Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-110

§1913 National Language Service Corps

Title 50 › CHAPTER 37 — NATIONAL SECURITY SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND GRANTS › § 1913

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Defense can create and run a National Language Service Corps. It keeps a roster of private U.S. citizens who speak foreign languages and agree, under rules, to help the Department of Defense or other federal agencies. The National Security Education Board will oversee the Corps as the Secretary directs. To join, a person must be a U.S. citizen allowed to work in the United States, be 18 or older, and have the language skills the Secretary wants. The Secretary can train members and call them to serve when it’s in the national interest. If a member already works for another federal agency, the Secretary must get that agency head’s consent first. The Secretary can charge fees for services up to full-cost recovery. Fees are returned to the Department account that paid Corps costs, follow that account’s rules and limits, and remain available until spent.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §1913

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment

(1)The Secretary of Defense may establish and maintain within the Department of Defense a National Language Service Corps (in this section referred to as the “Corps”).

(2)The purpose of the Corps is to provide a pool of nongovernmental personnel with foreign language skills who, as provided in regulations prescribed under this section, agree to provide foreign language services to the Department of Defense or another department or agency of the United States.

(b)National Security Education Board

If the Secretary establishes the Corps, the Secretary shall provide for the National Security Education Board to oversee and coordinate the activities of the Corps to such extent and in such manner as determined by the Secretary under paragraph (9) of section 1903(d) of this title.

(c)Membership

To be eligible for membership in the Corps, a person must be a citizen of the United States authorized by law to be employed in the United States, have attained the age of 18 years, and possess such foreign language skills as the Secretary considers appropriate for membership in the Corps.

(d)Training

The Secretary may provide members of the Corps such training as the Secretary prescribes for purposes of this section.

(e)Service

Upon a determination that it is in the national interests of the United States, the Secretary shall call upon members of the Corps to provide foreign language services to the Department of Defense or another department or agency of the United States. If a member of the Corps is, as of the time of such determination, employed by or performing under a contract for an element of another Federal agency, the Secretary shall first obtain the concurrence of the head of that agency.

(f)Funding

The Secretary may impose fees, in amounts up to full-cost recovery, for language services and technical assistance rendered by members of the Corps. Amounts of fees received under this section shall be credited to the account of the Department providing funds for any costs incurred by the Department in connection with the Corps. Amounts so credited to such account shall be merged with amounts in such account, and shall be available to the same extent, and subject to the same conditions and limitations, as amounts in such account. Any amounts so credited shall remain available until expended.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 1913

Title 50, War and National Defense

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110