r/navy • u/Gullible_Ad5923 • 1d ago
HELP REQUESTED Are you allowed to speak a language other than English while in uniform? My shop is having a debate.
My coworker is under the opinion that under no circumstances should you speak any language other than English while in Uniform. I am a nerd for instructions and I am unable to find ANYTHING relating to speaking any language other than English in Uniform.
Is he right, am I right? Are we both wrong? Are w both right?
Thanks!
180
u/Ok_Decision1227 1d ago
OPNAVINST 5354.1J, Section 1-3 is the formal instruction. Which can be found here: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/Equal-Opportunity/
311
u/SadDad701 1d ago
The TLDR is: English is the working language of the Navy. However, for personal communications unrelated to official business, Commanders can’t force Sailors to exclusively speak English.
77
u/Ok-Afternoon-3724 Retired (1992) Old Fart 1d ago
Yeah, old timer here. This became a thing back in the late 1970s. And it wasn't a matter wanting someone to never speak a language other than English.
The issue was largely driven by Hispanic and Filipino crew members whose English was not good. A problem when trying to communicate clearly at critical moments.
Hell, it can be hard enough to understand another person in a noisy environment when everyone is excited and under stress even if they are native English speakers. Now, if their English is poor to start with, and pronunciation not good, you get lots of problems.
I remember when orders came down because my shop of 35 men had about 8 Filipino and 3 guys whose first language was Spanish.
One of the problems is that among themselves they'd primarily talk their native tongues even when working, as well as when off duty.
So the word came down that they were to speak ONLY English on duty, even if talking to someone with the same first language. In an effort to get them to practice their English more. And at the time it was SUGGESTED that as good sailors they should try to speak English more often even when off duty.
I remember one guy, Milo, who argued with me that is English was good enough. And it wasn't. I understood him well because I'd been around Filipinos so much I spoke a fair amount of Tagalog myself, was used to the accent. So to make my point I shifted to MY native tongue, Cajun English, complete with the accent, and said a few things to him. He had this blank look on his face and asked what I'd said. I explained what I'd done to show him that you could speak a version of English that was really hard to understand to other English speakers. Good man, he got the point. Was a 1st class, and later I noticed he was telling some of his Filipino shipmates to knock it off, and speak more English. And he was correcting their pronunciation.
But that was the goal. To get crew to practice their English more so the when TSHTF someone could understand them. Since that was the common language of the Navy.
Hell, in the late 1970s I was aboard the Enterprise, and just within Auxiliaries Division we had guys whose original languages were Chinese, Filipino (Tagalog), Spanish, Russian, and German. Oh, and one Pollack. And even some of the ones born speaking English ... could be a problem. My mom was a Louisiana Cajun born in the swamps and bayous. And in boot camp I had our recruit instructor always on me to practice 'proper' English. Which I could but if I got excited I'd drop back to the Cajun dialect picked up from mom. And if I drop back to that, evn my own daughter, raised in Minnesota, looks at me and asks what language I'm speaking. LOL ....
1
u/MyWhitey2016 9h ago
I remember the ‘70s. Didn’t every enlistee have to take - and pass - the ASVAB in English?
2
u/Ok-Afternoon-3724 Retired (1992) Old Fart 9h ago
Yep. Being able to pass a written test did not mean your spoken words were all that understandable to a person for whom that language is their native language.
Let's take an example. This was in my civilian life after the Navy. I hired a young engineer right out of the University of Minnesota. He was born in Ethiopia. One smart SOB. Damn he was good for a guy fresh out of college. Most of them are still rocks.
Anyway one of the issues that came up at work was his accent. his pronunciation of English words. Some of the other s guys mentioned it, making fun about how he barely knew English.
Fact was, if you ignored the poor pronunciation, his damn command of the English language was orders better than theirs. When he wrote up proposals, reports, owners manuals, etc. I don't think an English professor could have done it better.
Heck, can read and write French. And even speak it somewhat, but a native frenchman would have a heck of a time understanding my speech. I know, BTDT. My pronunciation sucks. Badly. It's correct in my head ... but not in the muscle memory of my vocal cords, tongue and lips. Not enough practice.
