The Marine Corps released its FY27 FLPB policy on 7 October 2026, effective 1 October 2026. If you speak a foreign language at a testable level, there may be money on the table. This covers all Marines, active and reserve, and the rules govern who qualifies, how much they get paid, and when those rules apply.
★ Affects all reservists: The FY year you test determines which rules apply to you. If you tested in FY26, FY26 rules follow you, even after 1 October 2026.
Who it affects
All active and reserve component Marines. If you have foreign language skills and have never looked into FLPB, this is worth a few minutes of your time. If you are already receiving FLPB, read the recertification rules carefully before you schedule another test.
What you need to know
There are five categories of eligibility. Most reservists will fall into Category 5, but check all five:
Category 1: MOS Language Requirements. Your MOS or billet requires the language. You must hold the correct PMOS/EMOS or AMOS and maintain current DLPT scores at minimum required ILR levels. Paid monthly. Specific language requirements are in a CUI addendum on the Foreign Language Program (FLP) SharePoint (government network required).
Category 2: Host Nation Support Languages. You are stationed overseas and score ILR 2 or higher in the host nation language. Paid monthly. Eligible units are tied to approved Monitored Command Codes (MCC). Reserve Marines on orders overseas should check whether their MCC qualifies.
Category 3: Ad Hoc Mission Support. You are deployed or in direct support of contingency ops, a MAGTF, a Combatant Command, Foreign Professional Military Education (FPME), or partner nation engagement. This is a request-based, lump-sum payment. Not guaranteed. Subject to budget and adjudication by the FLP office. A request template is on the FLP SharePoint.
Category 4: Strategic Language Oral Fluency Initiative. You score ILR 3 or higher in Speaking for a language on the Marine Corps Enduring Strategic Language List (ESLL). Speaking only. No pay for Listening or Reading under this category. Paid monthly.
Category 5: Lump-Sum Bonus for Service-Wide Capabilities. Open to all Marines who do not otherwise qualify for monthly FLPB. You test, score ILR 2 or higher in any modality, and receive a one-time lump sum equal to one month of FLPB per eligible modality. You can do this once per year per language. Spanish is excluded. The Marine Corps can remove any language from eligibility at any time.
Category 5 example from the MARADMIN: A Marine tests in Bulgarian and scores L3/R2+/S2. Payout: $300 (L) + $200 (R) + $100 (S) = $600 lump sum.
Pay table
| ILR Skill Level | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|
| 1 | $50.00 |
| 1+ | $80.00 |
| 2 | $100.00 |
| 2+ | $200.00 |
| 3 | $300.00 |
| 3+ | $350.00 |
| 4 | $400.00 |
Monthly FLPB is capped at $1,000/month. Annual cap for all FLPB combined is $12,000.
What you need to do
- Determine which category, if any, applies to you.
- Schedule a Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) and/or Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) through your unit's Test Control Officer (TCO). Note: you must wait 180 days between attempts in the same modality.
- After testing, work with your S-1 or admin to get a Page 11 signed and entered in your service record. This is required before any FLPB payment starts. Your command is responsible for making this happen, but you should track it.
- If you are already receiving FLPB under FY25 or FY26 rules: your current payments continue under those rules until your test scores expire. If you recertify early, your old rules go away and FY27 rules take over entirely. Do not recertify early without understanding the tradeoff.
MOS 0370/0372 note: The minimum qualifying score for FLPB remains ILR 1. When scheduling an OPI through the OPI Authorization Reporting System (OARS), your TCO selects "SOCOM" as the Reason Code and verifies the "Dual Modality" option is checked.
Key dates
- 1 October 2026: FY27 policy effective date.
- Annual: Category 5 lump-sum can be claimed once per year per language. Testing eligibility resets 180 days after your last attempt per modality.
The official version
Full policy: MARADMIN 480/26
Governing order: MCO 7220.52G (FLPB Program). Additional details, including the CUI addendum with MOS-specific requirements, the ESLL, and eligible MCCs, are on the FLP SharePoint (requires government network access). Questions go to foreignlanguageprogram@usmc.mil or MSgt Wheeler at 703-614-6561.
This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.