Can you talk a foreign language while in military uniform?
I am in the US Navy and witness something that offended me.I am Mex-American.This two Puerto Rican guys were talking in spanish in the ship and this Senior chief flipped out and chewed them out and was screaming saying don't speak that s*** here.He is a filipino and talks Tagalog most of the time with the other chiefs in front of other people who don't talk that language.I did some research but cant find anything.I don't have anything against filipinos but it really gets me mad because it seems they get exempt from these rules.
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Filed under: Spanish Language
There is no rule, regulation, memorandum, or even unwritten rule preventing someone in the military from speaking a foreign language while in uniform.
There is a requirement that all US service members be fluent in English to the extent that they can give or understand all orders clearly without hinderance, but that does not mean they are not allowed to speak another language in uniform. This is the United States, not Nazi Germany.
It sounds like he is either just trying to throw his weight around, or he has something against people of Hispanic origin.
you can report him for EO. you are allowed to have personal conversations in other languages in uniform just not conduct Official Business. example. 2 seamen (lol) eating lunch having a chat in spanish vs. one soldier talking to his/her supply about ordering equipment in Spanish
We had a similar issue while i was in Tech school. You can speak another language while in uniform, you just can’t speak it while performing official business. The issue that we were having was that some non-spanish speakers thought they were being made fun of in spanish, so the rule was explained to us. I would think it wise to not speak spanish while non-spanish speakers are present to avoid this particular situation, but that’s a personal choice.
that’s mest up why can he speak his lanuague but other people cant speak theirs?????????
Go look this up in Navy Regs. Then speak to the Chief in question about what you found there. He’s no different than any other service member in that the regs are for everybody.
Be aware that "correcting" him must be done in a respectful manner, and in a way that does not publicly humiliate or embarrass the Chief. Then be prepared for this Chief to get a burr up his butt about you very shortly thereafter and possibly start to cause you misery. If you’re right, stick to your guns and carry this up the command structure until you get the situation resolved. But BE PREPARED to have this guy and his cronies on your ass.
I had an issue with my company 1st Sergeant (E-8) when I was stationed in Germany. I was an E-5 Sergeant at the time. I found the answer to my problem in the Army Regs, copied it, went into his office, and plonked it down in front of him. He was wrong and he knew it, and he also knew that I would carry this issue as far up the chain of command as it needed to go for correction. My problem disappeared, and so did he shortly thereafter.
The answers you are looking for can be given by your E.O NCOIC and if you cant get a straight answer then call someone at the E.O school in Florida.http://www.armyg1.army.mil/eo/training.asp
It an EO issue, had this happen all the time in my last unit, the african american expected everyoen to hear their slang and music but when hispanics wanted to talk their native tongue they would flip out so they would tell the black people that they were gonna change the music in the shop(by filing an EO complaint), and then the african american’s changed their tune.
You know as well as I do, the one that can;t understand what the other one is saying, thinks that they are talkign about them.
I never had a problem with other’s speakign another language, because i am not paranoid.
It’s up to your command. So ask your first line supervisor. If it’s in the process of conducting duty (actually standing watch or repairing something for instance), it’s probably not allowed, to prevent confusion and accidents and injury. But otherwise, it’s up to whatever your local leaders say.
Well it is Very ignorant to not speak English
while you are in the Service of the USA…
The lauguage in the USA is English…
Learn it or get the Heck out…
If you wish to speak any other Language
join some other countries Service…
Everything is in English so why would
you speak any other Lauguage…???
Speaking a Foreign Language in Combat
can get you Killed real quick…
I was an immigrant back in 1968…
Now a US Citizen…
I spoke French…and English…
The only time I ever spoke French was when
interrogating VC/NVA…
Which came as quite a surprise that a US Marine
could speak French…I used to stand around and listen
as they rabbled on in French…
Then send another squad in and arrest the Cadre…
I am in the army and find it BS that people speak other languages on base. In basic training (around 1995) the recruits were told that they would be “written up” on charges if the spoke anything but English. I think if you want to speak it then do it at home.
It’s nice that’s how you feel Jeff, nice as in pretty intolerant of others than have larger skillsets in language than you regardless of where they come from… but good luck on writing me up for speaking a language that I possess due to either heritage, or simple education. You might want to take issue with the military regulations that govern your employment. Pasa buen dia~ señor.
Oh, and for future reference since apparently soldiers don’t read military regulations anymore.
AR 600-20
4–13. Army language policy
English is the operational language of the Army. Soldiers must maintain sufficient proficiency in English to perform their military duties. Their operational communications must be understood by everyone who has an official need to know their content, and, therefore, must normally be in English. However, commanders may not require Soldiers to use English unless such use is clearly necessary and proper for the performance of military functions. Accordingly, commanders may not require the use of English for personal communications that are unrelated to military functions
OPNAVINST 5354.1F N134
9c. Commanders may issue an order that only English be
spoken in a work place when they have a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the rule (e.g., to ensure everyone on the bridge understands the orders to the helm). It must be clear that the purpose of such an order is to foster uniformity of action and operations within a work place.
A rule requiring employees to speak only English at all times in the workplace is a burdensome term and condition of employment; therefore, personnel engaged in personal conversation off-duty should be allowed to communicate in the language of their choice.
Commanders should also be cognizant that some on-duty operations may require the use of other languages and should ensure that English-only rules are not broader than they need to be (e.g.,Bridge-to-Bridge radio and interactions with a ground crew).
Usually the AF copy everything from the ARMY. In the AF AFI 36-2706 par. 1.1.2 said
“1.1.2. The operational language of the Air Force is English. Air Force personnel must maintain sufficient proficiency in English to perform their official duties. All official communications must be understood by everyone who has a need to know their content. Commanders may require Air Force personnel to use English only when such use is necessary for the performance of official duties. Accordingly, commanders, supervisors, and managers at all levels must not require use of English for personal communications which are unrelated to official duties.”
In other words nobody even any Commander can’t order you to use English for your personal conversation while in uniform or on duty.
It will be an EO complaint and categorize as harassment. My dad and brother retired from the ARMY and always told that rule also.
For the NAVY there is a OPNAVINST 5354.1F, N134 of 25 July 07 from the Chief of Naval Operations on NAVY Equal Opportunity (EO) Policy under section 9.C c. “Commanders may issue an order that only English be spoken in a work place when they have a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the rule (e.g., to ensure everyone on the bridge understands the orders to the helm). It must be clear that the purpose of such an order is to foster uniformity of action and operations within a work place. A rule requiring employees to speak only English at all times in the workplace is
a burdensome term and condition of employment; therefore,
personnel engaged in personal conversation off-duty should be
allowed to communicate in the language of their choice.
Commanders should also be cognizant that some on-duty operations may require the use of other languages and should ensure that English-only rules are not broader than they need to be.”