European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 20, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine Sis a town i Ken George army tackles language problem spec 4 Fie no Ida Castellana Peak in Loire if his interpreter ii an duty. Soldiers who can t speak English by Allen Cowan staff writer by any measure spec. 4  should anticipate a successful army career. He s personable , athletic and a computer  his assets. Castellano. 23, May not make it into a second hitch. The puerto Rico native Speaks Little English often needing an interpreter to be  they had this army in Spanish. I d be a general said Castellano a Supply clerk Al co b. 94th engr in Darmstadt Germany. Catul Huw in t the Only Soldier in Europe who has difficulty speaking English. It s a problem that s been around a Long time said Les Johnson a language program officer with the army continuing education system. A will remain with  publicly . Army in Europe officials decline to discuss the problem of soldiers who Don t speak English. Privately they be been fighting to keep them out of  has not officially asked to keep these ours out " said Robert Ayars who directs the army s English As a second language esl program from he9pentabbn. Unofficially they have. You be got a problem with soldiers who have a severe difficulty understanding  problem should diminish officials say since a mandatory pre enlistment lest began sept. To Lor All applicants whose native language in t English. Applicants who Aren t fluent won t get in the army Ayers said. The other services say they Don t have a problem. A Safe spokesman at Ramsten a. Germany and an air Force spokesman Al the Pentagon said All airmen speak  Navy spokesman in London said he was unaware of any naval personnel in Europe who cannot speak English. The problem in t restricted to any nationality or race. In part that s because recruits Don t have to be . Citizens to join the army. And. Men Aren t required to have High school diplomas As Are women army recruits. Some soldiers from Guam the Philippines Vietnam and puerto Rico can t comprehend English enough to understand or be understood. European commanders have complained that the army has been sending them troops who can t speak English. And in the past seven years. Usa eur has spent $1.6 million on esl training. In the past Throe years. Usa eur has identified 2,818 soldiers needing the esl course offered at most Community education canters. Of those 1,400 less than half took the course. It s always about 50 percent that we  Johnson  1978 through 198s. 8,318 soldiers took esl. If Johnson s assessment is Correct that Means another 8,000 needed the course but never enrolled. We respect the fact that the Mission comes first and education comes second Johnson said. We recognize  As troublesome As the figures Are Johnson said they Don i paint the whole picture. Many soldiers Are never identified As needing esl. And some who take the course Don t improve much because esl emphasizes written drills. It s a matter of Pencil and paper score Johnson said. Eight years ago one commander told of three soldiers patrolling the czech Border who did t speak English. Recently. The commander of an infantry. Division complained of having so Many troops who did t speak English that he feared the worst if War broke  would t want to jump in a Lank and head for Czechoslovakia with troops who did t speak English  Ayers  army warrant officer a medical evacuation helicopter Pilot is in a unit thai had a dispatcher whose English Oroher Down under duress. He was of if nothing was going  the warrant officer said. But i would t want logo to War with this  former first sergeant said 20 of 156 soldiers in his company had difficulty Wilh English. Five had a serious  engineering company s Job is emergency repairs of runways at Rhein main a Germany. Sometimes i d Tell Tjem what to do. And they d just continued on Page 14 Page 13