DoD Announces Increase in Foreign Language Pay

[Harold F. Schiffman]

>>From the U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE  No. 421-06
May 10, 2006

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DoD Announces Increase in Foreign Language Pay

            The Department of Defense announced today an increase in
Foreign Language Proficiency Pay (FLPP) for military personnel who qualify
effective June 1.  The Fiscal Year 2005 National Defense Authorization Act
authorizes the Secretary of Defense to increase FLPP pay from a maximum of
$300 per month to a maximum of $1,000 per month for qualified active duty
members and offer a $6,000 per year bonus for qualified Guard and reserve
members.  Enhancing the department's FLPP program is a critical facet of
the overall Defense Language Transformation initiative.  The purpose of
the program is to:

            Encourage people with a language capability to self-identify
in order to employ the language skills existing in the force.

            Encourage more people to study a language.  The Defense
Language Program must stimulate the acquisition of language skills and be
able to maintain language skills of strategic importance to the
department.

           Encourage people to increase their language proficiency to
create a cadre of language professionals operating at an advanced level of
proficiency.

           Increase the capability in languages of strategic need to the
department.

            The enhanced program will emphasize languages needed to
support the Global War on Terror, the recommendations of the Quadrennial
Defense Review, and those of strategic importance to the Department of
Defense.

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2006/nr20060510-13007.html