SOF Language Training or Even Old Dogs Must Learn New Tricks
In olden days when giant Green Berets walked the earth and language training was not part of the Special Forces Qualification Course, one found language training when and where one could. This usually meant the much-coveted permanent change of station (PCS) to the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey, California. So Special Forces was soon divided into the language “haves” and the language “have nots.” I was lucky enough to get the coveted permanent change of station to the Defense Language Institute on my way back from 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Vietnam, but it was to the east coast branch in the District of Columbia (which I didn’t even know existed before I was sent there) for German. I was going to PCS further to Detachment “A” in the Berlin Brigade. I received twenty-three weeks of excellent instruction and came out of that experience speaking and reading at the 3/3 level.
When language training was finally placed in the Special Forces Qualification Course every one received region group appropriate language training but the result was not at the 3/3 level of expertise like one received at the Defense Language Institute. At least everyone had some knowledge. This meant that language sustainment rose in importance. Also over the years, the languages of interest changed. As example, the Defense Language Institute does not even support German sustainment training any more.
So, when I decided to put aside my 1971 German and take something else, I settled on Dari, which is Farsi (Persian), which is Tajik. What I had found before I started this was the USSOCOM “Special Operations Forces Teletraining System” website: https://softsonline.org/. This Special Operations Forces Teletraining System (SOFTS), is a program that takes advantage of commercial off-the-shelf technology to deliver real-time language & culture training to SOF Soldiers anywhere in the world. This means those who are unable to attend traditional classes at traditional training institutions on a full time basis (like me-I got a day job) can master a language. The difference between this computer based method and the average computer based training drill is that this technology enables all of the usual instructional functions of a regular, real classroom: face-to-face interaction of students and instructors; speaking, reading, and writing in script; one-on-one drills; after hours tutoring; individual and group activities. It’s not just ”here’s the CD, have at it.”
How does this work? You basically sit in class at your computer, usually at home in the evening if in CONUS, for two hours, and see, speak, and interact with the instructor and the other three or four students by your own video teleconference (VTC) link on your home computer. Some of the great benefits of this are greater flexibility in setting class hours (of course you have to convince the other students of a cooperative time), instant access to online content, ease of saving sound, video, and other content for later study, and portability. This portability means that students and teachers can train regardless of their geographic location as long as the individual has access to broadband internet. I usually take class from somewhere in the Middle East at morning hours my time which are evening hours for my instructor. They run courses with class members in different countries and hence, different time zones. So, Soldiers “attended” even when in transit on TDY or PCS via Wi-Fi hot spots and hotel internet connections. I have done this many times. The SOFTS help desk is great in tweaking computer links to help connect. This method extends training to remote sites where finding an instructor would be nearly impossible. SOFTS enables assembling a class of students with like needs rapidly since they no longer have to limit the search to a single site.
If you go to the website https://softsonline.org/ you will see a list of ongoing and planned classes that start at “Absolute Beginner,” (that is 0/0) or “High Novice” (1/1) or “Low Intermediate.” (1+/1+) all the way to “High Intermediate” which is 2+/2+. The languages they cover are quite wide, all the ones of SOF interest and I have found the help desk, the instructors and the SOF Language Office staff great to work with. So, BLUF, as we say: If I can learn a new language at age 62, what is your excuse not to do it too?
- Warner D. “Rocky” Farr, MD
COL USA
SOCCENT Surgeon