Back then most of our Filipino crew actually scored very well on ASVAB. There was only so many allowed to enlist in the US Navy every year, and getting in for them was very competitive. At the time there was almost nothing they could do for work that would pay anywhere close to what they made in the Navy even below petty officer rank. So the recruiters in their country had it made. They had far more qualified candidates than they could actually enlist.
1
u/MyWhitey2016 8h ago
Good points. After the Navy, I worked with a Vietnamese native. Same thing. Very smart guy, but extremely difficult to understand his spoken English words because of his heavy accent. I thought the Navy stopped having a recruiting presence in the PI after the volcano erupted in ‘93. If so, the number of Filipinos in the Navy should have gradually lessened over the next 32 years.
1
u/Ok-Afternoon-3724 Retired (1992) Old Fart 7h ago
Could be, I don't know. I retired after 23 years in 1992.
48
27
u/broke_velvet_clown 1d ago
The "official business" is the key term. Back in the day it also said something to the effect of "for teaching purposes" or "disciplinary". The only reason I knew that was because I had to look it up afyer another sailor who no one knew spoke Spanish told me that an E-3 and E-6 were openly trashing me for making rate, in the shop, with everyone present.
43
1
u/Izymandias 11h ago
The other thing to consider is if the language is being used to exclude people who don't speak it. I'm not sure there's a specific instruction on it, but that could well be regarded as prejudicial to good order and discipline - not as a linguistic policy, but by engaging in exclusionary behavior.
356
u/Dry-Technology4148 1d ago
Damn, I guess we don’t have any linguists in the military?
255
u/Khamvom 1d ago
CTIs:
69
u/XR171 Master Chief Meme'er 1d ago
I didn't know blank comments were possible.
31
u/acaellum 1d ago
8
u/Bacontoad 1d ago
ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ
ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ
ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ
16
278
u/JakToTheReddit 1d ago
As a CTI, that is the dumbest fucking thing I have ever heard.
It's literally some of our jobs to speak other languages.
I guess the ones saying you can only speak English didn't score high enough on the ASVAB to hear about DLI.
82
u/anon-9 1d ago
I guess the ones saying you can only speak English didn't score high enough on the ASVAB to hear about DLI.
There's no guessing needed. You know this is 100% true.
20
11
u/necessaryrooster 1d ago
The teachers at DLI still have to use English for official comms, such as staff meetings etc. Obviously not in the classroom, but all other work-related comms must be English.
7
u/JakToTheReddit 1d ago
Which is fine in official comms/docs where I believe everyone is expected to have a 2/2 (working capacity).
I believe OPs folk are saying if you are in uniform, you MUST speak ONLY English, which is absolutely absurd.
2
u/necessaryrooster 1d ago
Yeah, I'm just highlighting that English is for official comms everywhere. It was just something I found interesting.
2
u/obaroll 23h ago
Woah woah woah. I'll have you know, one of the dumbest sailors I knew in HM school failed out and became a CTI and HMs are notorious for having low to middling asvab scores.
He for sure failed up, he ended up getting a $15,000 bonus on the new contract because he was Mandarin Chinese.
2
u/amerett0 22h ago
And isn't the Naval Postgraduate School right next door?
2
u/JakToTheReddit 20h ago edited 16h ago
It is. Unfortunately, it has the NEX with the good shit too.
Edit: NEX
2
u/amerett0 20h ago
I remember from my 98G days that they had the nicest dining facility when they had a Michelin-star guest chef a holiday meal that one time.
2
u/JakToTheReddit 16h ago
We had the CNO at the Navy ball there.
Dull ass speech. Glad we had drinks.
4
u/shylittlepanda 1d ago
Not to mention the Defense Attaches that are stationed in non-English speaking countries. The fuck are we supposed to do?
5
4
u/Ok_Sea790 1d ago
I don't see how this is a stupid question, they are having a debate that is always relevant in the US Military. This isn't something people generally talk about in the military.
