LETTER TO THE HONORABLE STANSFIELD TURNER FROM J. K. FASICK

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CIA-RDP83-00156R001000060010-0
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RIPPUB
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K
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16
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December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
November 18, 2003
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10
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Publication Date: 
November 28, 1979
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LETTER
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Approved For ReleaA2004/05/12: CIA-RDP83-00156RO01,0 Q 0 ' UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 r-ImIP, !73 0.5 po nn97 3 The Honorable Stansfield Turner .Directors Central Intelligence Agency Attention: Office of Legislative Counsel' Dear Mr. Turner: We have been requested. to study the effectiveness of current programs and personnel practices regarding foreign language needs in all Federal agencies.' To obtain a com- prehensive picture of Federal requirements for personnel having foreign language skills--and related training, assignment policies and procedures--we are distributing the attached questionnaire. The July 31, 1979, conference report on H.R. 3363 (Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1980 and 1981) set forth the requirement for this study and stipulated that our report be completed within 8 months of the date of enactment (August 15, 1979) of the legislation. in order for us to meet the April 15, 1980, reporting dead- line, we are requesting the completed questionnaire be returned to us by January 11, 1980. The conference report on the International r:evelop- ?ment Cooper-Jtion Act of 1979 (H>R. 3324, July 27, 1979) requested agencies with missions abroad to review their requirements for language needs and to report to the Congress any statutory changes necessary to improve their foreign language capabilities. For those agencies with missions abroad, the Chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations and the House Foreign Affairs Committees have agreed that your response to this questionnaire will satisfy the congressional reporting requirement. The questionnaire is divided into two sections. The first asks for information, such as policies and proce- dures on recruitment, training, and use of employees with language skills. It also asks for any statutory changes Approved For Release 2004/05/12 : CIA-RDP83-00156R001000060010-0 Approved For Rele*2004/05/12 : CIA-RDP83-00156R001 X060010-0 you feel might be needed to improve your agency s foreign language capabilities. The second section seeks informa- tion on the number of positions requiring language skills and the cost of training. Responses to the questionnaire should be separate for each major organizational component within your department or agency that has significant foreign language needs. Information from responses to this questionnaire will be used in preparing our overall report. In some cases, we will supplement questionnaire responses by interviewing agency personnel in Washington and overseas and by review- ing agency records. Our International. Division is conduct- ing this review under Job Code 467330. We ask that each. agency designate a contact person for this questionnaire and have that person contact either David R. Warren or Galen L. Goss at (202) 632-8786 on receipt of the question- naire. The completed questionnaire should be returned to: U.S. General Accounting Office Room 4824 Attention: Mr. David R. Warren 441 G Street,. NW Washington, D.C. 20548 Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely yours, K. Fasick 2 Approved For Release 2004/05/12 : CIA-RDP83-00156R001000060010-0 Approved For Rele.2004/05/12: CIA-RDP83-00156RO01060010-0 Survey of Federal Practices And Procedures For Staff in Positions That Require coreign Language Sills AT INTRODUCTION This questionnaire is being used to gather information for a GAO review of Federal practices and procedures for staffing positions that require foreign language skills. It asks for information on the policies, procedures and practices which govern your organization's designation of foreign language'positions; recruitment of employees with foreign language skills; foreign language training; and the assignment of employees with foreign language skills. We are also interested in your recommendations for any statutory changes necessary to upgrade the language capabilities of your employees. Most of the questions can be answered by checking a box or entering a small amount of written information. A preaddressed return envelope has been enclosed with the questionnaire. We ask that