During the week of February 23, Ms. Tanya Clark became the first member of the National Language Service Corps (NLSC) to be sent on an assignment when she traveled to Atlanta to work for three days at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). While in Atlanta, Ms. Clark worked on the CDC’s ongoing pandemic influenza exercise, providing cultural advice and translation services for the Russian-language CDC web presence.

Ms. Clark, a Charter Member of the NLSC, recalls that she never anticipated going on an assignment even though she was proud to volunteer her much-needed Russian language skills to NLSC. "I joined the National Language Service Corps to become a part of something larger," She commented. Ms. Clark, a second generation Ukrainian speaker and member of the American Translators Association, learned Russian at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California, and she also served as a cryptologic linguist in the U.S. Air Force before a civilian career in arms control and international relations.

The NLSC is a new organization, consisting of Americans who volunteer their language skills to help Federal agencies with unexpected, short-term demand for language skills. The NLSC offers individuals with language expertise the opportunity to help their neighbors and fellow citizens by participating in national and state efforts, particularly in times of emergency or crisis when their expertise can make a difference.

Currently the NLSC is in a pilot program that aims to demonstrate the feasibility of creating and maintaining a reserve corps of Americans ready to serve as civilian federal employees on an as needed basis. The NLSC is recruiting individuals who have expertise in languages that are important to the security and welfare of the nation. During the pilot program, the NLSC will work with Federal agencies to recruit, activate and assign NLSC members to assist in a range of language and culture-related tasks.

For additional information, call toll-free (888) SAY-NLSC (729-6572) or visit our website.