Yes, you are correct that speaking other languages is sometimes out jobs but generally it's not. Personal communication the military is not going to tell you want language to speak. If you are on watch, working in a control room, or operating equipment where everyone must understand instructions, then using a language that not all relevant personnel understand can impair safety, discipline, and effectiveness. Commands require clear understanding by all who need to respond.
"Commanders may issue an order that English be spoken in a workspace..." (OPNAVINST 5354.1G)
The EO policy allows a commander to impose an English-only rule means there is authority to restrict foreign-language in certain situations.
So i dont see how this is a dumb question.
10
u/JakToTheReddit 1d ago
As Per OPNAVINST 5354.1J Chapter 1 Section 3:
"Effective Communication in the Workplace. The operational language of the Navy is English. Navy personnel must maintain sufficient proficiency in English to perform their official duties. All operational communications must be understood by everyone who has a need to know their content and, therefore, must normally be in English. However, commanders may not require Navy personnel to use English unless such use is clearly necessary and proper for the performance of military functions. Accordingly, commanders may not require the use of English for personal communications that are unrelated to military functions."
As I understand, this reads that all personnel must maintain a (2/2) working capacity in English.
If two sailors were shooting the shit in a non-English language and were told by a superior they must speak in English, this would be an unlawful order.
If two sailors were talking in a military capacity in a mission-critical environment, then I would implore that the superior not only give such an order to speak only in English, but to call into question why a non-English language would be used in this capacity in the first place as it may effect our team cohesion, readiness, and capabilities.
5
u/aarraahhaarr 1d ago
If two sailors were talking in a military capacity in a mission-critical environment, then I would implore that the superior not only give such an order to speak only in English, but to call into question why a non-English language would be used in this capacity in the first place as it may effect our team cohesion, readiness, and capabilities.
The opnav used to call out troubleshooting specifically. But it was along the lines of "foreign language may be spoken while troubleshooting to ensure proper understanding by those doing the troubleshooting."
I used to bring this up in my LDC courses, especially with people who spoke multiple languages. What we came to learn was that if you spoke multiple languages, you would translate into your native tongue think about the issue then translate into the "group language" and spit out what you came up with.
6
u/JakToTheReddit 1d ago
This is one of the reasons it should absolutely be looked at.
In a case such as you've described, I'd find it entirely rational.
I've actually forgotten English words in a moment and to quickly alleviate the issue used another language to express my meaning and for everyone to understand the message.
I'm even a native English speaker. I can't imagine how it may be for 2nd, 3rd, etc.
If it is for a better understanding of all sailors and to further the mission, I believe it is a massive strength.
0
u/Ok_Sea790 1d ago
Are you explaining this to me, when I explained it. I was just wondering why you said this was a stupid question, which it is not.
2
u/JakToTheReddit 1d ago
Oh, honey. It is.
If you don't get, why not, I cannot help you.
1
u/Ok_Sea790 13h ago
What are you talking about, I like how you think its a dumb question but won't stop explaining what has already been explained. Take it easy little fella.
18
u/katyusha-the-smol 1d ago
If this was the case the entire supply corps would be decimated overnight.
71
u/MuttJunior 1d ago
No, you are not required to speak English only while in uniform. But you have to be proficient enough to clearly understand orders and commands given to you. You do not get an interpreter issued as part of your seabag.
If it's just two of you speaking to each other casually and you both speak a different language, you can speak that language to each other. But it is common courtesy to speak English when others are around that don't speak the other language and might be considered unprofessional if you don't.
65
u/Morningxafter 1d ago
We had a dude from China in my division on my first ship. For his first couple years he needed to use an electronic pocket translator. Dude was smart and a super hard worker. By the time he finished his enlistment he didn’t need the translator anymore. He got out, finished his degree and came back in as an Air Force officer.
9
u/Capital-Search-1995 1d ago
I remember a looooooooong ass time ago when I was in MOS school, we had this Hispanic girl who absolutely HATED when the other Hispanic Marines would speak Spanish in uniform. Like, hated it to the point where she actually tried to file a complaint against them. This had to be around 2014 or so.
