Basic Job Description
The 09L Interpreter/Translator MOS is a relatively new MOS created by the Army, specifically for native foreign language speakers. In order to enlist in this MOS, you must be able to fluently speak a foreign language, which the Army needs translators for.
The Interpreter/Translator is primarily responsible for conducting interpretation (oral) and preparing translations (written) between English and a foreign language, as well assisting in unit foreign language & cultural awareness familiarization training. 09L Soldiers specialize in a number of Middle-Eastern languages.
Duties performed by this MOS include:
- Prepare non-technical translations into the target language and performing sight translations from a target language into English
- Perform oral interpretation
- Assist military contracting officer with a local purchase to providing interpretation support at a military traffic control point
- Aassist security personnel in screening the local population at military checkpoints
- provide interpretation assistance for the Public Affairs Office (PAO) during local media events and translation of local newspapers or pamphlets
Initial Training Information
6 weeks, 0 days, at Fort Jackson, SC (Note: Depending on English fluency, applicants for the 09L MOS may also be required to attend English language training at Ft. Jackson prior to attending Basic Training).
ASVAB Score Required: None established
Security Clearance: None
Strength Requirement: None established
Physical Profile Requirement: 222222
Other Requirements
Proficient in one or more of the following required target languages:
- Arabic-Modern Standard
- Arabic-Gulf-Iraqi
- Arabic-Egyptian
- Arabic-Levantine
- Arabic-Yemeni
- Arabic-Sudanese
- Arabic-Maghrebi
- Arabic-Algerian
- Arabic-Libyan
- Arabic-Moroccan
- Arabic-Tunisian
- Pushtu/Pashto/Pachto
- Pushtu-Afghan
- Kurdish
- Kurdish-Behdini (Kurmanji)
- Kurdish-Sorani
- Persian-Afghan (Dari)
- Persian-Iranian (Farsi)
Similar Civilian Occupations
- Interpreters and Translators
- Business Operations Specialists
- Computer Operators
- Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
- Training and Development Specialists
