Learn Foreign Languages and Travel on Military Duty

The defense of any nation can depend on information collected from foreign language media and other sources. Therefore, it is essential that some members of the army are able to read and understand other languages. These days, it is particularly important in the Middle East. The United States Army has its units stationed overseas to protect Americas strategic interests and deter military aggression, as well as offer symbolic support to allied countries.

Translator Aides:

The army recruits Translator Aides in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). The Translator Aide is mainly responsible for translating spoken or written foreign languages into English. Some of the duties of a Translator Aide include non-technical translations into the target language, and sight translations from target languages into English, as well as oral interpretation. They may assist a military contracting officer with local purchases, provide interpretation at military traffic control points, and assist security personnel at checkpoints.

The job training for a Translator Aide requires demonstration of proficiency in English at the English Language Center, Defense Language Institute. Upon successful completion, one must also successfully complete Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). At AIT, one learns the specific skills required to successfully perform as a Translator Aide.

Cryptologic Linguist:

A Cryptologic Linguist performs and supervises the detection, location, acquisition and identification of foreign communications. The duties include translating, transcribing or summarizing foreign language transmissions into English/target languages, identifying languages spoken in an assigned geographic area, scanning written foreign language material for key words and indicators, and providing records of intercepted communications etc.

The job training for a Cryptologic Linguist involves Basic Training, and 7 to 20 weeks of Advanced Individual Training, as well as on-the-job instruction, which includes interpretation practice.

Signals Collector/Analyst:

The Signals Collector/Analyst is the person primarily responsible for the detection, location, acquisition and identification of foreign electronic intelligence. Additionally, they may deploy, install and operate electronic intelligence collection systems, search the radio frequency spectrum to collect, identify, and record selected categories or classes of foreign instrumentation signals. The job training includes Basic Training and 11 weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including interpretation practice.

Electronic Warfare/Cryptologic Operations Specialist:

Learning what foreign governments and forces are up to helps experts to better plan a nation's defense. Hence, Electronic Warfare/Cryptologic Operations Specialists are most valuable. They collect information from intercepted foreign radio transmissions and translated foreign language newspapers; this information produces intelligence reports. An Electronic Warfare/Cryptologic Operations Specialist could work in locations all over the world, in consulate offices, embassies, or in the White House Communications Agency.

The job training includes Basic Training and Language Proficiency Training for 6 to 12 months at the Defense Language Institute (DLI). If you already know a foreign language, you could become a skillful linguist, and progress through training and rank faster under the Army Civil Acquired Skills Program (ACASP).

PSYOPS:

Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) covers a wide variety of functions from conducting operations to conveying selected information to foreign audiences. The goal is to influence the behavior of foreign governments and individuals. A PSYOPS officer must maintain a critical knowledge and skills set associated with a specific region of the world, including foreign language expertise, cross-cultural communications, and political-military awareness. The responsibilities include commanding and controlling PSYOPS operations during ground combat, coordinating employment, actions and activities at all levels of command, in unilateral, joint and multi-national operations.

PSYOPS Officers training includes completion of the PSYOPS Officer Qualification Course (POQC), for acquiring PSYOPS tactics, techniques and procedures. The qualification is culminated via a situational field-training exercise.

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