DLIFLC, Monterey

The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), located in Monterey, California, traces its origins to the Military Intelligence Service Language School established in 1941 at the Presidio of San Francisco to train Nisei soldiers in Japanese. In 1946, the school moved to the Presidio of Monterey, where it expanded its curriculum to include a wide range of critical languages for U.S. military and government personnel. Over the decades, DLIFLC has become the Department of Defense’s premier language training institution, providing intensive instruction in more than a dozen languages to service members from all branches. The institute plays a vital role in enhancing linguistic capabilities and cultural understanding, supporting U.S. military operations and intelligence efforts worldwide.