Military English Training

Designed to prepare potential NATO staff officers for their roles in the NATO Alliance and for UN peacekeeping appointments, BBSI Military English training courses are both stimulating and wide-ranging in their delivery and content.  Language development through active participation in practical course work is encouraged, and is fully supported by authentic discussion, current affairs, written communication and military-planning activities. Duration of each course is normally 6 weeks; however, training can be tailored to meet the precise requirements of particular sponsors.  The maximum class size is 12 Officers/SNCOs and our training is concerned with creating an understanding of the functional communication skills necessary in NATO and UN Peacekeeping appointments worldwide.  Our language training is therefore suitable for military officers, diplomatic staff, civil servants, intelligence officers et al.

BBSI courses include excursions to professional and cultural places of interest, and presentations on specialised military topics.  Courses run year-round and a high proportion of students attain creditable passes at SLP 3 and SLP 4 levels, which allows them to subsequently establish themselves in international appointments with ease and confidence.  Many former BBSI trainees are currently serving in senior NATO and UN appointments.  Selected courses are conducted for VIPs and personnel of high military rank. 

Assessment & Certification

On successful completion of each training course, examination and certification is conducted at BBSI by Ministry of Defence Language Examining Board (MODLEB) examiners. BBSI utilises only MODLEB examiners for the purposes of assessment and certification. These examiners are administered by the University of Westminster, who issue the certification on behalf of MODLEB and BBSI. Testing is in accordance with the NATO STANAG 6001 Military Language Descriptors, and our certification is wholly acceptable as a formal measure of the operational and administrative language-skills´ level of the respective holders.

Assessment & Certification

BBSI utilises only external MODLEB-accredited examiners administrated by the University of Westminster  for STANAG-assessment purposes.  Certification issued by MODLEB examiners is in acordance with NATO STANAG 6001 and is wholly acceptable as a formal measure of the operational and administrative military English-language skills level of the holder.

NATO STANAG 6001 SLP 2

Course Objectives.  Commencing at entry level SLP 1 or equivalent:

*  to understand simple sentences/questions spoken at near native-speaker speed
*  to conduct simple social and professional interaction
*  tp obtain information on everyday matters by a variety of means
*  to converse on a one-to-one basis with a sympathetic native speaker
*  to participate in work-related discussions in small groups
*  to give an introductory presentation
*  to comprehend routine business & professional messages & correspondence
*  to provide basic information in writing, with the appropriate greetings

NATO STANAG 6001 SLP 3

Course Objectives.  Commencing at entry level SLP 2 or equivalent: :

*  to comprehend the gist of a meeting
*  to participate & express opinions in meetings & discussions
*  to deliver clear presentations & reports
*  to  obtain clear & detailed information about business & professional matters
*  to participate in social & professional discussions with native speakers at normal speed
*  to understand the general nature of authentic texts & job-related material
*  to compose letters & reports, intelligible to a native speaker
*  to introduce interpreting

NATO STANAG 6001 SLP 4

Course Objectives.  Commencing at entry level SLP 3 or equivalent:

*  to fully comprehend native-speaker dialogue
*  to deliver full professional briefings/presentations & handle subsequent questions
*  to express & defend opinions
*  to negotiate in difficult circumstances
*  to handle the unexpected
*  to fully understand authentic texts, correspondence, newspapers etc
*  to compose letters/reports to a high standard

Specialised Content

The colloquial, operational and specialised content will depend on the particular specialisation and will be selected, as necessary, from the following topics in functional military context:

NATO

*  management; organisation; core functions
*  HQ & field-command structure
*  defence policy, planning, management & PfP consultation
*  combined operations
*  command, control, communications, computing & intelligence
*  infrastructure
*  administration/financial management
*  communication information systems
*  production, logistics & supply
*  medical support & mobility
*  host-nation support
*  interoperability & standardisation
*  PfP technical support
*  out-of-area commitments
*  anti-terrorist/internal security operations
*  peace-support operations; strategic interactions; consent & legitimisation
*  public information; dissemination, coordination of the media
*  politics, diplomacy & international protocol

UN Peacekeeping

*  principles; consent, impartiality, objectives & limitations
*  rules of engagement
*  legality, propriety & credibility
*  force structures
*  negotiation, mediation, interposition, liaison & supervision
*  control measures, search & arrest
*  community relations
*  public information
*  UN organisation & command structure
*  planning, briefing & implementation
*  management & budgeting of joint exercises
*  UN intelligence, internal security & emergency-reaction forces
*  IFOR integration: participation of non-NATO nations
*  SFOR command & control
*  participation of civil services