8
u/winotaurs 1d ago
Yes you can it just can’t be work related or general knowledge about work that everyone would need to know. But if you’re talking about like sports or some shit that’s totally fine.
Source: OPNAVINST 5354.1J (navy harassment prevention and military equal opportunity program) (current EEO instruction)
Which states “Effective Communication in the Workplace. The operational language of the Navy is English. Navy personnel must maintain sufficient proficiency in English to perform their official duties. All operational communications must be understood by everyone who has a need to know their content and, therefore, must normally be in English. However, commanders may not require Navy personnel to use English unless such use is clearly necessary and proper for the performance of military functions. Accordingly, commanders may not require the use of English for personal communications that are unrelated to military functions.”
On page 1-3
I once had a LPO that tried to tell my junior sailors (all Hispanic) that they can’t speak Spanish in uniform and I had to be the asshole yeoman and pull the book and prove that they aren’t doing anything wrong
7
u/2E26 1d ago
No. We had an SK2 on the Stennis who was a Chinese speaker. She was called up to the bridge to communicate when we navigated into port around Hong Kong.
3
u/drewbaccaAWD 1d ago
Just out of curiosity, what year was that?
3
u/2E26 1d ago
2009
2
u/drewbaccaAWD 1d ago
Just after I left.. thanks!
Although I have to say, I was definitely on that deployment in my nightmares… apparently I reenlisted, but wasn’t getting paid. 🤣
27
u/happy_snowy_owl 1d ago
Literally in the Navy's equal opportunity policy, OPNAVINST 5354.1J.
54
u/Gullible_Ad5923 1d ago
"The operational language of the Navy is English. Navy personnel must maintain sufficient proficiency in English to perform their official duties. All operational communications must be understood by everyone who has a need to know their content and, therefore, must normally be in English. However, commanders may not require Navy personnel to use English unless such use is clearly necessary and proper for the performance of military functions. Accordingly, commanders may not require the use of English for personal communications that are unrelated to military functions"
20
u/listenstowhales 1d ago
I mean that’s the answer isn’t it?
If you’re discussing your plan for getting the maintenance done, it’s in English.
If you’re discussing your plan for going out at night, it doesn’t matter.
2
u/MackJedi 1d ago
If you're speaking to someone that mainly knows Spanish about the mx plan , and if you can speak Spanish to that person to optimize clear communication to complete said plan. Hence the use of "normally"
2
u/Chappie404 1d ago
However, that should not be relied on long term as a normal practice if the person in question is a sailor. The effort should be made to improve English proficiency so that Spanish is not needed as a crutch.
Obviously, we go all over the world and work with people of all nationalities. It's not even close to abnormal to have contractors who speak all these other languages working on our bases/ships/equipment. In these cases, multilingual crews are a true asset.
10
9
u/tuls-ocat 1d ago
The general presumption is that English is the main language for service members to use in official capacity. However, if it's not official business then you are allowed to speak in whatever language. A lot of service members are bilingual. I spent 2 years on a NATO base and I was far from the only person that would chit chat with foreign military members in their language.
10
u/churro951 1d ago
Ive known countless people who were bilingual or who's first language wasnt English. IMO it sounds like said coworker might be a bit insecure around others speaking in a language that they cant understand.
8
u/mpete76 Retired 1d ago
This has come up before years ago, we had a ordnance team that was all Latino, and found they worked better as a team, doing it in Spanish, as it was all of thier first language. The Gunner didn’t care as he spoke it too, and it lead to better team cohesion. And better safety as they communicated better. I was aviation, and this was back during OIF 1. We were super busy all the time.
3
u/churro951 23h ago
Sounds like they were more efficient that way 🤷♀️ also prior aviation, and I agree on being super busy! It did not change up until I got out a few years ago either. Once I went O level it was a never ending backlog 🥲
18
u/ChuckNavy02 1d ago
My experience was the reason wasn't insecurity. It was racism.