the questionnaire be completed and returned by January 11, 1980. If you will have difficulty in meeting this date or have any questions about the questionnaire or the review, please call either Mr. David R. Warren or Mr. Galen Coss at (202) 632-8786. In the event that the return envelope is misplaced, the correct return address is: U.S. General Accounting Office Room 4824 Attention: Mr. David R. Warren 441 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20548 'hank you for your cooperation in the review. RESPONDENT ITTFOR`"ATION Name of Organization: G / Name of Person Who May be Contacted for Clarification, 7. Criteria For Larzuaee Designated Positions: In this part of the questionnaire we are interested in obtaining information on the special needs of your organization for lan- guage proficient personnel, and the criteria used to identify language designated positions and set proficiency levels. 1. Some organizations have designated specific positions as requiring the knowledge of a foreign language in order to adequately per- form assigned duties. Throughout this questionnaire such positions will be referred to as Language Designated Positions (LDP's). Row many such language designated positions are there in your organization? If none, please write "none" and go to section II. cI B S c, f i~.c~ No. of LDP'S 2.' There are many reasons why Federal employees may need to know a foreign language. In your organization, about what percent of the positions designated as language essential have been so designated primarily for each of the following reasons? (An estimate is sufficient. Please do not perform any exten- sive research.) (Please check one colum Knowledge of a foreign language is necessary to: Supervise foreign employees Deal with the general public ( ~/ in a foreien country Understand significant pubiic pronouncements in a forei n lanzuaee Interpret for senior mission or high-level l ers onne p itors ial ic visitors off Read written material in a foreign lanzuaze f t Monitor translations by I t/f' i foreien nationals ff Collect infor--ation for ( intelligence purposes i 1 Other Please specify.) ? 1 s ` Approved For Release 2004/05/12 : CIA-RDP83-00156R001000060010-0 Approved For Rele,2004/05/12: CIA-RDP83-00156RO01 060010-0 3. Is there a central unit or group which identifies Does your organization use this scale for your organization's future requirements for measuring the proficiency of your employees language designated positions, or is that in foreign nguages? responsibility carried out by program or pose or site management? .(Check one.) 1. U Central unit 2. L-1 no 2. / Program management 7. If no, does your organization use another scale for measuring foreign language 3. Post or site management proficiency or are employees categorized as 4. G_._' Other (Please describe.) 4. If performed by a central unit is that work performed in conjunction with the recruitment, training, and assignment offices, or is it performed as a separate function? In conjunction with recruitment, training, and assignment 2. = As a separate function 3. = Other (Please describe.) 5. How often, if at all, does your organization reevaluate the need for language designated positions? (Please check only one.) 1. / Annually 2. Every 2 to 3 years 3. When the incumbent leaves a position 4. Never $. Other (Please explain. a v ~ ~ t t 4 f V 1 0 vi k1 d d Lto c t ~Q'~11~(G2 ~~~m'1S i~F~i~Jlb-f'cJ. 6. The Foreign Service Institute has developed a standardized scale for measuring levels of language proficiency. 0--no practical proficiency 1---elementary proficiency 2--limited working proficiency 3-minimum professional proficiency 4-full professional proficiency 5-native or bilingual proficiency proficient or not proficient? 1. Another scale 2. L/ Proficient or not proficient 8. If your organization uses another scale do you use separate scales for measuring proficiency in reading and speaking? 1. L-/ Yea 2. LT No 9. As stated above, the Foreign Service Institute uses a 5-point scale to measure language ' proficiency. How many gradations are there on the scale your organization uses to measure proficiency in a foreign language? No. of gradations) 10. By what method does your organization determine or establish an employee's level of proficiency in a specific foreign language? 1. /7 Test administered by this organization 2. .J Test administered by the organization that provided foreign language training to the employee 3. j L7 Supervisory evaluations 4. jE7 Employee self-appraisal Successful completion of training course 6. ~/ Other method(s) (Please describe.) Approved For Release 2004/05/12 : CIA-RDP83-00156 R001000060010-0 Approved For Rele2004/05/12: CIA-RDP83-00156R001 5060010-0 11. How important is each of the following factors in setting the foreign language proficiency level required for positions in your organi- zation requiring foreign language skills? 