1. American Military English Course Topics in Counterinsurgency
Defense Language Institute English Language Center
Hello. I am Gracie Funk. I am a project officer in the curriculum branch at the Defense Language Institute, Lackland AFB here in San Antonio.
Welcome to the BILC Conference. I do hope you are enjoying your stay in San Antonio! I heard that you had a river barge cruise last night. San Antonio is a popular tourist spot as I am sure you are already aware. As you eat a breakfast taco or some Texas BBQ count yourself as one in a million—make that one in 21 million—because you are one of 21 million people who will visit the River Walk and Alamo this year, so enjoy the surroundings.
I want to share with you a little bit about a new course we are developing at DLI.
It is called Topics in Counterinsurgency. It is a course that we had anticipated doing as we had understood there was a possibility of our developing it, but the final approval was made this past October. There are three of us working on this project—
Along with me are Marge Hayden who is with me here today and Steve Chapman who is currently way on military training. Steve will serve both as a writer and a subject matter expert.

2. This presentation is for information only
This presentation is for information only. No US Government commitment to sell, loan, lease, co-develop, or co-produce defense articles or provide defense services is implied or intended.
AETC Case #07D-021
As an employee of the Department of Defense, I am required to show you this slide.

3. AMEC – Topics Counterinsurgency
Background
Authentic readings in each lesson
Information about the texts
I will tell to you about how the text was started, our initial research,
where and how we got our material.
I will then tell you what the authentic material we are using in each lesson and a little bit about it.
And then I will talk about the American Military English Course series or AMEC, how the instructor/student texts are set up—what kind of material is in each text of the series.

4. AMEC – Topics Counterinsurgency
Background
Interest
Research
NDU
Internet
How does one start to develop a course on a subject like counterinsurgency? In the beginning, the task seemed daunting. I was reminded of the ancient Chinese proverb, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step.
That first small step was our contacting the National Defense University in Washington DC because we knew that they had the course for international counterterrorism fellows, and asked for information. The response was an containing a list of books used in their program.
So in order to have some sort of background in this subject, we began reading and researching -- Margie and I delved into books with titles like
Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam by John Esposito
Martha Crenshaw’s book, The Making of Terrorism
Jason Burke’s Al Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam
Islamic Networks: The Afghan-Pakistan Connection
In the meantime, I researched the US Army sites for materials on counterterrorism and came up with field manuals for urban operations, operations in low-intensity conflict, special forces operations.
How would we use this material as a vehicle for language learning?
What did counterinsurgency mean in the context of an English for Specific Purposes text?
Was the intent to cover topics about soldiers, battle plans, and equipment?
By December, things began to fall into place. It came to our attention that the new US Army Field Manual 3-24 Counterinsurgency written under the guidance of Gen David Petraeus was being published and 1000 copies were being sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. I immediately searched the Army site on the Internet and found a draft of it.

5. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Authentic Material
New FM-3-24 Counterinsurgency
Articles
Lt Gen David Petraeus
Lt Col David Kilcullen Ph.D., Australian Army
Dr. Thomas Marks
Dr. Bard O’Neill
Other unclassified military publications
The end of January I went to the National Defense University in Washington DC for a week to do research. I had envisioned spending long hours in the library with my lap-top, but the reality was I spent almost all of the time talking with the professors who taught the international students counterterrorism program. Dr. Thomas Marks shared several articles he had written about the success of the counterinsurgency in Colombia. He had also worked on the New Counterinsurgency FM-3-24 and presented me with the final version.
Dr. Bard O’Neill National War College shared his book Insurgency and Terrorism with me as well as information about the course he taught.
It was a very valuable experience. We now had a much clearer direction for the course.

6. AMEC – Topics Counterinsurgency
Design plan
Development process
At DLI before we actually begin the development process, an extensive design plan must be written, submitted, and then a approved by the commandant, dean and various section chiefs. This plan tells the level of the text and target audience, what the text will contain, how many units it will have, what kind of audio/visual materials as well as how the materials will be formatted—essentially everything about the text.
The design plan was approved the early part of March and we began the development.

7. This is what the cover will look like
This is what the cover will look like. Because this text will be the sixth in a AMEC series, we have designed a cover that will follow the same style.

8. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Topics in Counterinsurgency text
Unit 1: Introduction to Insurgency
Unit 2: Aspects of Insurgency
Unit 3: Learning Counterinsurgency
Unit 4: Counterinsurgency Strategies
Unit 5: Review
In the text there will be 5 units - 4 unit topics and 1 review lesson.

9. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Unit 1 Introduction to Insurgency
“Introduction and Definition”
“The Evolution of Insurgency”
“Twentieth-century Insurgency”
The first reading in unit 1 gives a definition of insurgency as well as basic the preconditions for an insurgency to be successful.
The other two readings are about insurgencies and counterinsurgencies as common forms of warfare since the beginning of the 20th century.
Philippine Insurrection
Russian counterrevolutionaries
T.E Lawrence and the Arab Revolt
The Vietnam War
Cold War Insurgencies, etc.
And, of course, now we are faced with a new kind of insurgency–one that seeks to impose revolutionary change worldwide.

10. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Unit 2 Aspects of Insurgency
“Aspects, Approaches, and Strategies of Insurgency”
“Mobilization Means and Causes”
“Dynamics of an Insurgency”
The first reading talks about examining the type of insurgency so that an accurate picture and overall plan to counter it may be developed. It defines the insurgent’s strategy as how the insurgent plans to achieve his objective.
In the second reading, five means to mobilize popular support are discussed along with how insurgent leaders seek to adopt attractive and persuasive causes to mobilize support.
Dynamics of an Insurgency discusses the six dynamics that are common to most insurgencies--leadership, objectives, ideology, environment and geography, external support and sanctuaries, phasing and timing.
These 3 readings were excerpted from the FM 3-24.

11. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Unit 3 Learning Counterinsurgency
“Lines of Operation”
“Best Practices in Counterinsurgency”
“Observations from Soldiering in Iraq”
Lines of operation gives the six lines of operation that are necessary to achieve the objectives of a successful counterinsurgency—Governance, Information operations, Combat operations, Train and employ forces, Essential services, Economic development.
Best Practices in Counterinsurgency talks about selected 20th century insurgencies and gives some successful and unsuccessful counterinsurgency practices. Sort of a lessons learned article.
Learning Counterinsurgency: Observations from Soldiering in Iraq—This article was written by General Petraeus after his 2004 tour in Iraq in which he gives 14 observations—some of which are specific to soldiering in Iraq but the rest speak to the broader challenge of conducting counterinsurgency operations.

12. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Unit 4 Counterinsurgency Strategies
“Twenty-eight Articles: Fundamentals of Company-level Counterinsurgency”
“Contemporary Imperatives of Counterinsurgency”
“Countering Insurgent Networks”
The first article is by Col David Kilcullen, Australian Army who commanded counterinsurgency operations in East Timor and is currently working for the US State Department.
He begins the article by defining counterinsurgency. And I quote “Counterinsurgency is a competition with the insurgents for the right to win the hearts and minds of the population.” His 28 “articles” as he calls them are incorporated in FM 3-24.
Contemporary Imperatives of Counterinsurgency is excerpted from FM This article highlights five important aspects to keep in mind for success.
The article Countering Insurgent Networks tells how an enemy networks rely on certain key functions, processes, and resources to be able to operate and survive. This article was adapted form the National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism.

13. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
AMEC Series
Air Force Topics
Navy Topics
Army Topics, Books 1 and 2
General Military Topics
Topics in Counterinsurgency
The AMEC Series.

14. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
AMEC Series
Air Force Topics
Navy Topics
Army Topics, Book 1
Army Topics, Book 2
General Military Topics
Topics in Counterinsurgency
High Intermediate/Low Advanced
ECL/ALCPT STANAG 1/1
Advanced
ECL/ALCPT STANAG 2/2
ECL/ALCPT 80 STANAG 2+/3
Air Force Topics Navy Topics Army Topics Book 1 are High Intermediate Level ECL or ALCPT or STANAG 1/1. They contain readings about ranks and uniforms, military facilities, initial training and historical overview.
Army Book 2 is about communications, weapons, and Army vehicles and General Military Topics pertains more to peacekeeping operations. They are Advanced Level ECL ALCPT or STANAG 2/2
The Topics in Counterinsurgency will be the highest level book in this series because of the vocabulary ECL/ALCPT Score of 80. STANAG 2+/3

15. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Language components
Grammar, vocabulary, function, and language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)
Language learning strategies
Promote learner independence
Authentic materials from US military sources
Language activities
Can be used as self-study and/or classroom materials
Each test in the series has the following language components: Grammar, vocabulary, function, and skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Strategies planned for the counterinsurgency text are
Keeping a journal
Analyzing your language learning strategies
How to read difficult material
Critical thinking skills
Authentic materials are from US military sources approved for public release with unlimited distribution.
The text can be used as self-study and/or as classroom materials and
can be taught in approximately 60 hours in non-intensive setting. In an also be taught in a non-intensive in chunks minutes in length.

16. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Approach
Readings reflect counterinsurgency
Language learning exercises and tasks
Small group interaction
Report writing
Briefing skills
Group discussion skills
Critical thinking skills
In addition to the readings and language learning tasks
We will focus on small group interaction –
Military report writing such as sit reps
Writing and giving briefings students will have to prepare and give at least 1 short brief and one longer brief
Group discussion skills
Critical thinking skills

17. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Student Text
Four units and one review unit
At the end of each unit
Glossary
Objective vocabulary
Military abbreviations and acronyms
Military expressions
On your Own
Additional readings
Troublesome grammar
Homework
Included in each of the 4 topics units
Is a glossary
Military abbreviations and acronyms and expressions
On your Own section
With an additional reading on the topics
And an additional short grammar review section
Homework for each unit will review the objectives of the unit

18. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Student Text, continued
Readings and classroom activities
Appendixes
Punctuation, verb forms, modals, stems and affixes, prepositions, questions, and handouts needed for certain activities
Glossary of Terms Used in Counterinsurgency
Instructor Text
Contains student text
Instructional guidance and answers
There are also several appendixes which are grammar and mechanics aids for the students.
For Topics in Counter insurgency we are talking about 3 books.
The student text
Glossary of terms which is different from the glossary in each unit
And the Instructor text which is the same as the student text with instructional guidance and answers to the exercises

19. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Instructor Text, continued
Ancillary materials
Word cards and language learning games
Other interactive materials
Evaluation Exercises
Instructors can choose which to use
Need to make copies
Evaluation Exercise Answers
Tape scripts

20. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Training support materials
Audio
CDs or cassettes
Two types of audio activities
Listening activities in texts
Oral readings recorded by native speakers
Audio scripts in the IT
Video
From authentic sources
Accompanied by learning activities in text

21. AMEC – Topics in Counterinsurgency
Questions?