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International Military Education and Training (IMET) Program Graduates of the first U.S. Defense Language Institute Detachment English Language Course Organized by American Embassy Office of Defense Cooperation

May 29, 2002

In 30 May 2002 at 10:00 A.M., the American Center will host a graduation ceremony for the first group of Lithuanian officers and enlisted personnel who successfully finished a preparatory English language course before they depart to study at specialized courses in the United States military institutions.

U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania John F. Tefft will present graduation certificates, Lithuanian Defense vice Minister Jonas Gecas will give a short congratulatory speech, and the participation of other guests is expected.

Lithuanian officers and enlisted personnel attend various United States military school courses, using the U.S. Government International Military and Education (IMET) Program. They have possibilities to study together with U.S. military personnel and representatives of other countries’ armed forces. The IMET program funding provided by the U.S. Government and Department of Defense is increasing, so a bigger number of specialists depart every year. The current year program budget reaches over $1 Million. Many countries use this program, however funding priority is given to countries that are successfully reforming their armed forces, that are striving to be members of NATO, and that have used the IMET program efficiently.

In the past, Lithuania spent almost half of its allocated IMET funding to educate students in the English language at the U.S. Defense Language Institute. This year, in an effort to save time and money, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense and the embassy’s ODC decided to create a Defense Language Institute English Language Training Detachment in Nemencine at the Military Professional Training Center. For the period of one year, four Lithuanian English Language Instructors are working at Nemencine under the supervision and guidance of DLI instructor Carol Maloney-Reyes.

Consequently, Lithuania will expend only 12% of its total IMET program funds for this year for English language training. Some 44 students will study in the U.S., while over 226 students will study here in Lithuania.