Should the Army require Leaders and special assignments to know additional languages? https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-army-require-leaders-and-special-assignments-to-know-additional-languages <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Should the Army require their leaders (E-7+, WO1+, O-3+) and special assignments (i.e. Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, AIT PLT SGT, etc.) to learn/know/speak additional languages (i.e. Spanish) to get promoted/qualify for their assignments. Sun, 13 Apr 2014 20:05:08 -0400 Should the Army require Leaders and special assignments to know additional languages? https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-army-require-leaders-and-special-assignments-to-know-additional-languages <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Should the Army require their leaders (E-7+, WO1+, O-3+) and special assignments (i.e. Drill Sergeant, Recruiter, AIT PLT SGT, etc.) to learn/know/speak additional languages (i.e. Spanish) to get promoted/qualify for their assignments. MSG Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 13 Apr 2014 20:05:08 -0400 2014-04-13T20:05:08-04:00 Response by CW2 Jonathan Kantor made Apr 13 at 2014 8:08 PM https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-army-require-leaders-and-special-assignments-to-know-additional-languages?n=101099&urlhash=101099 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No. &amp;nbsp;While it would be good, we operate in English. &amp;nbsp;It should not be a requirement for advancement for anyone outside of a language-dependent MOS. CW2 Jonathan Kantor Sun, 13 Apr 2014 20:08:16 -0400 2014-04-13T20:08:16-04:00 Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 8:11 PM https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-army-require-leaders-and-special-assignments-to-know-additional-languages?n=101102&urlhash=101102 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No, a language is not something you simply just pick up and not everyone has the capacity for it.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In my opinion, an ability to learn a second language doesn&#39;t correlate to leadership capabilities.&lt;/div&gt; CW2 Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 13 Apr 2014 20:11:37 -0400 2014-04-13T20:11:37-04:00 Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Apr 13 at 2014 8:40 PM https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-army-require-leaders-and-special-assignments-to-know-additional-languages?n=101125&urlhash=101125 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>How would this benefit the Army? SGM Matthew Quick Sun, 13 Apr 2014 20:40:56 -0400 2014-04-13T20:40:56-04:00 Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 9:59 PM https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-army-require-leaders-and-special-assignments-to-know-additional-languages?n=101158&urlhash=101158 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This already happens to an extent. In recruiting some slots are allocated to Spanish speakers only. I know you are referring to a much broader initiative but its just an example SSG. SFC Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 13 Apr 2014 21:59:10 -0400 2014-04-13T21:59:10-04:00 Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2014 10:45 PM https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-army-require-leaders-and-special-assignments-to-know-additional-languages?n=101217&urlhash=101217 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is easy No!! The Army requires an English language test for those who speak it as a second language. The only requirement would be the few MOS' that require a language to do their job (MI, SF etc...). Soldiers need to speak English and not teach instructors to speak different to accommodate everyone else. MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 13 Apr 2014 22:45:03 -0400 2014-04-13T22:45:03-04:00 Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Apr 14 at 2014 7:02 AM https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-army-require-leaders-and-special-assignments-to-know-additional-languages?n=101391&urlhash=101391 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>There are certain specialties that do require linguistic skills, these are necessary and tracked and tested as such.  In addition, the Army (and possibly DOD wide, not certain) allows those with knowledge of other languages to test in those languages and make their proficiency in those languages a matter of record in the event the service branch needs to 'reach out' to them for their skill in that particular language.  Outside of this, I see no need to REQUIRE service members to have proficiency in any language other than English.  It would be an additional cost (in training and testing) that DOD can ill afford, especially in the current environment. MSG Wade Huffman Mon, 14 Apr 2014 07:02:08 -0400 2014-04-14T07:02:08-04:00 Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2015 8:19 AM https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-army-require-leaders-and-special-assignments-to-know-additional-languages?n=409189&urlhash=409189 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I vote no. I think the Army should require ALL SOLDIERS to speak, read, and write ENGLISH to get promoted/qualify for their assignments. CW5 Private RallyPoint Member Fri, 09 Jan 2015 08:19:28 -0500 2015-01-09T08:19:28-05:00 Response by SGT Steven Hines made Nov 21 at 2017 11:55 AM https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-army-require-leaders-and-special-assignments-to-know-additional-languages?n=3109382&urlhash=3109382 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You joined the U.S. ARMY so speak ENGLISH. I do speak German and Korean thanks to the military. I see that as a bonus and not as a requirement. SGT Steven Hines Tue, 21 Nov 2017 11:55:57 -0500 2017-11-21T11:55:57-05:00 2014-04-13T20:05:08-04:00