ELIGIBILITY FOR LANGUAGE USE AWARDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-00024R000300270004-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 3, 2007
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: September 9, 1981
• Content Type: MEMO

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Associate Deputy Director for
Science and Technology
Room 6E45;, Headquarters
9 September 1981
The attached mete for the DOCI is a revised
version of the original which we discusse'c.Lwith
you and0 As I mentioned, a decision is
needed soon lx-fore the new scheme for Language
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Director, Foreign Broadcast
Information Servicge
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CONFiDENTIAL.
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
THROUGH: Deputy Director for Science and Technology
FROM:
Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
SUBJECT: Eligibility for Language Use Awards)
1. This memorandum requests that you reconsider a 24 November 1980
decision of the then DDCI which bars Language Use Awards (LUA) for
virtually all Headquarters employees. Policy recommendations in this
area for your approval are contained in paragraph.7. ^
2. You recently made the decision to reserve the Language
Incentive Program (LIP) awards for those personnel who acquire and/or
maintain language skills in addition to their primary responsibilities.
The 30 June 1981 memorandum containing this decision noted that this
would henceforth disqualify language specialists for LIP awards in the
language or mutually intelligible languages for which they were hired.
3. When the former DDCI made his decision at the 24 November 1980
Executive Committee meeting (which your 30 June 1981 memorandum
reconfirmed), he made another decision which now awaits implementation
together with the one which affects language specialists: He decided
that henceforth only personnel. serving in language-required positions
overseas would be eligible to receive the LUA. Implementation of this
decision was delayed until the study of awards for language specialists
was completed. That done, it is my understanding that that decision
will also become effective on 4 October 1981. r _I
4. In the implementation of these decisions two potential
inequities have arisen which require your approval to correct. These
concern: a) personnel based at Headquarters who are not language
specialists but who use language skills in their work and will lose
their eligibility for the Language Use Award (one of the three awards
comprising the program); b) language specialists who, after EOD,
acquire proficiency in languages other than those for which they were
hired.
?. `,DD/FBIS
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_C/AG
1Lfi( _C/PROD
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SUBJECT: Eligibility for Language Use Awards
S. With respect to the first category'of personnel: While an
overseas-oriented language program is certainly required, it is no less
important to recognize the need for language expertise in Headquarters-
based positions and for personnel whose effectiveness is increased by
additional language capability. The effect of the former DDCI's decision
would be to preclude eligibility for an LUA for any Headquarters-assigned
officer (with exceptions approved by the ExCom for certain personnel in
OTS, OSO, DDO/FR, and DCD). This course seems to me incompatible with
the basic thrust of a vigorous language incentive program and with your
own strong support of such a program. It would remove a positive feature
from our recruitment arsenal and would eliminate a major incentive for
Agency officers to acquire and use foreign languages in support of their
missions. The LUA spurs analysts, and others who need language for
research purposes, to achieve the necessary skills, and it rewards those
who use such skills. If these remain desirable Agency goals, then it
is self-defeating to focus s on overseas functions when it comes
to eligibility for the LUA. 7
6. With. respect to the second category of personnel: The terms
of your 30 June memorandum suggest the possibility that the LUA may be
paid to language specialists for fluency in a language other than that
for which they were hired. This seems eminently consistent with a
program designed to encourage acquisition. of language skills, and it
is an option which I would wish to use in maintaining the FBIS language
complement. It would, however, be precluded by a policy which limited
the LUA to overseas positions.
7. Your approval is therefore requested for the following policies
in implementing the Language Use Award element of the LIP:
a. That the LUA continue to be available to Headquarters-
assigned personnel.
b. Because requirements for language use are so diverse in
each office of each Directorate, that each Directorate be
permitted to specify those positions at Headquarters that should
qualify for the LUA.
c. That language specialists be eligible for an LUA for a
language other than the language or mutually intelligible
languages for which they were hired. F
Attachment:
30 Jun 81 memo
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SUBJECT: Eligibility for Language Use Awards
Deputy Director for Science and Technology Date
Deputy Director o Central Intelligence Date
DDS&T/FBIS/PROD (4 Sep 81)
Distribution:
Original - Addressee,'w/ att (return D/FBIS)
1 - DDCI, w/att
1 - DCI, w/att
1 - Exec. Registry, w/att
2 - DDS$T, w/att
1 - D/FBIS Chrono, w/att
1 - C/Prod, w/att
1 - Prod Grp Chrono, w/att
1 - FBIS Registry, w/att
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ANAAm"'RATF
EXCOM 81-9024
DZIS6T#
30 June 1981
MEMOPUAI DUM FOR: Director of Personnel
FROM Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT Follow-up on 6 May Executive Committee
Classification and Compensation of Language Specialists
REFERENCE . Memorandum from OPPPM (OPPPi?1 81-1685), dated 31 March 1981,
same subject
1. After additional thought, I agree that we should reserve the
Language Incentive Program (LIP) awards for those people who acquire
and/or maintain language skills in addition to their primary and/or
other responsibilities. I therefore concur with. Harry Fitzwater's
suggestion in the referenced' memorandum that language specialists
should no longer be eligible for LIP awards for fluency in the language
or mutually intelligible languages for which they were hired. To ease
the transition to this policy, I also approve the suggested one-time
pay adjustment of a one-step increase for those language specialists
presently receiving awards.
2. This decision in no way lessens the importance I place on
language skills for the Agency. When appropriate, I would encourage
managers to reward language specialists for exceptional performance
through Q.S.I.s or other Agency achievement award programs.
. Admiral, U.S. Navy
Excr"r; i> "---ittee Members
STAT
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