Quote Originally Posted by Darksaga View Post
We can do all training in languages that we like however as a matter of practicality we need to look at the areas that most likely will be hot spots and focus on those languages. That is really the best we can do.

We really have focused on conventional warfare for the last 50 years. We need to have a military flexible enough to address the demands of a conventional war and person skills (culture, language, tradition, custom) needed to effectively counter an insurgency.
First and foremost, Welcome Aboard !

Concur with you, however... concentrating on or determining a potential hot spot and then spooling up language and cultural training is a non-starter. We can and should be better prepared. The folks in Kosovo as an example, are only now at peak proficiency (having began Serbo training in 94 and 95).

I think the FAO program is an excellent example of preparing cross-cultural skills, by training and placing our experts into many diverse cultures without a 100% focus on a regional hot spot. Those individuals often are our eyes and ears, and diplomats at ground zero and having them switch gears and move into another culture is far easier than starting a soldier from dead zilch. You're right, it is also a question of personal skills and some just won't cut the mustard.