Potential assignment for Vietnamese speakers

The National Language Service Corps is looking for Vietnamese speakers for an interpretation/translation assignment in Vietnam from February to April, 2012. This potential assignment involves being part of a recovery team comprised of up to 12 individuals for a six-week Prisoner of War (POW) and/or Missing in Action (MIA) search mission to recover the remains of unaccounted for U.S. servicemen and civilians. The locations of this potential assignment will be in remote parts of Vietnam and will require rugged travel. Candidates will need to be physically fit and able to withstand austere living conditions for an extended period of time.

You must join the NLSC in order to be considered.  If you meet the required qualifications listed below, and are interested in finding out more about this potential opportunity, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible.

Required qualifications:

• Available to travel to Vietnam from February 2, 2012 - April 10, 2012
• Professional interpretation/translation experience in Vietnamese to/from English (Northern dialect preferred)
• Experience working in a military environment and familiarity with military terminology
• Ability to interact professionally with local nationals, Vietnamese officials, and team members
• Ability to handle coming into contact with human remains during excavations
• Ability and willingness to work as an integral part of a recovery team
• Ability and willingness to work in austere conditions (e.g., living in a tent in a camp)
• Ability to withstand high heat and humidity and tropical weather for extended periods
• Ability to walk, hike, carry a backpack and conduct digging at excavation sites
• Willingness to work extended work weeks (10 days in a row, with one day off)
• Willingness to work flexible hours on a 24-hour standby basis, outside of normal working hours.
• Knowledge of culture, geography and political history of Vietnam
• Current passport with an expiration date after October 11, 2012
• Willingness to take both a DLPT and OPI language test administered by NLSC Language Certification Team
• Willingness to be federally hired

Secret clearance preferable. 

If you meet these qualifications, and are interested and available to assist as an NLSC language volunteer in the capacity of a Vietnamese interpreter/translator, please apply to join the NLSC as soon as possible. There is no membership fee to join the NLSC.  All Members are volunteers but are paid a stipend for any hours worked. This is not a full-time position, but rather a short-term assignment. Further details will be provided upon your selection as a potential candidate.

To be accepted as an NLSC Member, you must be at least 18 years old and a U.S citizen.  To apply to join, click here and then click Apply.  When prompted for an EXP code, enter 12-03. Also, when prompted, upload your resume in Microsoft Word format.  Your resume should highlight your translation/interpretation-related experience and education.