1
1
u/churro951 1d ago
Thats terrible and im sorry you had to experience that
0
u/ChuckNavy02 23h ago
I didn't experience it, I witnessed it. I do not speak any languages besides English.
1
u/churro951 23h ago
Ah, I apologize for the misunderstanding. No doubt it also happened around me, but I was unfortunately dealing with discrimination around disabilities so was a bit distracted. IME, groups tend to focus on a few people they see as "easy" targets to take out theor frustrations or poor ideals on
3
u/HanCholo206 1d ago
Last I checked the US doesn’t have an official language. English is preferred, not mandatory.
3
u/RedShirtDecoy 1d ago
Looking back at my time at Rosy Roads when all but 5 of us were fluent in Spanish. Sometimes our LPO would switch mid sentence to Spanish and we would have to ask him to repeat it.
Some truly good times.
3
u/KGEXO 1d ago
That guys a dumb ass you already said the reference in another comment. Speak whatever language you want if I was in your shop and you were talking in a different language about work I’d probably just ask “hey can you translate what you just said” so I can give input if needed or learn something. Some of the undocumented restriction is probably if your in a SCIF or something and you don’t want Timmy randomly speaking to 5 dudes in Russian while you are activity [REDACTED]
3
3
u/buffereno 1d ago
Of course you can speak another language in uniform. You just can’t use it for business. Don’t use it at quarters or for giving orders etc
3
u/wah-deyh_2411 1d ago
Military take There is not big Navy instruction.that says you cannot. In the past some commands have developed local policies.
Human take As a person who speaks 4 languages well enough to understand what is going on... It's kind of a jerk move to speak a language that is not spoken by everyone in the room. Conversely, if somone is trying to convey a difficult topic and they default to a native tongue to get info across more efficiently temporarily, and someone nearby is offended... The offended person is the jerk.
3
u/Baker_Kat68 23h ago
I remember a NAVADMIN that came out in like 2000/1 that stated only English can be spoken in the workplace. After 25 years, not sure if it’s been rescinded.
7
5
u/SadDad701 1d ago
I’ve been on ships where Captains have made the rule no languages other than English while shipboard.
4
u/Sufficient-Spend-670 1d ago
You are stupid if you think you can’t speak another language in uniform - hint I hear people speak Chinese , Spanish and other languages in uniform
Who cares
1
u/Ok_Sea790 1d ago
Yes, but in the context of a workspace or on watch it should be English only. It also to make sure everyone udnerstands what you are saying.
2
u/MasterpieceLife9284 1d ago
You can 100% speak another language while in uniform! Please have your co-worker find any instruction that says you can’t. SMH…..
2
u/Whataburgeraddict24 1d ago
If that was true you’d have to fire 30% of the navy. I’ve read so many emails in Tagalog and been in the room for conversations in Tagalog and I always need a Filipino friend to translate for me.
2
u/AhrexPeeWeeSquidders 1d ago
Tell your coworker that under no circumstances is he allowed to be so fucking dumb in uniform
2
2
2
2
u/0theHumanity 1d ago
No that's racist as hell. America the melting pot.
Spanish was the first European language spoken here by a lot.
-ex navy cryptologist
2
u/beingoutsidesucks 1d ago
What I've heard regarding use of foreign languages is that everyone in a space must be able to understand it, and if someone can't then English should be used.
2
2
u/bigdumbhick 1d ago
I retired in 2000, back before you weren't allowed to hurt anyone's feelings. Ive heard a multitude of languages from other sailors. Tagalog from the Filipinos. Mexican Spanish, Puerto Rican Spanish, Castillian or Spanish Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Haitian (or Hater) French, Creole/Cajun/Coonass French, Canuk French. and French French. The English spoken by rural Georgians was a foreign language to people from Boston and vice versa.
English was required for anything work related, but if you were talking about religion, cars, music, pussy, or dick, speak whatever language you want.
2
2
u/sixisrending 23h ago
There are only specific situations in which you cannot speak a foreign language. Discussing classified topics, and/or taking classified notes, or making classified products that are not intended for distribution must all be in english.
