Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Military Interpreters are widely recognized as being among the finest military linguists in the Department of Defense (DoD). As evidence of their abilities, Agency teams have remained undefeated since the inception of the Worldwide Language Olympics (now known as “Language Competition”) in 1992. But, more important is the stellar reputation DTRA enjoys within the U.S. Government for its ability to put a large number of extremely capable Russian experts on the ground, wherever they are needed, virtually at a moments notice. The primary mission of DTRA Military Interpreters is to provide interpretation and arms control inspection expertise on U.S. inspection, escort and monitoring teams. As members of these arms control teams, they have actively participated in ridding the world of thousands of nuclear missiles and millions of tons of chemical and biological agents. Due to their high level of expertise, Agency linguists are also called on to conduct a wide variety of other missions for the U.S. Government. One of the first such missions came when the Soviet Union fell, in 1991, and teams from the On-Site Inspection Agency (a DTRA legacy organization) were assigned to support Project Provide Hope. Under this Department of State humanitarian relief program, teams were sent to each of the 15 former Soviet Republics to deliver medicines and other humanitarian aid. They were among the first (in some cases the first) Americans ever to set foot on the free soil of the Newly Independent Republics. DTRA linguists have since conducted hundreds of various challenging “adhoc” missions. Each linguist assigned to DTRA has the opportunity not only to see history in the making, but to play a key role in the actual events themselves. For those linguists who have been selected by the DTRA Linguist Recruiters, the road begins at the RACSPC Course at the Defense Language Institute (DLI), Monterey, California. The RACSPC Program was originally established in 1990, as the INF Treaty Course. For more than a decade, it would see few major changes. The course incorporated many of the features that continue to make the RACSPC so successful: Low student-to-teacher ratio; mission-focused training; real-world activities, such as interpreting excursions, etc. However, by 2002, for various reasons, it became clear that a general restructuring was in order. These are some of the key changes made to program: · Course extended (35-47 weeks) adding a 15-week Refresher Program, focusing mainly on grammar skills and vocabulary building · Increased emphasis on speaking skills (Including 1-on-1 Conversation) · All classes support/reinforce a broad (weekly) topical theme · Special selection procedures established to assemble highly-trained professional faculty · Complete scrub/update/enhancement of all course materials, replacing vast majority · Wide use of technology (and the understanding that it does not replace quality instructors) · Improved standardization, establishment of, and adherence to, Program of Instruction · Homework load specifically identified and tightly controlled In the DTRA Language Training Program, we are always looking for new and better ways to train our military linguists. We remain on the cutting edge in the use of technology, and are helping to drive some the most promising and forward-thinking initiatives in language education, including Diagnostic Assessments. This, combined with steadfast adherence to sound methodologies (with emphasis on fundamental skills) has resulted in our program being widely acclaimed as the “Model Program for DoD”. The RACSPC is our flagship program and proof of what can be done when DLI faculty, agency participation and the proper support, including funding, are brought to bear on real-world requirements. Thanks to the efforts of the RACSPC Staff, I am confident that we will continue to enjoy the success we do today. Wesley W. Reed, (former) DTRA Language Program Manager | 
