Table 1
Functional English in JTAC TLU.
| # | STATEMENT | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3* | I believe speaking English at elementary level is sufficient for my job as a JTAC. | 20.7 | 24.1 | 24.1 | 17.2 | 13.8 |
| 7 | My JTAC work mostly involves using spoken English to discuss practical matters. | 10.0 | 13.3 | 30 | 36.7 | 10.0 |
| 12 | As a JTAC, asking for or providing information in English is necessary in order to carry out my work duties. | – | 3.3 | 3.3 | 26.7 | 66.7 |
[i] Note. 1 = strongly disagree; 2 = disagree; 3 = neutral; 4 = agree; 5 = strongly agree.
Figures in percentages. *N = 29.
Table 2
JTAC TLU tasks requiring minimum functional language.
| # | MY JTAC WORK INVOLVES | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Using spoken English in unplanned military discussions (e.g., on tactical cooperation). | 10.0 | 33.3 | 46.7 | 10.0 | – |
| 30 | Using spoken English to provide information about general everyday matters. | 3.3 | 20.0 | 23.3 | 30.0 | 23.3 |
| 33* | Providing accurate target description using spoken English. | 23.3 | 46.7 | 20.0 | 6.7 | – |
| 34 | Making comments or asking questions in English during specialized military briefings. | 6.7 | 23.3 | 46.7 | 20.0 | 3.3 |
| 40 | Asking and answering predictable questions in English. | 13.3 | 26.7 | 30.0 | 26.7 | 3.3 |
| 41 | Giving complicated, detailed, and extensive directions in English. | 16.7 | 20.0 | 33.3 | 20 | 10.0 |
[i] Note. Task frequencies: 1 = Daily, 2 = Weekly, 3 = Monthly, 4 = A few times a year, 5 = Never. Figures in percentages. *N = 29.
Table 3
Advanced English in JTAC TLU.
| # | STATEMENT | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | My work as a JTAC involves using spoken English to discuss possible scenarios (“What might happen if…”). | – | 3.3 | 10.0 | 43.3 | 43.3 |
| 14 | When working as a JTAC, a high level of spoken precision and accuracy is needed. | – | 3.3 | 6.7 | 43.3 | 46.7 |
| 15 | When working as a JTAC, the situation often changes quickly, and what I say in English must be adapted accordingly. | – | – | – | 50.0 | 50.0 |
| 17 | When performing my JTAC work, I often have to use spoken English to justify the decisions that I make. | 3.3 | 13.3 | 26.7 | 46.7 | 10.0 |
[i] Note. 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree.
Figures in percentages.
Table 4
JTAC TLU tasks potentially requiring advanced language.
| # | MY JTAC WORK INVOLVES | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Arguing my nation’s official standpoint or approach to an international audience. | – | 3.3 | 16.7 | 43.3 | 36.7 |
| 31 | Using spoken English to discuss matters such as culture, technology, and science. | – | 13.3 | 10.0 | 56.7 | 20.0 |
| 35 | Delivering briefings and/or giving presentations in English to allied/foreign personnel. | 3.3 | 13.3 | 30.0 | 46.7 | 6.7 |
| 37 | Using spoken English to discuss hypothetical situations and “what if…” scenarios. | 3.3 | 33.3 | 36.7 | 23.3 | 3.3 |
| 38 | Answering objections, using spoken English. | 10.0 | 6.7 | 43.3 | 30.0 | 10.0 |
| 28 | When speaking English while working as a JTAC, the situation often requires that I improvise. | 20.0 | 26.7 | 30.0 | 23.3 | – |
[i] Note. Task frequencies: 1 = Daily, 2 = Weekly, 3 = Monthly, 4 = A few times a year, 5 = Never. Figures in percentages.
Table 5
The role of ESP in the JTAC TLU situation.
| # | STATEMENT | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | My job as a JTAC involves using military specialist terminology more than speaking general English. | – | 16.7 | 23.3 | 46.7 | 13.3 |
| 11 | My job as a JTAC daily involves using standard phrases and military specialist terminology when speaking English. | – | 6.7 | 16.7 | 56.7 | 20.0 |
| 16* | To a JTAC, knowing military terminology and procedures is more important than having good general English-speaking skills. | 6.9 | 10.3 | 34.5 | 34.5 | 13.8 |
| 20* | I think that in order to be a good JTAC, a specialist English military terminology course is required. | 3.4 | 27.6 | 41.4 | 24.1 | 3.4 |
[i] Note. 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree. Numbers in percentages. *N = 29.
