Navy Language Professional of the Year

Big ups to Ricky Ogden, Navy FAO and Officer Language Professional of the Year!

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SUBJ/2011 LINGUISTS, LANGUAGE PROFESSIONALS AND COMMAND LANGUAGE 
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS//

RMKS/1.  EACH YEAR THE NAVY RECOGNIZES THE MOST OUTSTANDING LANGUAGE 
PROFESSIONALS AND COMMAND LANGUAGE PROGRAM.  THIS YEAR, FOUR NAVY 
SPECIFIC AWARD CATEGORIES WERE ADDED, TO INCLUDE AWARDS FOR NON-CAREER 
LINGUISTS.  

2.  IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THE NAVY'S 2011 AWARD 
WINNERS:
   A.  COMMAND LANGUAGE PROGRAM:  NAVY INFORMATION OPERATIONS COMMAND (NIOC) 
GEORGIA.
   B.  NAVY LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR:  CTI2 MICHAEL KATTNER FROM NIOC 
HAWAII.
   C.  SENIOR LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR:  CTIC ERICH KEOUGH FROM NIOC 
MARYLAND.
   D.  OFFICER LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR:  LT RICHARD J. OGDEN FROM 
MARITIME CIVIL AFFAIRS AND SECURITY TRAINING COMMAND.
   E.  LINGUIST OF THE YEAR (NON-CAREER):  CTR2 KRISHINA CHONBELL FROM NIOC 
MARYLAND.
   F.  SENIOR LINGUIST OF THE YEAR (NON-CAREER):  EMC TRUNG NGUYEN FROM 
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL MAINTENANCE CENTER.

3.  CTI2 KATTNER AND NIOC GEORGIA WILL REPRESENT NAVY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE LANGUAGE COMPETITION SPONSORED BY THE DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE 
FOREIGN LANGUAGE CENTER IN MONTEREY, CA.

4.  USS ESSEX DESERVES MENTION FOR ITS RESOURCEFUL COMMAND LANGUAGE PROGRAM 
(CLP).  THE ESSEX CLP DEMONSTRATED THE EXTENT TO WHICH LANGUAGE, REGIONAL 
EXPERTISE, AND CULTURE CAN BE APPLIED IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSIONS OF NAVY'S 
GENERAL PURPOSE OPERATING FORCES, AND SHOWED PARTICULAR INGENUITY IN 
INDENTIFYING AND LEVERAGING THE CREW'S RESIDENT LANGUAGE ABILITIES.  

5.  I EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE CONTINUING SUPPORT OF THESE VITAL 
NAVY LANGUAGE PROGRAMS AND OUTSTANDING SAILORS.  TO OUR AWARD WINNERS, THANK 
YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM.  PLEASE ACCEPT MY 
CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB EXCEPTIONALLY WELL DONE.

6.  RELEASED BY VICE ADMIRAL S. R. VAN BUSKIRK, N1.//

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Never Lost in Translation-FAO/Language Fluff Piece

Didn't know there was an advanced education magazine but good on 'em!

http://www.military-advanced-education.com/military-advanced-education/305-mae-2011-volume-6-issue-2-march/4002-never-lost-in-translation.html

Took the DLPT today

So I took the DLPT for French this morning. It was a lot longer than I remembered.  I last took the DLPT about two years ago.  I didn't study at all and scored a 2+/2+.

This time around I applied myself and studied a bit and scored a 2/3 (listening/reading).  I feel disappointed but I also have a much better idea of the level at which I need to be studying to score a 3/3.  I will try again in November.

When I study for any language test, I do the following:

I listen to french news podcasts, as well as french weather broadcasts.  I listen to plenty of news stories that have interviews--this is a weakness of mine.

I read french news and magazine articles (more so the magazine articles).   I  keep a database of words that I don't know and reviewed them regularly.  I pay particular attention to words that had to do with: healthcare, gangs and immigration.

If you have an NKO (Navy Knowledge Online) account you have free language training

There's no need to waste your money on Rosetta Stone, when you can use a far superior product for free: CL-150. 

NOTE:  However, you can get online access to a version of Rosetta Stone via your base or Pentagon library.  Just pop by there and they will fill you in. 


If you have a NKO (Navy Knowledge Online) account you have free language training (If you have FAOWeb access you can also access CL-150 for free).  You just need to log in to your account and go to the learning tab and follow the instructions.  The best part is that because it's sanctioned by the Navy, you are able to download and install this program on your NMCI computer.  That means while some other program is frozen on your computer, you can plug through flashcards on CL-150.  Evidently you can also download it to your Iphone once you register online.  One of the things I look forward to most about this software is that they have DLPT-style tests that you can take to prepare.  I am updating my DLPT for French at the end of April so I will post an update with my opinions on well the prep software measures up. 

After taking the French test I am going to work my way through the Portuguese software for 5 months and see how I do.  I don't know any Portuguese so this will be a good test.  I will be sure to share my observations. 

Money tip for Naval Aviators seeking lateral transfer to FAO community

Money tip for Naval Aviators seeking lateral transfer to FAO community

This instruction came out this past August and I was blissfully unaware of it until my flight pay stopped last month. I had thought that I wouldn’t lose my flight pay until I was redesignated as a Foreign Area Officer; in my case this won’t take place till the fall. However, as the instruction clearly states, I was wrong—you lose your flight pay (unless you are in a flying billet) no later than 30 days of the lateral transfer board results. Please forward this information on to others.


NOTE: It’s a bummer to lose my flight pay, but this is added incentive to update my DLPT so I can start getting paid for my French! Here’s a site I found that has a listing of all the DLPT testing sites. Shoot me a message if you’d like the direct number and POC here in the DC/MD/VA area.

Following are the pertinent parts of the instruction (it's also linked to the full instruction):

OPNAVINST 7220.18 AVIATION CAREER INCENTIVE PAY

6.e. Foreign Area Officers. Previously aeronautically designated officers who laterally transfer to the foreign area officer community are not entitled to ACIP. Foreign area

officers receiving DIFOPS orders to a flying attaché billet may be entitled to HDIP for flying provided that they meet the minimum flying requirements as prescribed in reference (b). Officers selected for lateral transfer to foreign area officers who are currently in a flying attaché billet will have ACIP terminated upon re-designation or transfer to a non-flying billet, whichever occurs first.

7.i. Transfer or Re-designation. Aviation officers who accept a lateral transfer into a community not entitled to ACIP will have their ACIP terminated upon acceptance of redesignation. Acceptance of re-designation occurs no later than

30 days from the release of the transfer or re-designation board results via a naval administrative (NAVADMIN) message. If an officer declines transfer or re-designation, they must inform NAVPERSCOM (PERS-435) to preclude suspension of ACIP. For officers in a DIFOPS billet (with billet designator XXX1 or XXX2) who accept transfer into a community not entitled to ACIP, ACIP will terminate upon transfer to a non-flying billet or redesignation, whichever occurs first.