The Defense Department wants to establish a civilian organization comprised of volunteers and contractual employees who would provide language skills throughout the federal sector. The Pentagon plans to set up the pilot Language Corps over the next three years and expects to have “no fewer than 1,000 members drawn from all sectors of the US population,” according to a May 8 release. The effort would implement an element of the President’s National Security Language Initiative formerly labeled the Civilian Linguist Reserve Corps. In a second May 8 announcement, the Pentagon revealed that it has awarded grants totaling $2 million to Indiana University, San Diego State University, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Texas at Austin to develop a new ROTC Language and Culture Project. This effort would “expose ROTC cadets and midshipmen to the study of languages and cultures of the world critical to national security.”
The Air Force plans to have its new Integrated Capabilities Command stood up by the end of 2024, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said May 2, offering new details of one of the signature reforms announced by the service earlier this year. Allvin said around 500-800 Airmen will…