1. Extent of contact with foreign nationals 2. Degree of proficiency a person can normally be expected to achieve within a riven level of training 3. Extent to which English is spoken as a second language in a counts 4. Extent of vocabulary neces- Y sarv for conducting business 5. Other important factors (Please specify.) for determining which positions should be considered Language Designated Positions (LDP?s)? 1. L-_ Yes (If yes, please attach a copy when returning this question- naire.) 2. L_1 No II. Recruitment of Employees with Foreign Language Skills Here we are interested in determining if your organization is able to recruit and hire employees with the necessary language skills. it may sometimes be necessary to fill some Language Designated Positions with personnel who do not possess the desired level of foreign language proficiency. For some other positions, however, the importance of foreign language proficiency to the adequate per- formance of duties is so great that only someone with the required foreign language proficiency would be assigned to the position. Does your organization have any positions in this latter category? 14. If yes, how many such positions are there in your organization? No. of positions) 15. Apart from general personnel ceilings and budgetary restrictions, does your organi- zation have problems in recruiting personnel with language skills? No (If no, please go to Section III.) 16. If yes, how great a problem is each of the following factors in recruiting foreign language skilled personnel? (Please check Lack of people with training in the ? required language skills in the employment market Difficulty of finding people with the combi- nation of professional and language skills needed Complications due to Federal hiring regula- tions and rocedures Difficulty of finding people with a high enough level of pro- ficiency in a foreign language Other (Please specify.) III. Language Training: / Yes 17. 2. )= No 3. L= Not sure In this portion of the questionnaire we are interested in the policies, procedures and practices regarding language training for both employees and dependents; where that training is provided; how language pro- ficient personnel are tested; and how the agency keeps track of then. Does your organization provide any foreign language training to its employees, either directly or through arrangements with other Federal agencies or commercial or academic institutions? 1. %~Yes $, No (If no, please go to question ?-? 30.) Approved For Release 2004/05/12 : tlA-RDP83-00156R001000060010-0 O Approved For Rele 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP83-0015680011#060010-0 There are many circumstances under which an organization night provide foreign language training to its employees. Please indicate by checking the appropriate box whether each of the following occasions is one in which your organization would provide foreign language training to its employees. (Please 1. When an employee without desired language pro- ficiency is assigned to a language designated pos- ition 2. When an employee needs help to retain a language skill 3. When an employee requests foreign language training 4. When it is necessary to in- crease the organization's capability in a particular language because of antici- pated changes in organiza- tion responsibilities 5. When an employee is assigned to a position which is not language designated, but for which foreign language skills would be desirable 19. Please list any other typical circumstances under which foreign language training is provided to employees. 20. Does your organization provide foreign language training for spouses or of employees? (Check as many as 1. .L.1''7 Yes, for spouses dependents apply.) 2. Yes, for dependents 3. No (If no, please skip to question 23.) If yes, under which of the following circumstances does your organization provide foreign language training for spouses or dependents? (Please check yes or no for each.) 1. When there is space available in classes set up for employees 18 or over, is going to accompany employee overseas Yes No 2. When spouse or dependent, age /// 3. To enable spouse or dependent to contribute to'the organi- zation's mission / L/ /-7 22. Please list any other typical circumstances under which foreign language training would be provided to spouses or dependents. 