News Resources

Commanders In Theater

"My two 09Ls were truly unbelievable. I also have 12 local national interpreters that I employ, however they do not compare to my 09Ls based on proficiency, skill, capability, understanding, trust, and reliability. They interpret between an Iraqi Police District Commander, several station commanders, and myself during meetings. They also assist us in training the Iraqi Police daily, conducting daily combat patrols, daily checkpoints, and occasional cordon and searches or raids. They are great, professional Soldiers that can be trusted, can defend themselves, understand how the Army works, understand operations, understand their commander’s intent, and have our best interest at heart." - Commander of Deployed Unit
 
"All of the Iraqi officials I dealt with were impressed to see a U.S. Soldier speaking perfect Arabic and I believe that alone gained us many inroads in working with many Iraqi people." - Commander of Deployed Unit
 
"SPC (09L Soldier) has been instrumental to our success in the area of operations thus far. He has been my right hand man when it comes to detainee processing, tactical questioning, and information exploitation. I am sure that his efforts have saved some of my Soldier's lives. SPC (09L Soldier’s) knowledge and dedication to the mission is unquestionable and I value his service more than you know. He is an outstanding Soldier. Soldiers such as he are a necessity in theater."- Commander, 75th Cavalry Regiment
 
"SPC (09L Soldier) not only understood the Iraqi language, but he understood the personalities of the Senior Iraqi Police Officers that we were partnered with. Because he was a fellow Soldier, I knew I could trust him to give me information on the subtleties of conversations as well as the backgrounds and interests of the Iraqis I was working with. I often call upon him to give me context to conversations that would otherwise make no sense. In addition to being a first class linguist, he is an outstanding Soldier. He serves as a member of my security team when I travel throughout Baghdad meeting with Iraqi Police. SPC (09L Soldier) will be a central player in the Brigade’s mission to build capability in the Iraqi Police. It would be impossible to overestimate his value to our mission or to overstate his capability to tackle this mission. Without the 09L program our brigade and the police partnership program would be at a distinct disadvantage." – Commander of Deployed Unit
 
"I have had these Soldiers (three 09Ls) assigned to my company for the last year here in Iraq and they have proven to be an invaluable asset to my Soldiers and my unit's ability to accomplish its mission. We without a doubt need as many of these Soldiers as we can get. Their level of maturity and ability to interact with the local population was a tremendous addition to my company's combat effectiveness. Additionally, the 09Ls provided cultural training and awareness to my Soldiers that enabled them to better understand their surroundings and accomplish their mission." – 1SG of Deployed Unit
 
"I now am lucky enough to have a total of three 09L Soldiers. They are all fantastic. They are great linguists, great Soldiers, and such a combat multiplier/enabler for my unit and our mission." – Commander of Deployed Unit
 
"09L Soldiers are an invaluable asset to the Special Forces community. They are far more reliable than any civilian hired contractor linguists in that they are trained as Soldiers first, linguists second. There are many times that a 09L has assisted in battlefield interrogation operations. Translation is indeed a necessity in these situations; however, the 09L Soldiers are able to assist even further. The 09Ls can usually identify if a detainee is a native Iraqi, or if the individual is from another area. Some of the 09Ls are capable of listening to the detainee speak and determining what region of Iraq that individual is from. It is also possible for some of the 09Ls that are trained in different dialects to determine if a detainee is being truthful in their statements." – 5th Special Forces Commander
 
"As the Officer in Charge of linguists, there was no greater advantage than having a 09L embedded in our targeting process. His ability to detangle names, tribes, and affiliations gave us a much clearer picture of the battlespace than would have otherwise been possible." – Captain, 1st CAV Deployed
 
"I wish all of my interpreters were Soldiers and could deliver like this 09L does every day. He gives 100% every day and is a superstar within my company. The advantages of Soldier interpreters are many: their skill of the English language, coupled with their understanding of the culture, the level of trust we can place in them, their ability for self-defense, and they are available 24/7 (unlike a local national), and I know that he looks out for our best interest." – Commander of Deployed Unit
 
"Our interpreter has been key reason for success during countless combat missions, dignitary escorts, training Iraqis, etc. He is specifically requested by local Iraqi Generals as well as numerous U.S. Generals. He was asked to serve at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad but said he would rather be in the field - General Abizaid agreed and commended him for his decision." - Commander of Deployed Unit
 
"There is no doubt in my mind that our 09L has saved U.S. lives through his proactive method of engaging the local populace and the invaluable insight he provides during combat operations. There is no single capability in our arsenal better than our 09L." - Commander of Deployed Unit
 
"SPC (09L Soldier) is an exceptional Soldier and invaluable member of this Brigade Combat Team. I depend upon him to translate, interpret, and equally important provide me assessments of attitudes and nuances of Iraqi body language, customs, and culture. His effectiveness is the result of several factors. First he is a former Iraqi and as such he understands Iraqis in a manner that only a native can. Second, Iraqis discern immediately that he is an Iraqi and as such talk very openly to him. Third, he has a very strong commitment to assisting this country in becoming a democracy. He and his family suffered under the oppressive rule of Saddam Hussein with his younger brother being murdered in 1991. Finally, he is an American patriot. He fought alongside U.S. Special Forces during Desert Storm, was liberated, and immigrated to the U.S. in the early '90s. He earned his citizenship, elected to close his successful business and leave his wife and small boys to serve with the Army in order to repay 'some of what America has given him.'" - Commander, 1st Cavalry Division