BACKGROUND AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE LINGUISTIC PROBLEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82B00421R000100030014-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 23, 2005
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: April 30, 1976
• Content Type: MF

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USIB-D-78. 2/1
30 April 1976
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SUBJECT Background and Recommendations on
the Linguistic Problem
The enclosed memorandum to the Director of Central Intelligence
from on this subject and its attachment are circulated
for the information of the Board at this time.
2. Mr. Bush has approved the recommendation in paragraph 9 to
establish an ad hoc task force of Intelligence Community representatives,
preferably including the respective foreign language directors, to be
chaired by an IC Staff member to:
a. Review the recommendations contained in the survey
conducted by the IC Staff,
b. Determine the feasibility of implementing those
recommendations requiring cooperative Community efforts, and
c. Develop an implementation plan that would be recommended
to the DCI for his approval and submission to the USIB for consideration.
USIB ACTION REQUESTED
as the representative on this task for
3, has designated If the IC Staff
to chair this a oc tas force. Each USIB Principal, if appropriate, is
requested to provide the USIB Secretariat by close of business 11 May, of the
name, mailing address and phone number of the person he wishes to serve
Executive Secretary
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 MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy to the DCI for the Intelligence
Community
SUBJECT Background and Recommendations on
the Linguistic Problem
1. Concern about linguistic requirements and the decline
in quality and availability of linguists has been a recurring
issue in the Intelligence Community. These topics were raised
on numerous occasions by Mr. Colby during program and budget
review sessions and in USIB and IRAC meetings. Following the
11 August 1975 IRAC meeting, the IC Staff was tasked to look
into the linguistic problem.
2. A survey of CIA, DoD (reporting for all DoD agencies
including NSA and the Services) and State was made by the
IC Staff to obtain the following data:
a. Linguist requirements by language.
b. Language training and quality shortfalls
and the most critical languages.
c. Normal assignments of linguists.
d. Immediate, mid-term and long-range
plans for training and application of linguistic
talent.
e. Efforts in research and development
directed toward improvements in language processing.
f. Recommendations for improving the
linguist problem.
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3. The information obtained through the survey reveals the
complexity of the linguistic problem and supports the contention
that a shortage of skilled linguists exists and will become more
extreme in the coming years unless affirmative steps are taken.
Within the Intelligence Community we are dealing with about 60
different languages, some 20 of these being identified as the
most critical and about 20-30 uncommon languages (e.g., Afrikaans,
Kzakh, Mongolian, Uighur, etc.), some of which do not exist in
written form. In this latter category of languages, we have
few, if any, linguists with skills at Level 2 or above.
4. Although remedial measures can be taken to raise the
quality of linguists at the lower levels where the supply is
adequate for most languages, only years of experience and advanced
training in languages and substantive specialties can impart
those skills needed at the higher levels where the impact of a
shortfall is greatest. Attainment of these additional skills
requires an investment and a commitment from the individual
who, in turn, looks for compensation through career advancement
as a linguist.
5. Respondents to the survey identify the lack of adequate
career opportunities and rewards as a key factor contributing to
the decline in quality and supply of skilled linguists. Most
of the organizations provided recommendations for overcoming
these and other deficiencies (Attachment A) and are taking steps
to enhance the foreign language career field, but progress has
been slow, particularly in those cases where cooperative action
is required. For example, one of the recommendations suggests
the interservice detailing of military linguists to overcome
temporary deficits in specific languages. As it stands this
is an excellent suggestion, but no mechanism currently exists
for brokering linguistic talents.
6. The elements of a brokering system would emerge, however,
if we were to follow another suggestion and establish a linguist
registry so that we would know the skill level, expertise, assign-
ments, and availability of the Intelligence Community linguists.
This registry could include selected cleared linguists who are
not part of the Intelligence Community but possess uncommon or
critical language abilities.
7. This brief discussion highlights the principal facets
of the linguistic problem and identifies some steps that need to
be taken to improve the quality and availability of skilled
linguists. Greatest benefits will come from developing a career
program that attracts and retains specialists with combined
linguistic and substantive or technical skills; a program that
makes the career of these specialists as attractive as those
of the engineer or the manager. More attractive job opportunities
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and career incentives for skilled linguists in Government service
may do much to rekindle an interest in languages and stem the
fall-off in enrollment in language courses on campuses.
8. There are other aspects of the problem dealing with
matters of common concern that can be handled more effectively
through a cooperative community effort. A mechanism for
addressing these issues would be to form an ad hoc task force of
Intelligence Community representatives under the~'Ic. irection of an
IC Staff member.
9. A recommended interim attack on the linguistic problem
is to :
a. Encourage the departments and agencies
through the commitment of resources to establish
an enhanced career program for those specialists
with combined linguistic and substantive skills
and to take such other measures that would make
selection of this career field both attractive and
rewarding.
b. Establish an ad hoc task force of
Intelligence Community representatives, preferably
including the respective foreign language
directors, under the direction of an IC Staff
member to :
(1) review the recommendations contained
in the survey conducted by the IC Staff;
(2) determine the feasibility of
implementing those recommendations requiring
cooperative Community efforts; and
(3) develop an implementation plan
that would be recommended to the DCI for
his approval and submission to the USIB
for consideration.