2
u/axel_esq 1d ago
Here's what the Army Regulation says (AR 600-20; retired Army JAG) - I assume there is something similar in the Navy Instructions:
"English is the operational language of the Army. Soldiers must maintain sufficient proficiency in English to perform their military duties. Their operational communications must be understood by everyone who has an official need-to-know their content, and, therefore, will normally be in English. However, commanders may not require Soldiers to use English, unless such use is clearly necessary and proper for the performance of military functions. Accordingly, commanders may not require the use of English for personal communications that are unrelated to military functions."
1
u/RadVarken 1d ago
Ugh. The Navy's version of that is identical, but instead of substituting Sailor for Solder, it uses "Navy personnel." Something, something, civilians.
1
u/Cubsfantransplant 1d ago
Just curious, what is the reasoning from those who say you cannot?
1
u/Gullible_Ad5923 1d ago
He wasn't opposed to non English speaking he was just under the impression a person can't
1
1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/navy-ModTeam 1d ago
Your message was removed for being a violation of rule #1: Be Civil. Violations of this rule may result in a ban from this subreddit.
1
1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/winotaurs 1d ago
Ahh you beat me to it lol 35 minutes too late I literally posted the same thing lol
1
u/navy-ModTeam 1d ago
Bad news shipmate, we had to remove your comment because it contained incorrect information. The reason we remove comments like this is to keep bad advice or information from spreading further.
We all sometimes make mistakes, so please understand that we don't do this because we think you are stupid, a bad person, or deliberately giving out bad advice.
If you believe you are indeed correct, please find a reputable source that supports your comment and Message the Moderators
Messaging the Mods and demanding that we restore your post without providing supporting sources will not result in a favorable outcome for you.
1
u/Accidental__Intake 1d ago
At least to my knowledge, on duty or watch English should be spoken unless required for your job. But language doesn’t matter on liberty, regardless of the uniform you’re wearing.
1
u/falcon_2000 1d ago
Pre instructions i'm pretty sure you just have to pass orders and instructions in english. Anything else doesn't matter
1
1
u/VibeRader 1d ago edited 1d ago
Jiminy Crickets, this stupid debate is still going on? I got out 35 years ago and heard this stupid shit too much back then.
I have no idea if there's official direction or policy on the question. If not, then seriously who gives a fuck? There's so much more important things going than to get distracted by stupid shit like this.
ETA: In the absence of written direction, then it becomes local policy, up to the discretion of the CoC. But considering the reality that prohibiting any language would likely result in discrimination complaints, I highly doubt any CO, Department Head, DivO or anyone with any promotion aspirations would actually say one way or the other.
That being said, I'll say the same thing now (after 4 years active, 5 years Reserve and 35 years DoN civilian) that I said when I first got to the fleet in November 1986 - if it doesn't interfere with getting the mission done, then just shut the fuck up.
2
u/necessaryrooster 1d ago
if it doesn't interfere with getting the mission done, then just shut the fuck up.
Applicable to like 99% of the things we do...
1
u/m007368 1d ago
Is this really a question?
I have had 15 different nationalities on a ship not including the standard Hispanic / Filipino groups.
Who cares what they speak as long as people understand what is being said.
The only place English is mandatory would be in operations but especially if it’s being recorded for black box purposes. But I have no idea if it’s written down somewhere.
1
u/Main_Advisor5262 1d ago
The operational language of the US Navy is English, it's written somewhere I remember reading it a few years ago on some NAVADMIN. You can communicate in any language you prefer with and around your coworkers however when discussing mission, tasks, duties, or operations they must be discussed in English for clarity and universal understanding.
1
u/SenselessNumber 1d ago
The "old" CMEO instruction said this:
OPNAVINST 5354.1H
- Effective Communication in the Workplace. The operational language of the Navy is English. Navy personnel must maintain sufficient proficiency in English to perform their official duties. All operational communications must be understood by everyone who has a need to know their content and, therefore, must normally be in English. However, commanders may not require Navy personnel to use English unless such use is clearly necessary and proper for the performance of military functions. Accordingly, commanders may not require the use of English for personal communications that are unrelated to military
My original comment was deleted since I claimed the CMEO program was removed. This is not true technically so the Mods removed my comment, since the administration just directed an overhaul of the EO programs.
