Navy Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture Office (LREC) is highlighting a new opportunity for Sailors looking to exercise their language skills and expand expertise across the service.

Navy is requesting four to six Sailors who will participate in the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center standard setting panel for the Hindi language. This panel will be held March 21-24 in Baltimore, MD.

Navy applicants must meet criteria of being active duty, achieve an Interagency Language Roundtable score of level 3 in English listening and reading, and are current within two years for a Defense Language Proficiency Test, or over the phone test with a score of 3 and above in Hindi.

Recommendations will be accepted from up to 17 members on a first-come-first-serve basis. Panelist should consist of both native speakers of English with high level of proficiency in Hindi, and native or heritage speakers of Hindi with strong English skills.

"These panels are important for developing the standards by which language is tested across the services," said Master Chief Petty Officer Kenneth Paulsen, Navy LREC Office. "Sailors would help review each test question and make a recommendation on how difficult they would be for a non-native speaker, essentially giving the test the accuracy that will help develop the best language professionals we need."

The Defense Language Institute will pay temporary duty assignment (TDY) expenses for qualified service members. Participation in the standard-setting study is on a first-come-first-served basis.

Sailors may benefit from foreign language testing regardless of the individual's eligibility for a foreign language proficiency bonus. The American Council on Education recommends college credits for certain languages based on proficiency levels achieved on the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT). Details are available via your local Navy college office.

DLIFLC will pay TDY expenses for active service members. Recommended panelists who are active service members are advised to contact Ms. Jungeun Youn at Jungeun.youn@dliflc.edu for information regarding their TDY to the Hindi study.

Enlisted Sailors who attain scores of L1+/R1+ or better, via DLPT (S1+ or better via oral proficiency interview) also earn a Navy enlisted classification code to document the language skill(s) in their personnel records.

Sailors interested in taking a language test must schedule a testing time through their local DLPT testing center.

Please send your recommendations and requests Master Chief Kenneth Paulsen, Kenneth.paulsen@navy.mil.

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