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Attachment ho
Enclosure
USIB-D -78. 2/1
30 April 1976
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
LINGUISTIC PROBLEM
-
The following comments and recommendations have been
extracted from the reports provided by the departments and agencies
in reponse to the survey conducted by the IC Staff.
The Agency considers the following steps necessary to offset
the growing net losses in foreign language skills, particularly
at the high proficiency levels:
a. An increased emphasis on recruitment of
employees with verified foreign language skills at
Level 3 or better, particularly in languages where
greatest deficiencies exist in Language-Designated
Positions and in the "high-loss rate" languages.
b. An intensified effort on the part of the
Agency, and the Federal Government as a whole, to
convey to the academic community the general nature
of foreign language needs and related job opportunities;
particular emphasis is needed to describe the
proficiency levels which are needed in reading
(translating) and speaking foreign languages.
c. A concerted program to be undertaken
within the Agency to provide further training and
other language development opportunities for
personnel who already have attained Level 2 and 3
skills.
d. A reexamination of the Language-Designated
Positions within the Agency to assure that the needs
for skills are properly identified so that recruiting,
training and staffing plans will be established on a
more realistic basis.
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U. S. Air Force
a. Recommend that a careful inventory of military
reserve forces be made to identify linguists, some of
whom may already possess near-native proficiencies.
Consider recalling reserve linguists to active duty to
meet critical linguist needs (e.g., filling a key air
attache position) .
b. Modify DLI training to meet the distinct
requirements of the cryptologic (USAFSS) and non-
cryptologic (I1UMINT, DIA, JSC, FTD, and air attache)
linguist users.
c. Authorize resource training, so that a
linguist pool may be built as a resource ready for
contingencies. Provide language tapes and books
to help maintain proficiency when language is not
used in everyday job.
U. S. Army
This initial review of intelligence linguist capabilities
within this Department has raised significant issues associated
with shortfalls in quantity, quality, management, training and
utilization. These issues have been the subject of a DA Staff
Linguist Personnel Study (ALPS) since 15 June 1975; a more
intensive and complementary effort is concurrently in progress
concerning only Army Intelligence linguists. This assessment
is being carried out under the cognizance of the OASCI Linguist
Consultant Board (LINCOB) , established on 15 July 1975. The
LINCOB assists the ACSI by analyzing, evaluating, reviewing and
recommending adjustments to Army linguist programs with the
objective of assuring that:
a. A coherent and effective linguist policy
for Army intelligence is developed, maintained and
reflected in applicable intelligence doctrine and
concepts.
b. OPLAN requirements for intelligence
linguists are consistent with pertinent doctrine,
and are realistic, supportable and documented.
c. Intelligence positions requiring a
linguistic capability are identified in applicable
authorization documents, to include respective
required levels of proficiency.
 d. Appropriately trained personnel are
assigned to validated intelligence positions
requiring a linguist.
e. Acquisition of intelligence linguists
receives appropriate advertising, sales promotion
and recruiting support to insure relative parity
between requirements and assets is maintained.
f. The career development of intelligence
linguists is afforded equity with other special-
ities.
g. Intelligence linguists, especially in
CONUS and Hawaii, receive realistic utilization
and challenging training to maximize maintenance
of proficiency.
h. USAR intelligence linguists assets are
fully factored into contingency planning and are
afforded comparable utilization, challenge, incentive
and career development as active duty intelligence
linguists. These complementary efforts are expected
to be completed by mid-December 1975, and a full
report of LINCOB findings and recommendations will
be forwarded for your review.
U. S. Navy
(1) Cash bonuses for increased
proficiency, scaled higher for critical
languages and/or levels, supported by
continuing "proficiency pay" for maintained
capabilities.
(2) Generous travel funding of
attendance at international conferences and
training courses where critical and major
languages will be used - to be available
to both translators and analysts of "Limited
Working" proficiency and upwards.
(3) Encouragement of intelligence analysts
to take initial language training on a part
time basis during working hours, with an
initial full time exposure (2-3 months) at DLI.
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 b. Use local institution resources on a
consultant or contract basic, informing them of
special needs of language training/skills for
intelligence workers and, so, encourage the forming
of appropriate courses to meet our needs.
c. Cross train translators and intelligence
analysts by exchange internships.
U. S. Marine Corps
a. The overriding requirement in the area of
language training is to increase the ability of DLI
graduates to speak the particular language. This
requires a shift in emphasis at DLI from aural to
oral abilities. To this end, the Marine Corps is
formalizing its language training objectives require-
ments for submission to DLI. The ultimate solution
may well require DLI to conduct parallel courses in
each language: one for cryptologic linguists and one
for general intelligence personnel.
b. To assist in the continuing training of
interrogator-translator personnel, a formal system
of intermediate/advanced courses in the more critical
languages should be established. A statement of
Marine Corps requirements in this regard is being
prepared.
Encourage personnel with existing language capabilities to
maintain their proficiency levels by providing financial
assistance for refresher courses, various assignments where
there are language requirements, etc.
State
"With respect to recommendations for solving the linguist
problems, I believe you have made the right beginning by
assessing requirements and resources."