FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TEST PROGRAM.

SEC. 575. FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TEST PROGRAM. (a) Test Program.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop and carry out a test program for improving foreign language proficiency in the Department of Defense through improved management and other measures. The test program shall be designed to evaluate the findings and recommendations of— (1) the June 1993 inspection report of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense on the Defense Foreign Language Program (report numbered 93-INS-10); (2) the report of the Sixth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (August 1988); and (3) any other recent study of the foreign language proficiency program of the Department of Defense. (b) Evaluation of Prior Recommendations.—The test program shall include an evaluation of the following possible changes to current practice identified in the reports referred to in subsection (a): (1) Management of linguist billets and personnel for the active and reserve components from a Total Force perspective. (2) Improvement of linguist training programs, both resident and nonresident, to provide greater flexibility, to accommodate missions other than signals intelligence, and to improve the provision of resources for nonresident programs. (3) Centralized responsibility within the Office of the Secretary of Defense to provide coordinated oversight of all foreign language issues and programs, including a centralized process for determination, validation, and documentation of foreign language requirements for different services and missions. (4) Revised policies of each of the military departments to foster maintenance of highly perishable linguistic skills through improved management of the careers of language-trained personnel, including more effective use of language skills, improved career opportunities within the linguistics field, and specific linkage of language proficiency to promotions. (5) In the case of language-trained members of the reserve components— (A) the use of additional training assemblies (ATAs) as a means of sustaining linguistic proficiency and enhancing retention; and (B) the use of larger enlistment and reenlistment bonuses, Special Duty Assignment Pay, and educational incentives. (6) Such other management changes as the Secretary may consider necessary. 107 STAT. 1676 (c) Evaluation of Adjustment in Foreign Language Proficiency Pay.—(1) The Secretary shall include in the test program an evaluation of adjustments in foreign language proficiency pay for active and reserve component personnel (which may be adjusted for purposes of the test program without regard to section 316(b) of title 37, United States Code). (2) Before any adjustment in foreign language proficiency pay is included in the test program as authorized by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the committees named in subsection (d)(2) the following information related to proficiency pay adjustments: (A) The response of the Secretary to the findings of the Inspector General in the report on the Defense Foreign Language Program referred to in subsection (a)(1), specifically including the following matters raised in that report: (i) Inadequate centralized oversight of planning, policy, roles, responsibilities, and funding for foreign language programs. (ii) Inadequate management and validation of the requirements process for foreign language programs. (iii) Inadequate uniform career management of language-trained personnel, including failure to take sufficient advantage of language skills and to recoup investment of training dollars. (iv) Inadequate training programs, both resident and nonresident. (B) The current manning of linguistic billets (shown by service, by active or reserve component, and by career field). (C) The rates of retention in the service for language-trained personnel (shown by service, by active or reserve component, and by career field). (D) The rates of retention by career field for language-trained personnel (shown by service and by active or reserve component). (E) The rates of language proficiency for personnel serving in linguistic billets (shown by service, by active or reserve component, and by career field). (F) Trends in performance ratings for personnel serving in linguistic billets (shown by service, by active or reserve component, and by career field). (G) Promotion rates for personnel serving in linguistic billets (shown by service, by active or reserve component, and by career field). (H) The estimated cost of foreign language proficiency pay as proposed to be paid at the adjusted rates for the test program under paragraph (1)— (i) for each year of the test program; and (ii) for five years, if those rates are subsequently applied to the entire Department of Defense. (3) The rates for adjusted foreign language proficiency pay as proposed to be paid for the test program under paragraph (1) may not take effect for the test program unless the senior official responsible for personnel matters in the Office of the Secretary of Defense determines that— (A) the foreign language proficiency pay levels established for the test program are consistent with proficiency pay levels for other functions throughout the Department of Defense; and 107 STAT. 1677 (B) the terms and conditions for receiving foreign language proficiency pay conform to current policies and practices within the Department of Defense. (d) Report on Plan for Test Program.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the committees named in paragraph (2) a report containing a plan for the test program required in subsection (a), an explanation of the plan, and a discussion of the matters stated in subsection (c)(2). The report shall be submitted not later than April 1, 1994. (2) The committees referred to in paragraph (1) are— (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate. (e) Period of Test Program.—(1) The test program required by subsection (a) shall begin on October 1, 1994. However, if the report required by subsection (d) is not submitted by the date specified in that subsection for the submission of the report, the test program shall begin at the end of a period of 180 days (as computed under paragraph (2)) beginning on the date on which such report is submitted. (2) For purposes of paragraph (1), days on which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a day certain or because of an adjournment sine die shall be excluded in the computation of such 180-day period. (3) The test program shall terminate two years after it begins.