The Hidden Engagement: Interpreters
The Hidden Engagement: Interpreters
by Captain Don Moss
Download the full article: The Hidden Engagement: Interpreters
Author’s Note: This article represents the second in a series of papers (see Engaging Afghans: KLE Keys to Success) addressed to units and individuals involved in direct engagement with the people of Afghanistan. The intent is to provide advice and “lessons learned” based on first-hand experience in order to deepen the Afghan-ISAF partnership through relationships.
In Afghanistan, there is a growing focus on the importance of partnering with Afghan institutions and building their capacity through broad, meaningful engagement. However, your unit’s efforts to positively engage with local tribes, religious, military and government figures, you may be overlooking a critical engagement much closer to home: your own interpreters.
With the arrival of thousands of additional troops in Afghanistan this year, the need for interpreters or Host Nation Linguists (HNLs) will also skyrocket. Even now, there are upwards of 5,000 men and women working for the primary HNL employer, Mission Essential Personnel, alone. Highly intelligent (often speaking 3-4 languages), hard-working and cultural experts, HNLs represent a valuable asset and learning conduit. Often, the HNLs your unit inherits have years of experience dealing in the local area and with personalities your team will encounter. This enables them to provide valuable insight long after your predecessors depart, usually after far too little turnover. That said, this article contains some suggestions for engaging with your HNLs and making it a productive, long-term relationship that will pave the way for all others.
Download the full article: The Hidden Engagement: Interpreters
Captain Don Moss was the Chief of Intelligence Operations for Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Paktya in Eastern Afghanistan, 2008-2009. He is a 19-year veteran of the United States Air Force and the intelligence profession. A graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School and Defense Language Institute, he has led or participated in over 40 Key Leader Engagements and compiled summaries of over 400 more with Provincial Governmental/religious/tribal and village leaders.
Suggested Readings:
Afghanistan: Maladies of Interpreters by Joshua Foust
Unfit Interpreters by Joshua Foust