23. During FY 1979 was any of the foreign lang- uage training provided to employees provided through arrangements with commercial or academic institutions? fl. Lei/ Yes 2. [7 No (If no, please skip to question 26.) Approved For Release 2004/05/12 :4CIA-RDP83-00156 R001000060010-0 Approved For Rele.2004/05/12: CIA-RDP83-0015680011#060010-0 24. Now, please consider the occasions during FY 1979 in which foreign language training was provided by a commercial or academic source. How often in those occasions was each of the following the primary reason the training was obtained from a commercial or academic rather than a government source? (Check one column for each row.) Commercial or academic classes were more conveniently located Commercial or academic classes were offered at the time employee needed to take them Commercial or academic facilities offered the required language whereas Government facilities didn't Commercial or academic I facilities were less I costly Commercial or academic facilities offered higher quality in- struction than was available through Government facili- ties Coariercial or academic facilities provided highly specialized vocabulary not covered in a Government course Student's proficiency in the language require 4 I specialized instruction 25. What percentage (in dollar terms) of arrangements with commercial institu- tions in FY 1979 were made under open-ended interagency contract? /e5Ab/ 2 26. Does your organization have any written policies or procedures regarding the use of Federal and non-Federal organizations to provide foreign language training for organization employees? 1. Yes (If yes, please attach a copy when returning this questionnaire.) G f a 4Syf/E'~ 27. Is a foreign language aptitude test given to employees prior to their receiving foreign, language training. Yes, always Yes, sometimes No (If no, please skip to question 29.) 28. If yes, are the results of the aptitude test used in determining whether or not the employee will receive the training, in deter- mining the extent of training needed, or in both ways? (Please check one.) 1. In determining whether or not to train 2. d..~~ In determining the extent of training needed 3. / / In both of the above listed ways 29. Are employees who have taken foreign lang- uage training tested as soon as they complete the course? 1. /-R--Yes, in all, or almost all cases 20 L~ Yes, in some cases 3. No 30. Does your organization have a general policy of testing an employee's proficiency in a foreign language before the employee begins to serve in a language designated position? 2. j= No (If no, please skip to question 32.) If yes, is such testing usually care ed out immediately prior to the employee's assuming the duties of the language designated position or prior to being selected for the position? (Please check one.) Immediately prior to assuming duties 2. / / Prior to being selected for position 32. Are all, or most, employees with foreign lang- uage skills tested periodically regardless of their assignment at the time? 1. Yes 2. / / No 2. 17 No Approved For Release 2004/05/12 :5C14-RDP83-00156 R001000060010-0 Approved For Releaa2OO4/O5112 : CIA-RDP83-OO156ROO1S06OO4O-0 - 33. If yes, how frequently is such testing carried out? (Please check one.) 1. /_/ Annually 2. Every two years 3. Every three to five years 4. / // Other (Please specify.) 34. Does your' organization have any written policies or procedures concerning the testing of foreign language proficiency of employees? 1. L7 Yes (If yes, please attach a copy when returning this questionnaire.) 1 ~,-3 - 2. L_1 No 35. Does your organization maintain a centralized inventory or listing of all employees with foreign language skills including the par- ticular language(s) in which each is skilled? 1. 2. ~/ No (If no, please skip to 38.) 36. If yes, does that listing include employees who are not currently serving in language designated positions? 1. Yes 2. jE7 No 37. When a vacancy exists'in a language designated position, is the inventory or listing consulted in order to identify possible candidates for the vacancy? 1. / des, always 2. sometimes 3. No 38. In selecting employees to fill a typical language designated position in your organi- zation, is foreign language proficiency given more weight than, less weight than, or about equal weight to the non-foreign language requirements of the position? (Please check only one.) 1. /_7 Foreign language proficiency is given more weight 2. ,7 Foreign language proficiency is given about equal weight 3. Z Foreign language proficiency is given less weight 39. How far in advance of their reporting date are employees typically notified of their assignment to language designated positions? 1. IJ Less than 6 months in advance do~ 2. / P/ 6 to 12 months in advance 13 to 18 months in advance 4. / / Over 18 months in advance S. %// Not applicable - no language designated positions IV. Utilization of Employees with Foreign Language Skills: The following questions are concerned with organisational policies and practices designed to encourage employees to acquire and main- tain language skills. We are also interested in problems associated with retaining language proficient individuals. 