Table 6
Comparison of basic text properties.
| TEXT PROPERTY | TOTAL | MEAN | S.D. | Mdn | N = |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word count | |||||
| JTAC output | 1,588 | 226.9 | 87.8 | 209.0 | 7 |
| OPI output | 1,383 | 197.6 | 45.9 | 218.0 | 7 |
| Sentence count | |||||
| JTAC output | 175 | 25.0 | 9.9 | 25.0 | 7 |
| OPI output | 41 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 7 |
| Complex word count | |||||
| JTAC output | 157 | 22.4 | 10.9 | 20.0 | 7 |
| OPI output | 156 | 22.3 | 6.7 | 21.0 | 7 |
Figure 1
Diagram comparing median sentence length: JTAC talk versus OPI speech.
Table 7
Lexical Analysis.
| TEXT PROPERTY | GENRE | MEAN | S.D. | Mdn | N = |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexical density | JTAC | 61.3 | 2.5 | 63.2 | 7 |
| full text/output | OPI | 45.7 | 2.7 | 46.2 | 7 |
| Nouns | JTAC | 37.7 | 1.6 | 37.3 | 7 |
| OPI | 19.2 | 5.3 | 18.5 | 7 | |
| Adjectives | JTAC | 9.5 | 2.3 | 8.8 | 7 |
| OPI | 7.3 | 2.1 | 7.8 | 7 | |
| Verbs | JTAC | 10.9 | 0.8 | 10.8 | 7 |
| OPI | 11.5 | 3.0 | 13.2 | 7 | |
| Adverbs | JTAC | 3.8 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 7 |
| OPI | 7.7 | 4.8 | 7.4 | 7 | |
| Prepositions | JTAC | 9.9 | 2.6 | 9.8 | 7 |
| OPI | 13.5 | 1.9 | 13.3 | 7 | |
| Pronouns | JTAC | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 7 |
| OPI | 7.9 | 2.4 | 8.8 | 7 | |
| Auxiliary verbs | JTAC | 2.2 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 7 |
| OPI | 11.4 | 1.0 | 11.0 | 7 |
Table 8
Appendix E of JP3-9.3 (2014): Examples of Close Air Support Missions.
| EXAMPLE 3 – TYPE 2 CONTROL, BOC MISSION | LEXICAL DENSITY | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “Keyhole in effect, Echo point NB 234 876. | 62.5% |
| 2 | Proceed to Bravo 8, block 17–19, you are the only aircraft on station, advise when ready for game plan.” | 52.6% |
| 3 | “Rumble 41, this is Redman 01, Type 2 control, bomb on coordinate, 1 by GBU-32 each, airburst fuzing, simultaneous impacts, advise when ready to copy 9-line.” | 53.9% |
| 4 | “Bravo 8, Elevation, 1650 feet, company of infantry in trench line, NB 234 876.” | 57.1% |
| 5 | “No mark, South 1100, egress right pull, back to Bravo 8, block 17–19. | 61.5% |
| 6 | Advise when ready for remarks.” | 60% |
| 7 | “Final attack headings 280 through 320. | 50% |
| 8 | Request IP inbound and IN with heading calls.” | 62.5% |
| 9 | “Rumble 41, good readback. | 75% |
| 10 | Rumble 42, go with readbacks.” | 60% |
| 11 | “Rumble 42, good readback; Rumble flight, report IP inbound, TOT 35, expect clearance as a flight.” | 75% |
| 12 | “CONTINUE.” | 100% |
| 13 | “Rumble 41 flight, CLEARED HOT.” | 80% |
| 14 | “Good impacts, standby BDA.” | 100% |
| 15 | “Ground commander’s intent met, enemy neutralized. | 100% |
| 16 | Switch Blacklist for routing and further tasking, you are still the only aircraft on station.” | 60% |