the concern is over as nothing is wrong with speaking in any language they want for a personal conversation...
However,,,,,
If you had task an SM to a duty and he turns speaks to a fellow SM in a foreign language you can assume it is a work related discussion....and then direct them to speak English....if they say it was a personal conversation, tell them its duty hours, task has been assigned its not break time, stop having personal conversations on work time...Speak English.
THEN, take lessons in the other spoken languages of those in your team.
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SSG Jessica Bautista
We had a pharmacy tech and a medic who both understood and communicated in rudimentary English, but primarily spoke Spanish (Puerto Rican and Panamanian by birth, respectively). They were able to follow orders, even if understanding them was a challenge, but sometimes someone had to translate work-related tasks in Spanish, usually the more complex tasks. They weren't stupid, they were able to learn English. In their countries of birth, one was a doctor and the other was a lawyer. It's just that, during that time, it would have been detrimental to the mission if there was any misunderstanding, and we could be more clear if instructions were in Spanish.
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SGM Erik Marquez
I Had more than a few soldiers over the years that eng was a second language and many time a feliw ESL Soldier to help them understand the task or order
I took that as two sm doing what they needed to in order to accomplish the mission
At the same time During battle or to burden C or crisis that likely will not be time for the secondary transmission when the orders instructions or guidance is given in English as is most likely to happen so while I applied to non-English speakers and talking in their native tongue to clarify what was said in English that should be a temporary Band-Aid not a solution
I took that as two sm doing what they needed to in order to accomplish the mission
At the same time During battle or to burden C or crisis that likely will not be time for the secondary transmission when the orders instructions or guidance is given in English as is most likely to happen so while I applied to non-English speakers and talking in their native tongue to clarify what was said in English that should be a temporary Band-Aid not a solution
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Why would anyone reprimand someone for speaking a foreign language on a personal call? Seems to me this is a bit excessive. People will talk to their family in the language they were raised with. It's also possible that the family member doesn't speak English but that shouldn't even matter since the call was personal in nature. I would say reprimanding a Soldier for this is seriously overstepping someone's authority.
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English is used for Army operations and official duties. See AR 600-20. Speaking to others in a foreign language is not prohibited. Now if this language is being spoken by others to exclude people and create a hostile work environment then it could be prohibited. Speaking to someone on the phone is allowed though. I would not say this is an EO problem yet. I would properly inform the person or speak to their supervisor. If the problem persists them bring it to the commands attention.
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