We're looking into the idea of recruiting former "09-Limas"

The US Army’s “09 Lima” program recruits native speakers of key languages, sends them to boot camp and then into action with the troops. What happens after they fulfill their military commitment? We have a thought.


Video about 09-Limas.

The NLSC hopes to recruit these individuals as they leave the 09 Lima program. The idea is that when these individuals complete their commitment, they continue their service as NLSC members. They would serve on an occasional, as-needed basis, available in the event there’s a sudden need for their language skills.

When 09 Limas complete their commitment, they go through the DoD’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP). TAP was developed to assist military personnel and family members leaving the service in preparing for the return to civilian life. We would like the NLSC to be an option for the departing soldiers. We think it would be a win-win as the former 09 Limas could continue to use their language skills, and the country would continue to benefit from their training and experience.

The 09 Lima program began in February 2003 when the assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs was given the task to recruit native speakers to assist U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan with interpretations, translations, cultural familiarity and an understanding of the nuances of body language. The three languages most needed were Dari and Pashto, the two most prevalent languages spoken in Afghanistan, and Arabic. When the program began, the Army had both contractor and Army-trained linguists. While contractors are civilians, the 09 Limas are in uniform as Army personnel.

The 51st Translator and Interpreter Company was the the first company of of native linguists-turned-soldiers and was activated by the Army in October 2008.