R 011954Z DEC 25 MARADMIN 574/25  MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC I  SUBJ/FY26 MARINE CORPS FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS(FLPB) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS//   REF/A/MSGID:DOC/DODD/YMD:20200825//  REF/B/MSGID:MEMO/ASN MRA/YMD:20060404//  REF/C/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20250307//  REF/D/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20250110//  REF/E/MSGID:MEMO/OASD/YMD:20191125//  REF/F/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20140204//  REF/G/MSGID:DOC/DODI/YMD:20220817//  REF/H/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20130327//  REF/I/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20160501//  REF/J/MSGID:DOC/DODI/YMD:20220630//  REF/K/MSGID:MEMO/OUSD PR/YMD:20250304//  NARR/REF (A) IS THE DOD DIRECTIVE ON DEFENSE LANGUAGE, REGIONAL EXPERTISE, AND CULTURE (LREC) PROGRAM, DODD 5160.41E, REF (B) IS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE NAVY (MANPOWER & RESERVE AFFAIRS) MEMO DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS TO DEVELOP POLICY AND PROCEDURES TO ADMINISTER THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS PROGRAM WITHIN THE MARINE CORPS.  REF (C) IS THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PUBLICATION ON THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALITIES MANUAL, NAVMC 1200.1L. REF (D) IS THE MARINE CORPS ORDER ON THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY BONUS PROGRAM, MCO 7220.52G.  REF (E) IS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (READINESS) MEMO PUBLISHING THE AUTHORIZATION TO ASSIGN TWO MODALITIES FOR THE RESULTS ON THE ORAL PROFICIENCY INTERVIEW DATED 20191125.  REF (F) IS THE MARINE CORPS ORDER ON CLASSIFICATION TESTING, MCO 1230.5C.  REF (G) IS THE DOD INSTRUCTION ON MILITARY FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILL PROFICIENCY BONUSES, DODI 1340.27.  REF (H) IS THE MARINE CORPS ORDER ON THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM, MCO 1520.11F.  REF (I) IS THE MARINE CORPS TASK LIST (2.0), MCO 3500.26A.  REF (J) IS THE DOD INSTRUCTION ON THE DOD LANGUAGE TESTING PROGRAM, DODI 5160.71.  REF (K) IS THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS MEMO AUTHORIZING AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY TO REDUCE THE DLPT RETESTING WAITING PERIOD TO 180 DAYS.//  POC/E. C. WHEELER III/MSGT/IID, DC I/EMAIL: [email protected]//  GENTEXT/REMARKS/ 

1.  Purpose.  Per refs (a) and (b), this MARADMIN promulgates Marine Corps policy for the Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus (FLPB) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and is effective 1 October 2025. All FLPB eligibility is based upon the fiscal year the Marine certifies their proficiency, e.g., a Marine who tested in FY25 receives FLPB based on FY25 eligibility requirements, and eligibility does not change when FY26 begins. 
2.  Background.  The Marine Corps employs FLPB to meet evolving mission requirements by incentivizing the acquisition, maintenance, and enhancement of critical foreign language skills. In accordance with refs (a) and (b), and in coordination with the Fleet Marine Force and Supporting Establishment, the Deputy Commandant for Information (DC I), in their role as the USMC Senior Language Authority, manages the FLPB program.  
3.  Validating Proficiency.  Per ref (a), Marines must validate their proficiency via the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) or Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) to maintain FLPB eligibility. These tests measure proficiency in Listening (L), Reading (R), and Speaking (S) using Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scores ranging from 0 to 5.  In accordance with ref (k), the minimum time required between attempts per modality is 180 calendar days.  If no DLPT exists for a language or dialect, Marines may take the OPI to receive both a listening and speaking score.
4.  FLPB Eligibility. 4.a.  Per ref (c), Marines must meet the requirements for one of the five categories listed below to be eligible for FLPB.  If a language appears in multiple categories, Marines are eligible for FLPB if they meet the criteria for any single category, e.g., Marine may be eligible for FLPB per paragraph 4.a.1 but not per 4.a.2.  The five FLPB eligibility categories are as follows: