Careers

DIA officers have the expertise to serve their country in a demanding role. As an incentive, officers can supplement their salary if you qualify for Foreign Language Proficiency Pay (FLPP).

In general, DIA does not employ individuals due to foreign language skills alone. There are only a very small number of translator or interpreter positions. However, foreign language proficiency is considered in hiring decisions for intelligence officers.

Intelligence officers use language skills to read foreign textual material, listen to foreign audio or spoken content, or to converse with individuals in another language. There are virtually no requirements to write in a foreign language.

Eligibility Criteria for FLPP

FLPP is a discretionary payment designed to enhance mission requirement capabilities; it is not an entitlement. FLPP eligibility criteria and rates align FLPP resources with mission-related language use requirements. Under DIA's current policy, FLPP eligibility for all DIA employees require a minimum proficiency level 2/2/2 (listening/reading/speaking) as measured by the Defense Language Proficiency Tests (DLPT) and Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).

Testing Requirements for FLPP

The U.S. Government uses the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) standardized descriptors of foreign language proficiency for listing comprehension, reading comprehension, and speaking ability. Please review these standards at www.dia.mil/careers to familiarize yourself with these standards prior to providing a response concerning your foreign language proficiency.

DIA uses the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) to test listening and reading proficiency. In cases when a DLPT does not exist, DIA will specify an alternate test.

DIA uses a certified Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) to test speaking proficiency. This is conducted through a proctored telephone interview.

You will be required to validate/revalidate your proficiency through a DLPT and OPI prior to a final hiring determination.

Where Can I Find More Information About Foreign Language Testing?

• ILR Scale: http://www.govtilr.org/Skills/ILRscale1.htm

• DLPT:  http://www.dliflc.edu/resources/dlpt-guides/
  

• OPI: http://vimeo.com/album/139578

Department of Defense Strategic Language List (SLL)

The SLL informs the Department’s Foreign Language planning resourcing for training, testing, incentivizing, recruiting, and manning for languages that present the greatest utility toward achieving U.S. national security interests.

The SLL retains the three groups of languages: “Immediate,” which identifies languages immediately needed to meet urgent current demands; “Emerging,” which identifies languages for anticipated expanding future requirements; and “Enduring,” which identifies languages the Department sees as a continuing need during the next 10 to 15 years.