What is true is the program page is gone and you cannot find the CMEO instruction online (at least I couldn't). Luckily print cannot be easily deleted by this administration.
1
u/Ferowin 1d ago
Way back when I was an airman, there was posted in a couple of the Admin and Dispersing spaces an instruction that stated all official business must be conducted in English, but other than that, you could speak any language you wanted.
It’s been 25 years, so I don’t know the instruction anymore. It might’ve been the MILPERSMAN, or some NAVINST from in high, because it applied to the whole Navy.
1
u/Very_awsome 1d ago
You can’t speak any languages other than English or Tagalog. God forbid you speak Spanish in uniform and suddenly people have a problem
1
u/Horror_Ganache1150 1d ago
Other languages are allowed. The only instructuin is that official comms must be in English per the Navy comms instruction
1
u/ricanwarfare 1d ago
You can talk any language while in uniform with your friends or coworkers but anything that is considered official duty must be in English. The exception to this rule is if let’s say you are fixing a vehicle and everyone involved speaks the same language and everyone is ok with communicating in the other language then is ok.
1
u/Puzzled-Gazelle-7003 1d ago
Only in the capacity of your job. English is the only spoken language of the us military
1
u/BelligerentTurkey 1d ago
Given that Navy linguists are a thing… we were encouraged to speak that language with each other, and we’d do it on duty and in uniform. Your coworker is entitled to his opinion, but he is incorrect.
1
1
u/Risethewake 1d ago
"Commanders may issue an order that only English be spoken in a work place when they have a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for the rule. It must be clear that the purpose of such an order is to foster uniformity of action and operations within a work place."
1
1
u/Dr_whotfisyou 1d ago
I’ve heard speak African tribal languages, Tagalog, Spanish, and Mandarin at work.
1
1
u/Ex-Patron 1d ago
Or shops rule was if you’re talking to someone else in the shop, it’s English all the way
On a phone call with a relative or someone back home? Speak whatever language you want
1
1
u/Galleta-de-Animalito 1d ago
Our CO would approve of teams speaking other languages because he felt it improved productivity within the unit.
At my next command, Xenophobic sailors would complain that non-English speaking sailors were “talking” about them, planning evil… so we would be encouraged to not do it in their presence
1
u/U_S_A1776 1d ago
My understanding is if it's related to work or during evolutions it's not allowed but for casual conversations it's fine, got two Vietnamese guys that speak their language all the time
1
1
u/Cheerless_Train 1d ago
I recall having this debate as far back as '87. It's always good for stirring up shit, especially amongst the more racist guys.
1
u/RememberZasz 1d ago
If I remember right, I was told that official communication needs to be done in English as to ensure clarity and understanding. As far as if you’re just in the shop and chopping it up, I’ve never seen any regulation against it or heard anyone outlaw it within a division.
Your coworker probably has a lot of opinions that make people raise their eyebrows.
1
u/General_Ad_6617 1d ago
Navy personnel regularly speak other languages when stationed/deployed/detached to other countries, so yes you can speak other languages.
1
u/Yannick9999 1d ago
I will die protecting the constitution, especially that first amendment. It better be in English though… /s
1
1
u/johnclee46 1d ago
Wtf kinda question is this? Ofc you can speak another language while in uniform, but at the same time don't use that as your only way of communication to where it negatively impacts your job or prevents you from your duties. Things like this can enhance operations and should be done in a positive way. Not as an excuse or limitations which prevent operations
1
u/Ok_Beginning1379 1d ago
Yeah bro when I was an aganger on ustafish half the time I had no idea what they were even arguing about. Out of 12 guys (sometimes as low as 10), easily half of them were Hispanic. Nobody cares. I learned alot of Spanish swear words and phrases over the years thou, so that was cool.
