SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –
RESS RELEASE 24-002, Jan. 31, 2024
Contact: Lt. Col. Chris Kroeber (801) 716-9063
For Immediate Release
Utah National Guard hosts 35th annual Military Intelligence Language Conference
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah National Guard’s 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist) proudly announces the commencement of its 35th Annual Language Conference, themed "Linguists in the Grey Zone." The conference, scheduled to take place on February 2-3, 2023, at the Salt Palace located in downtown Salt Lake City, promises to be a gathering of esteemed linguists, scholars, policymakers, and intelligence leaders from around the globe.
This year's conference theme, "Linguists in the Grey Zone," explores the evolving role of military intelligence linguists in addressing complex challenges within the modern geopolitical landscape. From hybrid warfare to cyber threats to large-scale combat operations, military intelligence linguists play a pivotal role in navigating the ambiguities and complexities of today's global conflicts. The conference also acts as a significant recruitment opportunity, offering recruits insight and appreciation for the invaluable contributions made by our military intelligence linguists to national security endeavors.
The conference boasts an impressive lineup of speakers, including:
Governor Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah: Gov. Cox brings a wealth of experience in leadership and diplomacy, offering insights into the importance of linguistic expertise in addressing contemporary security challenges.
Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr.: Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and China: Ambassador Huntsman's unique perspective on international relations and diplomacy will shed light on the critical role linguists play in fostering understanding and cooperation between nations.
In addition to these esteemed speakers, the conference will feature presentations, panel discussions, and workshops covering a wide range of topics, including linguistic analysis, cultural intelligence, and emerging technologies in language translation and interpretation.
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“As the only Military Intelligence Linguist Brigade in the Department of Defense, we have a unique role to play in supporting the defense of our nation. The Language Conference and Best Linguist Competition (Polyglot Games) provide key opportunities to sharpen our skills, learn critical context to the areas in which we may operate, and build relationships with linguists and other intelligence experts throughout the Army and Department of Defense,” said Colonel Cody Strong, Commander, 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguists).
On February 3, 2024, the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist), will host the 6th Annual Best Linguist Competition (Polyglot Games). The prestigious Best Linguist Competition brings together more than 200 linguists from 80 different organizations within the Department of Defense, as well as college and local high-school students. In this highly anticipated competition, military intelligence linguists will compete in Arabic, Chinese-Mandarin, Korean, Russian, Persian-Farsi, Spanish, and French. The competition serves as a platform to recognize and celebrate the exceptional linguistic skills and cultural knowledge of the competitors. The competition tests their analytical abilities and cultural understanding in foreign languages, showcasing the critical role linguists play in national security efforts. The Best Linguist Competition highlights individual excellence and fosters camaraderie and collaboration among military linguists, reinforcing the importance of language proficiency in today's complex operational environments.
Command Sgt. Maj. Edmundo Garica, 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist) provided his thoughts on the best linguist competition. “The Best Linguist Competition (Polyglot Games) event has seen an increase in both quantity and quality of competitors each year. The linguists that participate in the Polyglot Games showcase the dedication to excellence in language within our community that strengthens our force and ensures our readiness in this evolving geopolitical landscape.”
About the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist):
The 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist) is a leading force in linguistic analysis and intelligence operations, providing critical language support to military and government agencies worldwide. With a mission to enhance national security through language proficiency and cultural understanding, the brigade is dedicated to excellence in linguistic research, analysis, and training.
For more information about the 35th Annual Language Conference, next year’s 2025 LANGCON or the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist), please visit https://www.intelliguists.com.
MEDIA NOTES: The Language Conference will be held at The Salt Palace Convention Center, 90 S. West Temple St., Salt Lake City, Utah. RSVP by email at ng.utngpao@army.mil or text 801-716-9063.
Media desiring to attend should arrive no later than 8:00 a.m. on Friday and/or Saturday. The Best Language Competition will be conducted on Saturday. Teams will rotate every 45 minutes into a new section. Sample breakdown of the competition sections.
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PHOTOS / BOTH PHOTOS ARE FROM THE 2023 LANGUAGE CONFERENCE:
230211-Z-KC166-0067: Utah National Guard’s 300th Military Intelligence Brigade held its 34th annual Military Intelligence Language Conference on Feb. 11, 2023. As part of the conference more than 140 competitors from 25 different organizations participate in the Polyglot Games. The competition is conducted in seven different languages and follow every step of the intelligence cycle, from the operations order to a final commander's brief as they translate battlefield recordings and news reports, exploit documents to identify and destroy enemy equipment, and assess possible enemy courses of action.
230211-Z-KC166-0073: Military Intelligence Soldiers conduct a site exploitation of a room to quickly identify material with potential intelligence value as they compete in the Polyglot Games during the Utah National Guard, 300th Military Intelligence Brigade’s 34th annual Military Intelligence Language Conference on Feb. 11, 2023.