USAF Security Forces and Foreign Language Skills in the Global Environment Are We Prepared?

Since the end of the Cold War, the USAF has become a small, CONUS-based expeditionary force. Our missions are increasingly combined in nature, and we depend heavily on Host Nation Security Forces (HNSF) to provide our overseas security. In this environment, foreign language skills are extremely important. However, the USAF Security Forces, without a reliable method to develop and employ these skills, is ill-prepared to operate at maximum capability in this new environment. In the critical mission areas of Force Protection (FP) and Air Base Defense (ABD), SF must rely on Host Nation Security Force Personnel (HNSFP) to provide forces and intelligence. However, the SF must rely on the HNSFP to speak English, hire civilian national translators, or borrow qualified personnel from other USAF units to facilitate communication. Utilizing these methods, the SF commander is not assured of rapid, accurate, and reliable communication with HNSFP. There are ways to alleviate the problem. Possible programs include creating SF Foreign Area Officers, and training NCOs as linguists. Also, the SF should include linguists in all deploying SF units, utilizing any qualified person to fill the position. Also, the SF need to improve the hiring and training of host nation civilian translators, and encourage the assignment of dedicated host nation military personnel to in-place SF. Without SF action to address this problem, mission accomplishment overseas will become increasingly more difficult and complicated.