The origins of the Partner Language Training Center Europe (PLTCE) trace back to the former U.S. Army Foreign Language Training Center Europe (FLTCE), established in Munich in July 1984 to conduct refresher and enhancement classes in Warsaw Pact languages for U.S. military linguists. In 1992, FLTCE moved to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where it became a part of the U.S. Army Russian Institute (USARI). Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, FLTCE began shifting its language focus. At the time, USARI also operated a Russian Department for U.S. Army Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) and an Arms Control Program which focused heavily on treaty language written in Russian.

These programs continued under a reorganized USARI—renamed the Eurasian Institute—and were incorporated into the newly created George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in 1993. The Eurasian Institute added an English Language Program in 1995 to assist international participants attending Marshall Center’s security studies courses. In 1997, the Eurasian Institute was disestablished, and a "greater FLTCE" was created, consolidating all language training programs: the English Language Program, the Russian Department for FAOs, the Arms Control Program and the original FLTCE language enhancement courses.

PLTCE as it is known today was created by the U.S. deputy secretary of defense in 2008, increasing the focus on English programs for NATO allies and partner nations. In 2013, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO authorized the nomination of PLTCE to become a NATO Partner Training and Education Centre, further emphasizing its role in supporting the Alliance and its partners.

Main areas of activities include:

• NATO Standardization Courses
• Language Training courses for U.S. military and Department of Defense civilians
• Professional and specialized language courses for partners
• Bureau for International Language Coordination Secretariat
• Expert advice on military language training and testing
• NATO STANAG 6001 testing

PLTCE conducts outreach in support of English language programs upon approved request. Outreach activities include consultation on language and personnel policies and language program execution, including language testing that meets NATO standards. PLTCE also offers tailored seminars on teaching methodology and language assessment.

PLTCE conducts these activities in close cooperation with the NATO and partner language community as realized in the Bureau for International Language Coordination, as well as sister NATO Partner Training and Education Centre language schools in Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Jordan. This vast NATO and partner language community provides PLTCE with a pool of expertise that is much greater than PLTCE itself.

Have questions? Contact PLTCE [at] marshallcenter.org (PLTCE[at]marshallcenter[dot]org).

*Please note that there is limited handicap access available, and there are no elevators.