40. Does your organization offer employees with-in- grade pay increases for foreign language proficiency? 1. L_/ Yes 2. No 41. Does your organization offer other monetary incentives to foreign language proficient employees? 1. /7 No 2. es (Please specify.) 4 42. Does your organization offer any other non- monetary incentives ~o employees to acquire and/or maintain foreign language proficiency? 2. LYes (Please specify.) d~ .~44irww RV~/~?OVI+~a.p1CP evo /U~%lesLaf 64 f 43. Is foreign language proficiency a factor in considering an employee for promotion? 2. /7 No 1. No Approved For Release 2004/05/12 : CIA-RDP83-00156ROO1000060010-0 6 Approved For Relea#2004/05/12: CIA-RDP83-0015680010060010-0 44. in assessing a typical language-proficient employee's potential for career advancement in your organization, is foreign language proficiency given more weight than, less weight than, or about equal weight to the other professional skills of the employee? (Please check only one.) Foreign language proficiency is 2. oreign language proficiency is given about equal weight 3, ,E Foreign language proficiency is given less weight 45. About how many foreign language-qualified employees left your organization in FY 1979? (Number) 46. Do you consider this level of attrition a significant problem? 2. % / No V. Cost of Unerading Employees' Language Skills: 47. How'great a problem, if any, is each of the following in filling your positions re- quiring proficiency with "world" languages; i.e,, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish? (Please check one column for each Too little money y available for lan- guage training Difficulty in re- , / employees for leasing I I training Too few personnel to allow individuals to take extended periods if of time for language training Other (please specify.) 48. How great a problem, if any, is each of the following in filling your organization's positions requiring proficiency in other languages. than the "world" languages referred to in question 47? (Please check one column for each row.) 5 1i J Too little money available for lang- ua~e trainins Difficulty in re- leasing employees for training Too few personnel to allow individuals to take extended periods of time for language training Other (Please specify. 49. Please estimate how much in additional funding above your organization's FY 1980 already budgeted amount for foreign language training would be required to fill all language designated positions in the organization with persons having the desired level of foreign language proficiency by the end of FY 1980. Please provide additional details concerning this estimate by showing the estimated amount that would be needed in each of the categories listed below as well as any others that are appropriate. ,.. Cost category Student salaries, books and tuition App-opriate travel, per diem,, and allowances Expanded instructional facilities Additional positions needed to allow greater numbers of personnel to attend training for a longer period of time Additional staff and student posi- tions required for programs impact- ing on effective utilization of foreign language related programs; e.g., assignment, training, and testing programs? Approved For Release 2004/05/12 ?CIA-RDP83- 4 dO91b6%15o10-0 C~ J9 oS E 21 X. ., F Ly ?' C oa SO5 SO ~ { J'S ;Q Approved For Rele.2004/05112: CIA-RDP83-00156R001it060010-0 VI. Statutory Changes: Congress specifically expressed interest in learning of statutory changes needed to improve the language proficiency of Federal personnel. In this section of the questionnaire we are interested in obtaining information on statutes relating to foreign language capabilities in Federal agencies and any changes you'feel are needed to increase your organization's foreign language capabilities. VII. Other Comments 53. If you have any convents relating to the foreign language requirements of Federal agencies or any other co=ents,ccncerning Federal practices and procedures for filling positions requiring language skills, please add then here. Please complete the attached tables where applicable. Thank you for your cooperation. 50. Please provide in the space below legislative citations, if any, referring to language training or the need for language skills that are pertinent to your organization. 51. Do you feel that the statutory authority your organization now has is adequate to provide your organization with the language- qualified people it needs? 1. // Yes (If yes, please skip to question 53.) No 52. If no, please cite existing legislation and describe either specifically or in general the changes you would like to see. Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP83-00156R001000060010-0 Approved For Relea#20041051..12: CIA-RDP83-00156RO01e060010-0 FULL-TIME PERMAtENT U.S. CIVILIAN POSITIONS IN TOTAL AND THOSE DEESIGNATED AS REQUIRING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ?RoFICIE`:CY AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1979 Located Overseas Locacea r.n U.S. Organization positions Professional Other ?l Professional OtheryJ Total number of positions authorized in organization Total number of positions filled in organization Number. of authorized positions that have been designated as requiring proficiency in a foreign /~ ??~ A language .(LDP s) / Number of LDP's filled by an incumbent who has the required foreign language proficiency Number of LDP's filled by an incumbent who does not have the required foreign language proficiency Number of LDP's unfilled " G J y a/ Many "Other" classifications may be and technical staffs. b/ 'Language designated position- Y 1) i i Approved For Release 2004/05/12 : CIA-RDP83-00156R001000060010-0 w"e Approved For Relea 004/05/12 CIA-RDP83-001568001000 60010-0 FULL-TI"a PER_ ANENT U.S. CIVILIAN POSITIONS LOCATED IN TIE U.S. AS OF SE?TE`6ER 30. 19:9 CATEGORIZED ACCORDING TO LANGUAGE AND ?ROFICIENCY LEVEL REQUIRE:ENTS Instructions Please enter across the top, in columns A. through F, for each of the languages shown and any others for which LDP's exist in the organization the various proficiency levels at which there is at least one LDP. Then enter under each proficiency level listed 1) the number of LDP's authorized at that proficiency level; 2) the number filled by persons possessing that level of proficiency; 3) the number filled by persons not possessing that level of proficiency; and, 4) the number unfilled. Language A B C D E I F Chinese Authorized Filled at level Filled at non-level ( Unfilled French Authorized Filled at level I Filled at non-level Unfilled I e--an Authorized Filled at level ( I Filled at non-level I Unfilled ( ( f Italian Authorized Filled at level I I i ` Filled at non-level I Unfilled Proficiency Levels a/ a/ List proficiency level required, i.e., speaking (S) and reading (R), using the Foreign Service Institute's proficiency (0 to 5) rating system. If you use another rating system, write in the prQr~i~}g~ly,12 a'aIA4 bP83-00156 R001000060010-0 Approved For Release LU 4/ ~~ Table III Approved For Release 2004/05/12 : CIA-RDP83-00156R001000060010-0 FULL-TIM? PERtANI:NT U.S.CIVILTAN LANCUACE-DESICNATED POSITIONS OVERSEAS -AS OF SEY1'E'USE11 3U, 1979 CATECOtU 7.LD ACCORDINC?TO?LANCUACIi AND PROFICIENCY LEVEL JtSUIREIIENrS AND COUNTRY IN NIIICH POSITION IS LOCA'T'ED level, There are e a ie R3/S2 levels but there are 5 R3/S3'o unfilled. Please begin your first entry on the following page. (The entry below is an example only.) level are filled at the required proficiency level; and all 20 of the 20 authorized at the R3/SZ level are tii>.ea at rue rcquirca proticiency 6 LDP' t C1 R4 /S4 I- -filled at less than tits required proficiency level. There are no unfilled LDP's at the 114/S4 and reading 4/speaking 4; 20 require a proficiency level of reading 3/opeaking 3; and 20 are authorized at a proficiency level of reading 3/speaking - - - ?-- . .- -? ?e - .1 10-1 14- exam le below shows that SO LDP's are authorized in the Spanish languoge in Colombia. Ten are authorized at a proficiency level of vho have less than the required level of proficiency, and the number unfilled. All of this information should be as of September 30, 1979. Please enter in column A each foreign language-in which your organization has at least one LDP. In column D, list each foreign country in Instructions system, If you use anothcr isvil9r VaVAg9 4WftW518?a,~cyl?IdQ0156R001000060010-0 F,iot proficiency level required, L,e, spoaking (S) and reading (R), using tho Foreign gervite Inatituta'o prof$eloney CO to 5 rating Approved For Rele2004/05112: CIA-RDP83-00156RO01 060010-0 TOTAL EXPE:.'DITURES FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE TRAINING FOR FULL-MC PEcY_A EST U.S. CIVILI_A. E:'LOYEES FISCAL YEAR 1978 Instructions For each foreign language in which organization employees received training in FY 1978, enter on the appropriate line the number of employees trained by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), the Defense Language Institute. (DLI), an academic institution, a conrercial institution,or sore other source; the total salaries paid to them while they received the training; any travel and per diem costs they incurred during that tine; their tuition costs; other related 'expenses; and the total of those four cost elements. Similarly, for each foreign language in which training was provided to spouses or dependents of organiza- tion employees during FY 1978, please show the total number of persons receiving the training; their total tuition; any other expenses; and the total of the two cost elements. Organization Employees pouaea and Dependents Languag Training Source ro a~ ~ 0 4 4