Defense Language Office

Post 9/11 operations reinforce the reality that the Department of Defense (DoD) needs a significantly improved capability in foreign language skills, enhanced regional expertise, and a surge capability to respond to sudden unexpected rises in requirements in one or more languages and related regional expertise on short notice. The Department is undertaking an important series of steps to ensure that the necessary foreign language capability and accompanying regional area expertise are developed and maintained to be employed as strategic assets in future operations. The purpose of this website is to provide information regarding DoD language and regional expertise programs and the organizations that support the Defense Language Program (DLP). It also provides the opportunity to educate audiences inside and outside government about the short- and long-range goals of the DLP.