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Home Global Operations

Special Ops Language Training Under Scrutiny After GAO Report

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals that while U.S. special operations forces are trained in a wide range of languages.

  • Editor Staff
  • November 3, 2023
190208-N-GC129-1004 SASEBO, Japan (Feb. 08, 2019) Cmdr. Jimmie Jensen, commanding officer of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), speaks with United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), Defense Capabilities and Management (DCM) team employees during a tour of the ship’s well deck. The employees visited the ship to gather information for a report on Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) in Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kirsten King)
(Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kirsten King USS Germantown)
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A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals that while U.S. special operations forces are trained in a wide range of languages, they often learn languages that are not useful in their deployments, and their language skills deteriorate over time due to other training priorities. The report highlights the need for reassessment of language training relevance and sustainment practices within special operations forces, as current practices do not always align with operational needs and cultural sensitivities.
  

Key Points: 

  1. The GAO report indicates that special operations forces are learning languages that are not always practical for their missions, with some languages being culturally inappropriate in certain regions.
  2. Special operators are struggling to maintain language proficiency amidst competing training priorities, which focus more on immediate survival and combat skills.
  3. Despite the Army spending over $30 million annually on language training, less than half of the special operations forces maintain their language skills due to insufficient sustainment training and a lack of clear consequences for not completing language training.
  4. SOCOM recommends 80 to 120 hours of annual language training to maintain proficiency, but actual training hours are falling short, with many service members not meeting these recommendations.
  5. There are calls for the Secretary of Defense to hold unit commanders accountable for the language proficiency of their personnel, recognizing the strategic value of language skills for effective communication and cultural understanding in operations abroad.

 

Source: https://taskandpurpose.com/history/special-forces-language-gao-report/ 

Editor Staff

Editor Staff

The Editor Staff at SOFX comprises a diverse, global team of dedicated staff writers and skilled freelancers. Together, they form the backbone of our reporting and content creation.

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