History of Linguists in the U.S. Army

Formal language training for Army linguists is relatively new compared to the age of the Army.  Official training at the Military Intelligence Service Language School for Japanese linguists began in secret in November 1941¹ at the Presidio in San Francisco, CA. In 1946 the school was moved approximately 110 miles south, where instruction continues today at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) located in Monterey, CA.  During the Cold War the training program rapidly expanded to include Russian and German.

Graduation of Department of Defense linguists at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center in Monterey

In addition, the Department of Defense maintains DLI-Washington (known to many linguists as "DLI-East"), where less common (low-density) languages are taught.

Lastly, DLI also manages the Defense Language Institute English Language Center (DLIELC), which teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) to foreign students.  Primary instruction for this course is taught at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX.

An Afghan student learns English at DLIELC

¹About Army Linguists - GoArmy.com ; Defense Language Institute - Wikipedia