Language Training Center

The Language Training Center Program is a DOD-funded initiative that seeks to accelerate the development of foundational or higher-level expertise in critical and strategic languages and regional studies for DOD personnel (both military and civilian)

The Language Training Centers program provides critical language and cultural training for Department of Defense (DoD) personnel, leveraging university programs to meet specific needs for operational readiness and foreign nation cooperation.

Any accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) is eligible for a grant. This includes 2- and 4-year colleges and universities, both public and private. Other organizations, associations, agencies, and foreign institutions may be included in proposals but may not be direct recipients of a grant. Federal government schools are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate an institutional commitment to increasing the critical language and cross-cultural proficiency of DOD personnel as well as proven institutional capability to provide quality instruction in these subject areas.

LTCs provide training for DoD total force, and provide opportunities to meet DoD total force language training needs, enabling the DoD workforce to be better prepared and equipped with the language, cultural and regional expertise necessary for foreign nation cooperation and operations.

Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to institutions of higher education to increase DOD's training capacity in critical and strategic languages and regional area studies for DOD personnel. Grant awards are made to accredited U.S. institutions of higher education.

Grants are single year awards and may be renewed up to two years. Additional renewal years are possible based on performance, program needs, and availability of funding.

All projects must demonstrate existing institutional capacity and commitment to provide high-quality language training to DOD personnel. It must also demonstrate a clear, collaborative partnership with a DOD unit, office, or agency and their ability to demonstrate how their proposed training meets a DOD mission requirement.

Award decisions will be based on competitive selection of proposals resulting from an independent merit review by a panel comprised of specialists in language acquisition and study abroad as well as representatives from the military services.

DLNSEO employs academic peer review for all institutional applications.

Renewals are negotiated and are conducted annually based on national program strategy as well as institutional performance and availability of funding.