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<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Via lgpolicy...</FONT></DIV>
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<P><FONT size=2><A href="http://washingtonindependent.com/75160/panetta-cracks-down-on-cia-foreign-language-deficiency">http://washingtonindependent.com/75160/panetta-cracks-down-on-cia-foreign-language-deficiency</A><BR><BR>Panetta Cracks Down on CIA Foreign-Language Deficiency<BR><BR> By SPENCER ACKERMAN 1/29/10 10:23 AM<BR>Under a new policy announced today by CIA director Leon Panetta, an<BR>intelligence officer can’t be promoted to the agency’s highest rank —<BR>the Senior Intelligence Service — without a demonstrated proficiency<BR>in a foreign language. From a CIA release:<BR><BR>While many senior Agency officers have tested proficient in a foreign<BR>language over the course of their careers, some have not kept their<BR>skills current. Under the new policy, promotions to SIS for most<BR>analysts and operations officers will be contingent on demonstrating<BR>foreign language competency. If an officer is promoted to SIS and does<BR>not meet the foreign language requirement within one year, he or she<BR>will return to their previous, lower grade. This is a powerful<BR>incentive to maintain and improve skills critical to the Agency’s<BR>global mission. Languages play a key role in the CIA’s work at all<BR>career levels.<BR><BR>“The stricter requirement for SIS promotion,” said Panetta, “is meant<BR>to ensure that leadership on this vital initiative comes from the<BR>executive level. With an unwavering commitment from SIS officers—to<BR>both lead by example and to support language proficiency at all<BR>levels—we will reach not only our language goals, but our ultimate<BR>objective: an Agency that is better positioned to protect our nation<BR>in the years ahead.”<BR><BR></FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>