The Fluent Forces Act directs the Department of Defense to improve recruitment of military personnel for foreign language training at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), which the military uses to prepare linguists and cultural specialists for national security missions. Starting December 31, 2025, and annually through 2030, the Secretary of Defense must submit detailed assessments to Congress identifying which high schools the military recruits from, how many recruits actually attend the language institute, and what obstacles prevent recruitment of qualified candidates. The assessments must also include recommendations for better recruiting methods and procedures for documenting successful high school outreach efforts, along with measurable progress benchmarks. The bill recognizes that foreign language proficiency among military personnel is critical for counterterrorism efforts, intelligence gathering, diplomatic engagement, and cooperation with allied forces, especially given the continued importance of human interaction despite advances in technology.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.