Marines ease language barrier for UFL 2003
Marine Corps News
Release Date: 8/14/2003
Story by Cpl. Luis R. Agostini
PALAN, Republic of Korea(August 21, 2003) -- One day, every warfighter will be equipped with the technology to translate a foreign language in a distant land at the touch of a button, or the command of a voice.
Until that day arrives, the Corps will continue to turn to its Marines for language translation, as was done for Ulchi Focus Lens 2003.
Sergeant Andrew Nevitt, a Korean cryptologic linguist from Marine Forces Pacific's 3rd Radio Battalion, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, is one of several translators brought aboard UFL-03 to assist Marines and Sailors in communicating with their Republic of Korea Marine counterparts.
"I talked to my platoon commander for possible deployments," said Nevitt. He told me UFL was a good opportunity, and he submitted my name to MarForPac."
Sergeant Nevitt's journey toward supporting Marine Corps operations through Korean translation began after graduating from the 16-month long course at the Defense Language Institute at Monterey, Calif.
Although he is a certified Korean linguist, perfecting his second language is a constant process.
"It's really interesting to see and learn new words and the different ways things can be said," said Nevitt.
Nevitt has had the opportunity to pick up some colloquial Korean in nearby Osan.
"It's easier in town. It's more of a relaxed atmosphere," said Nevitt. "The Koreans are very friendly people."
Ulchi Focus Lens exercises the higher headquarters' staffs of the U.S. and R.O.K. military services through computer-driven gaming scenarios, providing the CMFC and R.O.K. staffs the ability to maneuver armies, corps, and Marine Expeditionary Forces on the computer-simulated battlefield.
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