5.3 What is Kenneth’s job like?
Kenneth Bond and Allison Yakel
Language skills are a big part of military service, and how well someone scores on an annual test is directly tied to pay raises. Kenneth’s job helps military members prepare for these tests and score as well as they possibly can. Let’s learn more about what he does at work!
Transcript: “I work with active duty military members. I teach them refresher courses as an instructor within the Air Force. I’m able to teach active duty members refresher courses as they come here and work in operations they initially receive their language instruction in Monterrey, California at the Defense Language Institute, once they come here though they are required to receive a refresher course every year, and they come to me and other instructors for those courses. They are intense courses that last four weeks, that’s basically 7 hours of instruction with 1 one of homework in the evenings. As active duty members they are required to maintain their language ability, and as they do so they are able to do better in tests that they have on an annual basis, and as they do well on those tests, it translates into better salary options for them.”
While Kenneth teaches refresher courses within the Air Force, there are several jobs in the military that deal with languages. Being a linguist is one option, but there are also jobs in embassies for both enlisted members and officers that require language skills. Similarly, there are jobs in military headquarters such as Northern Command, Southern Command, Africa Command, etc. where people are needed with linguistic skills in specific languages, and these positions can involve travel to or living in other continents and countries.