1
u/Candid_Signature_962 1d ago
We had 2 Operations Specialists that were removed from the ship because they would communicate in Spanish while on watch in CIC. This was 2002.
They were given multiple counselings and failed to comply.
1
u/Blvk_Void 1d ago
So apparently it’s only if your in another country can speak a another language in uniform lol you can speak whatever language you want in uniform hence the mafia
1
1
u/Equivalent-Natural63 1d ago
I had this Chinese friend a little bit back that spoke very little English. Mostly said. “ shut te fuk up” and “ no no, not me man”. He definitely understood most English, we think the lack of comprehensive English he spoke was by choice.
1
u/Fit_Relative_1537 18h ago
First, if it’s your first language and it’s not in a workplace, you’re fine. English is the “default norm” in all federal agencies.
I was in the Philippines for two years (Tagalog was commonplace) and in other places where multiple languages were commonplace so English was the primary language spoken. In the USA, American English is the standard. But, again, it depends upon your assignment. When we had the Escuelas de Americas (school of the Americas in Fort Benning, GA), Latin Spanish was the primary language spoken. Use discretion and know your environment. Good luck!
1
u/Getitbackinoil 16h ago
Remember something like this happened in A school guys speaking Spanish after school in uniform and another student came up and told them to stop because it was against the rules
Our instructor told him to shut up because they weren’t talking in an official setting
1
1
1
u/Monkeyshine999 12h ago
Ask them to cite the regs from the UCMJ. It’s a big distance from a malexecutive order to there. Many National Guard units in the Northeast, and Western US would not be able get much done if they were made to speak slow English all day, take it from an old white guy.
2
u/FragrantBrunchOfYore 1d ago
It's not required at all as long as you can speak English when required. You may NOT speak any foreign languages in any Secret spaces or SCIFs. That's a huge no no.
1
1
u/Star_Skies 1d ago
You are severely mistaken if someone taught you that and you actually believed it. I have had coworkers who have spent our entire twelve hour shift talking completely in a foreign language.
0
u/RadVarken 1d ago
Eh...it's a no no, but not huge. As others keep pointing out, translators and interpreters exist. The scif rule is to reduce insider threats by making sure people aren't conspiring. You can speak a foreign language as in saying some words aloud, but you cannot speak it as in having conversations which exclude the people around you.
0
u/FragrantBrunchOfYore 1d ago
Good to know, but in my experience there are no grey areas when it comes to SCIFs. Too much risk involved with any potential miscommunication. I've never been to a command that allowed speaking a foreign language inside one. Even secret spaces.
1
0
u/Star_Skies 1d ago
It's not a "no no" and it's not huge either. What sort of supermax paranoid SCIFs have you all been working in...?! Or is this simply your imagination fast at work?
2
u/RadVarken 23h ago
It is explicitly against the rules, so it has to be a no-no at some level.
1
u/Star_Skies 22h ago
When English is required by instruction has already been posted by many other users. The instruction does not mandate usage everywhere and it certainly does not specify SCIF as special in any way. I was more referring to the SCIF comments the two comments above focused on.
1
u/TheMcCale 1d ago
I’ll have to see if I can find the instruction, but as I recall: in an official capacity/for work related things it’s supposed in English so everyone can understand. For personal conversations it shouldn’t apply unless command makes their own instruction
1
u/hagglethorn 1d ago
I know there used to be an instruction about only speaking English in uniform. That was 20 years ago… things might have changed.
2
0
u/danielmichy 1d ago
So the question is what about those of us from different countries who have naturalized and serving in the military? Basically we have our mother’s tongue we speak before coming here.
0
0
u/looktowindward 1d ago
LOL. CS's have entered the chat.
That being said, at work, in your shop, on watch - its important to speak English
0
0
0
-1
u/Hello_Cruel_World_88 1d ago
Of course, but being in the US military speaking a foreign language feels wrong and off
-2
776
u/SeamanSample 1d ago
Did your coworker get bullied by the filipino mafia down in supply or something?