Enhancing Language Capabilities for NATO Operations

1. THE DEFENCE OPERATIONAL LANGUAGES SUPPORT UNIT LT COL A J PARROTT RLC SO1 DOLSU

2. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE THEME LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS VERSUS LANGUAGE REALITY

3. Time flies like an arrowbut

4. Time flies like an arrowbut fruit flies like a banana!

5. TOPICS FUTURE NATO REQUIREMENTS DEFINING REQUIREMENTS DOING MORE WITH LESS PROGRAMME EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION

6. FUTURE NATO REQUIREMENTS Can we really talk about a NATO requirement? How should requirements to support NATO / Coalition operations be met? Could language capability be part of the force goals process? How can we develop a common approach? Can we develop more co-ordination in meeting operational requirements?

7. DEFINING REQUIREMENTS Why do you want it? What do you want? Which languages How much do you want? How many people, which skills and to what levels Where do you want it? When do you want it? How do you cope with change to the requirement? Do you really, really want it?!

8. DOING MORE WITH LESS Exploit existing assets Improve the return on training Feedback experience into training Improve the definition of the requirement Better selection of personnel National language education policy initiative

9. PROGRAMME EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION Effectiveness of language training Effectiveness of language capability Statistical analysis of course results Statistical analysis of return on training

10. THE DEFENCE OPERATIONAL LANGUAGES SUPPORT UNIT ANY QUESTIONS ?

11. 1 2 “MEETING THE AFGHAN SPECIALIST REQUIREMENT”AN OUTLINE CAREER PROGRESSION MODEL 3 4 ENTRY LEVEL LEVEL ONE – SUPPORTING SPECIALIST LEVEL TWO – PRIMARY SPECIALIST LEVEL THREE – LEAD SPECIALIST 5 Slides as numbered address each level in more detail While the structure provides for progression from one level to the next through the entire structure it is probable that many personnel will enter the structure at other than the entry level and leave the structure before level three. Others may “repeat” a particular level.

12. 2 MEETING THE AFGHAN SPECIALIST REQUIREMENTAN OUTLINE CAREER PROGRESSION MODEL ENTRY LEVEL Initial or subsequent operational tour in primary career or trade role as Officer (2Lt/Lt) or Soldier (Pte/LCpl) Individuals receive the basic Language and Cultural Awareness training mandated for all personnel. Army Officers take MLAT at RMAS to identify language learning aptitude. Many / most personnel in “Afghan Specialist” terms will not proceed beyond the Entry Level although some personnel may develop greater Cultural Understanding from successive tours or particular appointments. Basic cultural awareness sets the preconditions for use of basic language skills when the opportunity arises.

13. 3 MEETING THE AFGHAN SPECIALIST REQUIREMENTAN OUTLINE CAREER PROGRESSION MODEL LEVEL ONE – SUPPORTING SPECIALIST Officer (Lt/Capt) or Soldier (JNCO) is selected for an Afghan Specialist post. At this level the specialist skills required are in addition to the primary career or trade skills required for the post. Linguists must be selected on aptitude and motivation. Army JNCOs take MLAT during CLM training. Individuals receive SLP 1 or 2 level language training and / or additional Cultural Understanding training. Language training should be completed before PDT so skills can be used during training. At this level individuals are probably motivated by the opportunity that specialist skills offer for a higher profile role.

14. 4 MEETING THE AFGHAN SPECIALIST REQUIREMENTAN OUTLINE CAREER PROGRESSION MODEL LEVEL TWO – PRIMARY SPECIALIST Officer (Capt/Maj) or Soldier (JNCO/SNCO) volunteers to fill an Afghan Specialist post. At this level the specialist skills take primacy over other career / trade skills which may influence the post the individual fills. Individuals receive SLP 3 or 4 level language training and or additional Cultural Competency training, building possibly / probably on skills gained earlier. Individuals fill a particular post on one tour (generalist) or serve with the Defence Linguists Pool on two tours over three years to maximise return on training (specialist). At this level individuals are probably motivated by the career progression prospects associated with specialist service or career stability. Highest levels of cultural competency can only be used to best effect by individuals with highest levels of appropriate language skills.

