Navy Defense Foreign Language
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One thing that's amazed me throughout my Navy career are the sailors that have learned a foreign language to a high degree of proficiency while stationed in another country. It makes me proud to see a sailor immerse themselves so well into another culture. Actually I get a little jealous when I see them speak a foreign language!

What boggles my mind though is that few sailors document this proficiency in their service records. Regardless if you just CLEP it or take the Defense Language Proficiency Test, you should have it entered it in your service record as a permanent entry.

Know this! The Defense Foreign Language Program is open to anyone in the Navy who wishes to establish their proficiency in this area. Just contact your ESO and make an arrangement to take the test. - it's free. There are different degrees of foreign proficiency, from basic to advanced, but you want it entered in your service record.

Note
There are immediate opportunities for E-2 through E-5 personnel who are native or near native speakers of the following:

FRENCH, ARABIC, PERSIAN-FARSI, CHINESE (MANDARIN), KOREAN, VIETNAMESE, SERBIAN, CROATIAN, AND RUSSIAN.

If you've read my blurb in the professional development section, you want your this skill entered in your service record regardless of what your goals are; even if you move beyond the Navy. You never know what path it will lead to. You may also qualify for the Navy's Foreign Language Proficiency Pay (FLPP.)

If you'd like to make translation a full time job the Cryptologic Technician Interpretive (CTI) rate may be for you. See your career counselor for more details on changing your rate. There are several requirements you'll have to meet before qualifying for this demanding rate!

Even if you are just learning, please use it to your advantage. Continue your studies with some college or online courses. Many sailors have learned through self-study while stationed overseas but you want to take a course once in a while and have it documented.

Whatever you do, talk to your ESO and arrange to take the defense foreign language proficiency test as soon as you're ready. Not only will you benefit yourself but the Navy also. The Navy is in constant need of speakers like Arabic for example so give it a try and improve your career opportunities at the same time.