Air Force officials to conduct survey to identify foreign language skills

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. C. Todd Lopez
  • Air Force Print News
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley recently approved a survey to identify the foreign language capability inherent in the Air Force. The purpose of the online survey is to allow Air Force officials to get a better understanding of the foreign language skills in the force so they can better determine the language skills that must be developed for tomorrow's operational missions. 

"The Air Force is actively engaged in operations all over the world, the most visible being those supporting the Global War on Terror," General Moseley said. "An important lesson we continue to learn is that the ability to speak a foreign language is a critical warfighting skill. We found that many Airmen have foreign language skills that have not been documented, so we are canvassing the force to more accurately determine our resident foreign language capability." 

General Moseley has made completion of the survey mandatory for all enlisted members and for officers in the grades lieutenant colonel and below. The survey presents Airmen with a list of languages. Airmen are asked to identify which of those languages they have skills in, and to what degree they possess those skills. 

If an Airman demonstrated sufficient skill in a language of strategic value to the Air Force, that Airman may be able to qualify for foreign language proficiency pay. Sufficient skill in a single language can raise an Airman's pay by as much as $500 per month. Airmen with skills in multiple strategic languages can earn as much as $1,000 per month. Airmen should contact their military personnel flight testing office to sign up to take a defense language proficient test if they want to see if they are eligible for th FLPP. At Malmstrom, the person to contact is Mike Giordino at the Education and Training Center, 731-4349. Tests will be given by appointment. 

Each Airman will receive a link to the survey via e-mail. Survey officials encourage the recipient to access the survey using the link in the e-mail. If for some reason an Airman does not receive a link, he or she may access the survey at this restricted Air Force Survey Web site: https://survey.af.mil/srvyonl/ sentry/FLSA2.htm. The link is accessible through the end of this month.