UK soldiers

thebigword has been awarded a contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide interpreters for its Libyan Armed Forces training programme.

Awarded following a competitive tendering process, the contract requires the company to will provide up to 55 interpreters, who will work alongside UK and Libyan soldiers on everything from classroom learning to military exercises.

UK Army HQ Directorate of Educational Capability source major Graham Martin said: "The Libyan general purpose force training is a complex and high profile operation.

"It was therefore crucial that we found a professional organisation that fully understood the multifaceted nature of this contract, using highly professional linguists."

thebigword defence, justice and international security divisional director David Capper said: "We are delighted to be awarded the contract by the MoD and this is testament to the growing reputation that thebigword is building within the defence sector, delivering language and cultural training across the Middle East."

The company collaborated with the International School of Linguists to help ensure it found the right interpreters for the mission.

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"It was that we found a professional organisation that fully understood the multifaceted nature of this contract, using highly professional linguists."

In addition, thebigword has hired a Libyan assessor to test proficiency in both Arabic and Libyan dialect, as well as the physical and mental ability to manage the high intensity work.

In July 2013, the MoD agreed to train up to 2,000 Libyan soldiers in basic infantry skills and leadership in a bid to professionalise them and help achieve peace and stability across their country.

The initial batch will comprise 360 Libyan soldiers and is expected to run for 24 weeks at the Bassingbourn Barracks in Cambridgeshire, UK.

During training, the Libyan troops would be put through their paces on a course that has been developed by the UK Army and is run by 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The US and Italian militaries are already providing specialist military training to the Libyan Armed Forces.


Image: UK soldiers training on an assault course. Photo: courtesy of Peter Davies, Crown copyright ©.

Defence Technology