1 startalk chicago conference * * * * * 16 october 2009 unclassifed

1

STARTALK

Chicago Conference

* * * * *

16 October 2009

UNCLASSIFED

UNCLASSIFED

2

ODNI/FLPO Update

• English for Heritage Language Speakers Program (EHLS) (August)

- http://www.cal.org/ehls/

• National Intelligence Strategy (NIS) (August/September)

- http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/20090915_release.pdf

• Comprehensive Plan Needed to Address Persistent Foreign Language Shortfalls (September)

- http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09955.pdf

• STARTALK Program Review (September)

- Key Program Management Stakeholders- Strategic Planning Session Later in 2009

• Cultural Guidelines – FLPO to Language and Culture Office (October)

- http://www.iiss.org/recent-key-addresses/general-stanley-mcchrystal-address/- Strategic Plan for Foreign Language and Culture, 2010-2015

3

National Intelligence Strategy

• Six Mission Objectives (MO) and Seven Enterprise Objectives (EO)

MO 3: Provide Strategic Intelligence and Warning

“Warn of strategic trends and events so that policymakers, military officials, and civil authorities can effectively deter, prevent, or respond to threats and take advantage of opportunities.”

- Increase the quantity and fluency of our foreign language capability.

EO 6: Develop the Workforce

“Attract, develop, and retain a diverse, results-focused, and high-performing workforce capable

of providing the technical expertise and exceptional leadership necessary to address our Nation’s

security challenges.”

- Build a diverse and balanced workforce. Employ, develop, and retain a workforce that

reflects diversity in its broadest context — culture, ethnicity, ancestry, race, gender, language,

and experiences — properly balanced among its military, civilian, and contractor components.

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ODNI/FLPO Update











5

GAO Report

“State continues to have notable gaps in its foreign language capabilities, which could hinder U.S. overseas operations…As of October 31, 2008, 31 percent of officers in all worldwide language-designated positions did not meet both the foreign language speaking and reading proficiency requirements for their positions, up slightly from 29 percent in 2005.”

“In particular, State continues to face foreign language shortfalls in areas of strategic interest — such as the Near East and South and Central Asia, where about 40 percent of officers in language-designated positions did not meet requirements.”

“Gaps were notably high in Afghanistan, where 33 of 45 officers in language-designated positions (73 percent) did not meet the requirement, and in Iraq, with 8 of 14 officers (57 percent) lacking sufficient language skills.”

“Shortfalls in supercritical needs languages, such as Arabic and Chinese, remain at 39 percent, despite efforts to recruit individuals with proficiency in these languages.”

- September 2009

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ODNI/FLPO Update











7

Cultural Guidelines

General McChrystal Comments at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS)

“In some ways, we have not overcome some of our intrinsic disadvantages. We are operating

in a very different culture, with language differences, relationships that do not exist and a

complex situation that takes time to understand, yet we have not effectively developed

enough expertise, continuity of people or sufficient numbers of language-trained people to

deal with the situation as effectively as we could have.”

- 1 October 2009

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ODNI/FLPO Update











9

STARTALK

Chicago Conference

* * * * *

16 October 2009

UNCLASSIFED

UNCLASSIFED

1 startalk chicago conference * * * * * 16 october 2009 unclassifed

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