U.S. International Military Training Program (IMET) English Language and Military Training Assistance for the Lithuanian Armed Forces
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U.S. International Military Training Program (IMET) English Language and Military Training Assistance for the Lithuanian Armed Forces
October 1, 2003
PRESS EVENT: On 2 October 2003, the U.S. Ambassador Stephen Mull will present graduation certificates to 16 Lithuanian Officers and NCOs from the final U.S.-sponsored English Language Course at the Nemencine Foreign Languages Center. The graduation ceremony is scheduled to start at Nemencine Foreign Languages Training Center (Nemencine, Kalno g. 27) at 10.30h.
Students from this as well as previous courses go on to attend specialized military training courses in the United States under the International Military Education and Training program (IMET). Managed by the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation, the IMET program assists the Lithuanian military in training their Officers and NCOs. Annually the Ministry of Defense identifies up to 50 Lithuanian officers and NCOs that attend various specialized military training courses in the United States. The IMET program budget for Lithuania in 2003 was $1.2 million.
Although the U.S. English Language Training Detachment at Nemencine will close down its operations after nearly two years of providing instruction and technical assistance on English language training, 4 Lithuanian Armed Forces English language instructors will continue to teach English using U.S. textbooks and U.S.-produced language-training laboratories that have been installed at the Nemencine Foreign Languages Center.
The final phase of the U.S.-sponsored English Language Training program will be to provide expert assistance to the 9 English language centers throughout the Lithuanian defense system. The U.S. English Language Program Manager, Mrs. Carol Reyes, will visit all the 9 Centers over the next several months before returning to the U.S. in January.
In addition, during the two-year timeframe, two seminars were held for all 40 Lithuanian English Language Centers’ instructors. The seminars focused on language teaching techniques, testing procedures and English military terminology. Lithuania has quickly developed their military English Language Training program. Back in 1999, nearly 50% of the IMET program funds were spent on English language training in the U.S. Now less then 5% of IMET funds is committed for that purpose. As a result, more Lithuanian officers and NCOs have a chance to go to specialized military courses in the U.S.
