Texas Guard Soldier takes point in recruiting linguists
By Tech. Sgt. Gregory Ripps
Texas Military Forces Public Affairs
CAMP MABRY,
Texas (May 5, 2008) -- Spc. Muhammed Abu Snaineh has a unique role in the Texas Army National Guard. His primary mission is to recruit people with specific
language skills -- namely those who speak Arabic, Kurdish, Farsi, Dari or Pashto, the primary languages of 23 Arab countries, Iran and Afghanistan.
He also has his own personal mission: He wants the U.S. and Arabic communities to learn from each other.
Specialist Abu Snaineh, 32, is not a newcomer to the United States. He was born and reared in Hebron, on the West Bank of the Jordan River. At the age of 21, he met a 19-year-old woman whose father was Palestinian and whose mother was American. In short order they were engaged and married.
"She felt there were more opportunities for us in America, so we applied for a visa," he said. "We immigrated to America, moving to Austin, Texas, in 1996."
While the future Guardsman said he always had an interest in joining the military - his grandfather had served in the British army -- his first interest was in flying. After holding a variety of jobs, including a position at Dell for five years, he moved in 2004 to Big Spring, Texas, to seriously pursue flying lessons. During this period in his life, he thought of becoming a military pilot. But then he discovered the U.S. military was looking for Arabic speakers to communicate with Arabic-speakers where Texas Military Forces are serving. Ultimately, he joined the Texas Army National Guard in 2005 and signed up as a 09L, or Zero Nine Lima, the program for linguists.
During Specialist Abu Snaineh's nine weeks in basic training, he was surprised to meet about 30 other Arabic-speakers, representing a number of Middle Eastern and Southwest Asian countries, who were going into reserve components and the active Army. From basic training he went into six weeks of Advanced Individual Training at the Defense Language Institute on Fort Jackson, S.C. He was among 64 trainees with separate classes for Arabic, Kurdish, Farsi, Dari and Pashto speakers.
"Usually they are deployed to the Asian or African countries whose language and culture they are most familiar with," Specialist Abu Snaineh pointed out. "The Army Reserves attaches one or two to an active component. The National Guard attaches [whatever number is] needed to any National Guard or active unit deploying to Afghanistan or Iraq, depending on its size."
At Fort Jackson he practiced his interpretation skills and learned how to be a communicator-interpreter-translator, and how to communicate with military leaders and local leaders in operational areas. The class even practiced in mock villages where he would translate for commanders or medical personnel with the local populace played by Arabic-speaking contractors. Sometimes there would be scenarios with tense confrontations in which he would have to determine the locals' demands or needs.
"We learned that we must win the hearts and minds of the people," Specialist Abu Snaineh said. "When we gain people's trust, we will succeed in our mission."
He found this to be true after he deployed, which wasn't long in coming. Two weeks after graduation, while in Soldier Readiness Processing at Camp McCrady, S.C., he received mobilization orders in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom beginning in September 2006. After three months of training at Fort Dix, N.J., he was deployed overseas, where he put all of his training into use and gained a wealth of experience.
Specialist Abu Snaineh's first assignment was to Al-Anbar province, where he drove an up-armored HMMWV for a brigade headquarters staff that dealt extensively with Iraqi police. There he performed his duties within a company attached to the U.S. Marines that recruited, trained and supplied Iraqi police.
Working with the Iraqi police helped the community open up to the U.S. forces.
"There were many cases when older men or children came up to tell us about weapons caches or insurgent activities," Specialist Abu Snaineh related. "These [reports] … resulted in [our forces] being able to capture weapons and material used for explosives."
Back in the states in October 2007, Specialist Abu Snaineh underwent additional training before moving into his unique recruiting role, in which he approaches and reaches Arabic-speakers in Texas.
"Actually, I expected more rejection," Specialist Abu Snaineh said. "I find it a positive challenge to tell people what we in the National Guard do and what I've seen: We are trying to help people…. We're doing some amazing things in Iraq and Afghanistan."
He wants the people in the Middle East and Southwest Asia and people in the United States to learn about each other - to appreciate each other's culture, behavior and traditions.
"I have seen negative attitude changes to positive after teaching both people from the Middle East about America and teaching Americans about the Middle East," he said.
In the few months since he has returned from overseas, Specialist Abu Snaineh said he, with the help of the Texas Army National Guard Recruiting Battalion, has been contacting unit commanders and sergeants major about the linguist-recruiting program.
"Texas
is in the beginning stages," he said. "But the National Guard Bureau is putting in more effort to expand the program within every state."
Specialist Abu Snaineh has been identifying Arabic news and advertising media in Texas and areas in the state where there are higher concentrations of Arabic speakers. Much of his effort has been on the personal level. For instance, he said that when he attends Muslim religious events, he introduces himself as a Soldier-interpreter for the National Guard.
"A lot of people become interested when they see me in uniform," he said. "But sometimes I wear a business suit and carry business cards." In either case, he added, people want to know how the linguist program works for Arabic, Kurdish, Farsi, Dari or Pashto speakers.
The biggest incentive, according to Specialist Abu Snaineh, is the offer of expedited U.S. citizenship: The recruits can begin processing their citizenship during their Advanced Individual Training. The expedited process narrows the wait time for citizenship from the five- to six-year average to less than two years.
The recruits also come into the Texas Army National Guard as an E-4 (specialist) and receive a $20,000 bonus. Arabic speakers also receive an additional $500 a month, and Farsi speakers can receive an additional $1,000 a month. And there are the usual educational and medical benefits of belonging to the Texas Army National Guard.
Anyone interested in learning more about the linguist program may contact Specialist Abu Snaineh at (512) 422-8391 and check out www.1800goguard.com/linguist for additional information.
"Recruiting is always a challenge," Specialist Abu Snaineh observed. But he won't be easily discouraged. His enthusiasm for the linguist program and the Texas Army National Guard is genuine.
"I have a five-year-old son," he said. "I want to set an example for him. I hope he becomes interested in joining our team in the future."
CUTLINES
Spc. Muhammed Abu Snaineh explains that the Arabic script on the recruiting poster reads, "If you believe you are a leader…." (Texas Military Forces photo by Tech. Sgt. Gregory Ripps)
Spc. Muhammed Abu Snaineh strikes a heroic pose with a .50-caliber machine gun in front of an up-armored vehicle while deployed to Iraq. (Courtesy photo)
