By Natela Cutter
DLIFLC Public Affairs
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Force Education and Training, and the Department of Defense’s Senior Language Authority, Mr. Fred Drummond talks with Russian language students at DLIFLC during his tour of the Institute. (U.S. Army photo by Natela Cutter)
MONTEREY, Calif. –
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Force Education and Training, and the Department of Defense’s Senior Language Authority, Mr. Fred Drummond, received a tour of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and Presidio of Monterey Nov. 15 and 16, during a two-day visit.
Drummond observed a Russian language class and had an opportunity to talk with students, reply to their questions and learn about their intensive studies, that last 48 weeks, five days a week, six to seven hours per day.
“I really appreciate the opportunity of being able to see what you do in the classroom and take back your story to Washington D.C. and the policy people. My job is to ensure you folks have everything you need to effectively learn foreign languages in support of the Services,” said Drummond, to a class of students studying Russian.
Drummond also had the opportunity to see a demonstration of DLIFLC online foreign language products which are used as predeployment or sustainment materials for service members.
On Nov. 16, Drummond chaired the language and culture Annual Program Review, held each year to review DLIFLC’s past progress and future plans for the upcoming fiscal year. Aside from the 20 or more outside visitors, some 50 members of the DLIFLC academic and military leadership participated in the event.
DLIFLC teaches 17 foreign languages with the ability to instruct another 65 foreign languages through its Washington D.C., branch. The Institute has graduated more than 230,000 students since its inception in 1941.
