CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//
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R 291908Z APR 24 MID120001063692U
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC
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NAVADMIN 089/24
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FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/APR//
SUBJ/FOREIGN LANGUAGE ONE-TIME TESTING BONUS//
REF/A/DOC/OPNAV/08NOV18//
REF/B/DOC/NLSA/01MAR23//
REF/C/DOC/OPNAV/30AUG10//
NARR/REF A IS OPNAVINST 7220.7H, NAVY FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
BONUS PROGRAM. REF B IS THE NAVY FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS
PROGRAM GUIDANCE FOR ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENTS. REF C IS
OPNAVINST 5200.37, NAVY FOREIGN LANGUAGE TESTING PROGRAM.//
RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces implementation of the One-Time
Testing Bonus (OTTB) component of the Foreign Language Proficiency
Bonus (FLPB) program.
2. The intent of the FLPB program is to incentivize development and
identification of critical foreign language and dialect capabilities
needed to build a Navy that can fight and win. The overall FLPB
program is designed to incentivize language professionals to achieve
and maintain higher proficiency levels and to encourage Sailors to
identify and measure their foreign language capability through
foreign language testing. FLPB reinforces capabilities necessary
for interoperability with our allies and partners and supports
priorities outlined in the National Defense Strategy. Specifically,
FLPB reinforces competencies vital to keeping pace with growing
multi-domain threats. References (a) and (b) promulgate overarching
policy, establish procedures, and provide guidance for the
administration and payment of FLPB.
3. Beginning 1 May through 30 September 2024, the Navy will
implement the OTTB component of the FLPB program and will offer a
one-time bonus of $500 per language to encourage foreign language
testing and identification of capability in the force for certain
languages not recently or previously incentivized through monthly
FLPB payments.
4. Eligibility
a. OTTB is available to personnel in the Active and Reserve
Components with at least one year left in the Navy, who are not
currently receiving or eligible for monthly FLPB payments. Sailors
in FLPB eligible groups or those currently receiving monthly FLPB
payments for any language are not eligible for the OTTB. Groups of
Sailors not eligible for OTTB include language professionals (i.e.,
foreign area officers and cryptologic technicians interpretive),
graduates of Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center,
special forces personnel, and Sailors earning regular monthly FLPB
for other reasons, such as assignment to language-coded billets.
b. The languages designated for OTTB between 1 May and 30
September 2024 are Bulgarian, Czech, Estonian, Hausa, Hungarian,
Kurdish-Sorani (Kurdish-Central), Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish,
Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Thai, and Ukrainian. These languages may
be beneficial in support of current operations with partners and
allies, and they align with and complement languages identified as
critical to Department of Defense and the Navy. Since these
languages have not been recently or previously incentivized through
monthly FLPB payments, the Navy's current capability in these
languages is not measured. OTTB may focus on other critical
language and dialect capabilities in future iterations.
5. Award Criteria
a. Eligible Sailors with skills in one or more of the OTTB-
designated languages can qualify for the one-time $500 bonus in one
of the following two ways:
(1) Achieve at least 2+ proficiency level (as measured on
the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale) on both the
listening (L) and reading (R) portions of a Defense Language
Proficiency Test (DLPT).
(2) Achieve at least ILR level 2+ in speaking (S) via an
Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).
b. ILR level 2+ is generally understood to be close to the
proficiency level of an educated, native speaker. More detail on
ILR skill level descriptions can be found at https://www.govtilr.org/.
c. There are no DLPTs available for Estonian, Latvian, and
Slovak. Sailors with skills in these languages may assess speaking
ability via OPI testing to demonstrate eligibility for the OTTB.
There is no OPI available for Lithuanian. Sailors with Lithuanian
skills can only qualify for OTTB via DLPT.
d. Sailors with capability in any of the languages listed are
encouraged to test and may test in more than one language. Sailors
with skills in multiple languages may qualify for OTTB in up to two
languages per month. Sailors may take more than two tests per
month, however, the maximum allowable OTTB payment for each
individual is $1,000 per month.
e. Eligible Sailors must complete all tests on or before 30
September 2024 to qualify for this one-time bonus. Sailors are
encouraged to take the tests as soon as possible. Individuals must
wait 180 days before retaking the same DLPT or OPI. More
information about foreign language testing can be found in reference
(c).
6. DLPT
a. To schedule a DLPT, eligible Sailors should visit
https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/training-education-
qualifications/appointment-scheduler. If your desired testing
location is not available in the appointment scheduler, contact the
Navy Foreign Language Testing Office at languagetesting@us.navy.mil.
b. Sailors should be advised that the listening and reading
portions of the DLPT must be scheduled individually. When not
contrary to command or testing facility policy, Sailors may take
listening and reading portions in any order, may take both portions
on the same day or on different days. However, Sailors must
complete both portions of a DLPT within 30 days of each other to
comprise a valid test, and they must complete both portions of the
DLPT before 30 September 2024 to be eligible for the OTTB.
7. OPI
a. Sailors should be advised that OPIs can take up to six weeks
to schedule and must be completed before 30 September 2024 for OTTB
eligibility. To schedule an OPI, Sailors or their test
administrator should contact the Navy Foreign Language Testing
Office at languagetesting@us.navy.mil.
b. Sailors must identify a test administrator when scheduling
their OPI. A test administrator must be a commissioned or warrant
officer, E-7 or above, or civil servant at level GS-5 or higher.
8. FLPB is a special pay, not an entitlement, and is subject to
change or discontinuation. Although there are no specific, unfilled
requirements for these skills at this time, acceptance of FLPB
constitutes acknowledgement of the recipient's possible eligibility
for deployment for language-related duties.
9. Foreign language testing is beneficial to Sailors regardless of
eligibility for FLPB or OTTB. Enlisted Sailors who achieve ILR
scores of listening 1+/reading 1+ or better via a DLPT or an ILR
speaking score of 1+ or better via an OPI also earn a Navy Enlisted
Classification code to document language skill(s) in their personnel
records. The American Council on Education recommends college
credits for certain languages based on proficiency levels achieved
on the DLPT. Sailors interested in applying for college credit
should contact the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education
Support Military Training Evaluation Program. More information can
be found on their website at https://www.dantes.mil/credit4training/. For
Navy-specific assistance on getting started, Sailors may also contact the
Navy College Virtual Education Center through their website at
https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/.
10. Commanding Officers should ensure widest dissemination of this
information.
11. Points of Contact
a. For policy questions, contact the Navy Language, Regional Expertise,
and Culture Office, OPNAV N13F at Navy_LREC@us.navy.mil or by phone at (703)
604-6267.
b. For specific FLPB payment questions, contact the program manager at
nxag_n13f_flpb@navy.mil or by phone at (703) 604-5509.
c. For assistance with foreign language testing and to schedule
an OPI, visit https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/training-education-
qualifications/appointment-scheduler or contact the Navy Foreign Language
Testing Office at languagetesting@us.navy.mil.
d. For frequently asked questions regarding foreign language testing
visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/lrec/dfltp/.
12. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or 30 September
2024, whichever occurs first.
13. Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.//
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