The Navy Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture (LREC) Office (OPNAV N13F) is seeking nominations for the Fiscal Year 2016 Language Professional of the Year (LPOY), Linguist of the Year (LOY), and Command Language Program of the Year (CLPOY).

LOY and LPOY are awards presented to active duty, reserve and civilian members with foreign proficiencies who have distinguished themselves in support of the Navy's LREC mission. The CLPOY award recognizes the year's top command language programs in the Navy.

This year's essay topic for LPOY and LOY nominees is "describe a strategy to train and sustain military language professionals in your organization to a proficiency level 3/3 or better."

Guidelines for the essay include five double spaced, typewritten pages that do not include references or footnotes.

Nomination procedures are outlined in OPNAV Instruction 1650.31 for the command language program and in OPNAV Instruction 1650.32 for language professional and linguist awards.

Jan. 31 is the deadline to submit nomination packages to OPNAV N13F. Packages can be emailed to ALTN_N13F1@navy.mil. Questions may be directed to MCPO Kenneth Paulsen at (703) 604-5519 or via email at kenneth.paulsen@navy.mil.

For more information on language and culture programs, visit www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-NPC/career/language_culture/pages/default2.aspx.

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