Soldiers worldwide have been ordered to complete a mandatory self-assessment of their foreign language skills after the Army failed to get enough volunteers to participate in a program.

All active, Reserve and National Guard soldiers — even those who speak only English — have until March 15 to finish the assessment, U.S. Army Europe announced in a press release Wednesday.

USAREUR has required its soldiers to take the self-assessment since October 2007, though it was only voluntary for most of the Army. The service extended the mandate to the rest of the force to meet a Defense Department requirement that the services identify personnel with foreign language skills.

"Given the relevance of these skills to our mission, a full accounting of the foreign language capability currently in the force is essential," reads a message posted on the Army Web site Army Knowledge Online.

Less than 10 percent of Army troops have taken the self-assessment since it became available in May 2007.

Soldiers can access the survey through a link on AKO, or through https://perscomnd04.army.mil/langsurv.nsf/langsurvcentopen?openform.

Civilian employees are also encouraged, but aren’t required, to disclose their foreign language abilities, and can access the survey through the My BIZ Web site at www.cpol.army.mil, according to USAREUR.

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