Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus (FLPB) pay

References:

• AR 11-6, Army Foreign Language Program, dated 25 February 2022, effective 25 March 2022
• DA Pam 11-8, Army Foreign Language Program Handbook, dated 28 February 2022, effective 2022
• List of available Defense Language Proficiency Tests (DLPT)

You may visit the Army Electronic Publication System (APD) site at http://www.apd.army.mil/ to download Army Regulations.

• Current Department of the Army Strategic Language List (ASLL), Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2 memorandum dated 21 February 2023.  This memorandum announced changes to the list of languages eligible to receive FLPB effective 21 February 2023.

Who is Eligible?:

 AR 11-6 applies to Active Army (AA), United States Army Reserve (USAR) and Army National Guard (ARNG) - See paragraph 4-2.a for basic AA eligibility and paragraph 4-2.b for basic USAR and ARNG eligibility.

• Soldiers with a language dependent capable MOS/Branch listed in AR 11-6, paragraph 4-6 are authorized FLPB for their Control Language (CLANG) and may qualify for additional languages designated as critical on the current ASLL provided they remain qualified in their CLANG.
• Soldiers serving in a position with a Language Identification Code (LIC) on the unit's MTOE/TDA, attending or instructing in a Professional Military Education course taught in a foreign language or participating in the Military Personnel Exchange Program (MPEP) - AR 11-6, paragraph 4-7.
• Soldiers with proficiency in a language designated as Immediate Investment or Emerging on the current ASLL regardless of MOS or duty position.  Languages designated as Enduring are restricted to Soldier with an MOS/Branch listed in AR 11-6, paragraph 4-6.

Additional Information:

Pay by Modality Implementation effective 1 March 2023 - MILPER 23-069

DA Form 4187 Written Agreement is the only authorized document to request FLPB payments.  Additional details and copies of the written agreements can be found on MilSuite at Group: The Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus (... |milBook Home (milsuite.mil)

 SIGNIFICANT CHANGES to the General Purpose Forces Army Strategic Language (SLL) List effective 21 February 2023:

• REMOVES all languages designated as Immediate Investment or Emerging.  Soldiers currently receiving FLPB for languages removed from the previous Army SLL will continue to receive FLPB through the end of their current agreement in accordance with paragraph 14.
• ENDURING LANGUAGES ARE STILL RESTRICTED TO LANGUAGE DEPENDENT/CAPABLE PERSONNEL IDENTIFIED IN AR 11-6, PARAGRAPH 4-6.
• Languages added to the Enduring list:  Arabic-Modern Standard (AD), Chinese-Amoy (YD/CD), Chinese-Cantonese (CC), Persian-Iranian (Farsi)(PF) and Ukrainian (UK).
• CMF 37 and CMF 38 not assigned to an ARSOF unit will use the GPF Army SLL to determine eligibility to receive FLPB for languages in addition to their CLANG.

New Defense Language Proficiency Test - Computer Adaptive (DLPT-CA) - The Defense Language Institute (DLI) - Monterey has released the new DLPT-CA for Chinese-Mandarin as of 3 June 2021.  This is a new testing style and all service members taking the DLPT-CA for the first time are authorized a one time substitution of previous year's scores in accordance with AR 11-6, paragraph 4-6g and Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff G-2 memorandum dated 14 June 2018.  Currently, the DLPT-CA is offered for Spanish (QB) and Chinese-Mandarin (CM).

IT IS THE SOLDIER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO RETEST ANNUALLY. SOLDIERS CAN BEGIN TESTING THREE (3) MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR TEST EXPIRATION DATE.

• Local unit process routine written agreements and designated local educational test centers administer the testing (most testing is web based, some are orally conducted).
• Language testing can be conducted at ANY "military service testing facility" worldwide.
• The monthly FLPB rate is based on proficiency and the language payment list (Army Soldiers can receive from $150 and up to $1000 maximum for one language depending on which language and score).
• For those who qualify for FLPB in multiple languages, the total monthly FLPB amount for multiple languages CANNOT exceed $1000.
• If a Soldier is due an annual recertification, and at the time of the test expiration the Soldier is assigned OCONUS or deployed at a location where no testing facilities are available to include "other Services testing facilities", the recertification must be documented on a DA Form 4187 and certified by their Commander. When the Soldier returns to CONUS, a 180 day allowance is then given for the soldier to retest. The Soldier must be recertified within those 180 days by taking the DLPT.

For more information about the Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus, please send an email to: usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.tagd-flpb@army.mil.

Categories: Benefits