5.4 How does Kenneth use Spanish in the military?
Kenneth Bond and Whitney Chappell
So, how does Kenneth and how do other military members use their Spanish in the military?
Transcript: “One of the best ways to use language skills in the military is becoming an active duty member, whether it be enlisted or officer. You can use your skills as a linguist, as I did, or you can also become, as an officer, you can become a foreign area officer and work in embassies around the world. If you’re assigned any number of languages, French or Portuguese, you can work in embassies around the world, you can perhaps even work in Paris, France if you learn French, you can even work for the Department of State, using your languages, also working in embassies around the world. There are many opportunities within the Armed Forces or within the government to use your language abilities.”
A linguist is usually an enlisted member who works with the language–translating or transcribing–in the intelligence area. Officers can also work in the intelligence area as leaders, and additional opportunities exist in foreign affairs, political affairs, public affairs in embassies. Enlisted members can work as language instructors at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, and officers might find a job as a language instructor teaching other officers in the military or other government agencies like the FBI or the State Department.