15. 5 MEETING THE AFGHAN SPECIALIST REQUIREMENTAN OUTLINE CAREER PROGRESSION MODEL LEVEL THREE – LEAD SPECIALIST Officer (Maj / Lt Col / possibly Col) or Soldier (SNCO / WO) is selected to serve in a designated Afghan Specialist post. At this level the specialist skills required for the post are fundamental to the post. The duties will include direction to other specialists and specialist policy issues. Posts could be deployed or UK based. At this level individuals will already have the specialist skills and competencies required and the focus of any training will be on refreshing and updating relevant skills. At this level individuals are probably motivated by the career stability or job satisfaction aspects associated with this type of specialist service.

16. THE DOLSU MISSION The DOLSU will seek to facilitate the generation in a timely way of language capability to support joint operations when required and will manage operational language capability when deployed.

17. WHY THE DOLSU ? Lessons identified on OPERATION TELIC House of Commons Defence Committee Report Directorate of Operational Capability – Appraisal of Defence Language Capability PROJECT GALLIARD – Review of the Operational Language Capability Requirement It provides a focussed team at the Defence Level in contrast to disconnected staff efforts at the FLC level

18. LANGUAGE CAPABILITY IS (NOT QUITE) “THE FORGOTTEN FORCE MULTIPLIER”

19. THE DOLSU TASKS DEFENCE LANGUAGE POLICY LANGUAGE CAPABILITY GENERATION LANGUAGE CAPABILITY MANAGEMENT INTELLIGENT CUSTOMER CELL

20. DEFENCE LANGUAGE POLICY (DLP) Management Structure DLCMB, DLTCEB, DLCWG, UKIDSCOL Policy Statements Language Component of Joint Doctrine Linkage with Cultural Awareness

21. LANGUAGE CAPABILITY GENERATION (LCG) Build Language Skills Database Maintain Language Skills Database Co-ordinate Requalification Language Skills Financial Incentives Scheme

22. LANGUAGE CAPABILITY GENERATION (LCG) High Level Language Skills Generation Low Level Language Skills Generation Reserve Forces Language Skills Generation Wider Language Capability Generation Management of Deployed Linguists

23. LANGUAGE CAPABILITY MANAGEMENT (LCM) Support to PJHQ Deployment of LCM teams to support operations Home based support to LCM teams Prepare Basic Level Lang + CA Packages Training Packages for LCM Personnel Training Packages for Interpreters / Translators Advise to formations in the Op Prep cycle

24. INTELLIGENT CUSTOMER CELL (ICC) Statements of Training Requirement MoD Language Examination Board / Westminster University Contract – Other Initiatives Training Needs Analysis Training Evaluation

25. DOLSU TIMELINES Sep 07 - Initial Operating Capability reached Apr 08 - Full Operating Capability authorised? Apr 09 - Full Operating Capability in place? Aug 09 - Full Operating Capability reached? Apr 10 – Move in to long term future location?

26. THE DEFENCE OPERATIONAL LANGUAGES SUPPORT UNIT (DOLSU) THE FUTURE PERFECT STRUCTURE DOLSU MANAGEMENT TEAM DEFENCE LANGUAGE POLICY SO1 ARMY DOLSU IT DOLSU FOC CIV C2 WO2 SP ARMY TRG POSTS CIV E LANGUAGE CAPABILITY MANAGEMENT SECTION LANGUAGE CAPABILITY GENERATION SECTION LANGUAGE INTELLIGENT CUSTOMER CELL SO2 RN SO2 ARMY SO2 ARMY MSF C2 SO2 ARMY CIV D SO3 ARMY WO RN HIO 1 C2 CIV D SO3 RAF SO2 RAF HIO 2 C2 CIV E

27. THE DEFENCE OPERATIONAL LANGUAGES SUPPORT UNIT (DOLSU) THE PRESENT IMPERFECT STRUCTURE DOLSU MANAGEMENT TEAM DEFENCE LANGUAGE POLICY DOLSU IT MIL SO1 ARMY DOLSU IT CIV CIV C2 WO2 SP ARMY LONDON DOLSU FOC CIV E LANGUAGE CAPABILITY MANAGEMENT SECTION LANGUAGE CAPABILITY GENERATION SECTION LANGUAGE INTELLIGENT CUSTOMER CELL IRAQ SO2 RN SO2 ARMY WO2 SP ARMY SO2 FTRS SO2 ARMY MSF C2 SO2 ARMY OMAN CIV D SO3 ARMY WO RN HIO 1 C2 CIV D SO3 RAF SO2 RAF SO3 RAF HIO 2 C2 CIV E

28. THE DEFENCE OPERATIONAL LANGUAGES SUPPORT UNIT IMPLEMENTATION TEAM ANY QUESTIONS ?