CONFLICT ZONE INTERPRETERS.A Study on Afghan and Iraqi Interpreters Working for The United States Armed Forces

Iraqi and Afghan conflict interpreters are hired by the American Armed Forces to break down linguistic and cultural barriers between military personnel and local communities. Through an overview of their role and profession, this paper aims, on the one hand, to highlight the many struggles of conflict interpreters and, on the other, to provide a comprehensive image of conflict interpreters in order to elucidate the little-known profession. Using some of the available literature, data, and reports as well as some first-hand accounts, this paper first presents the conflict zones in Iraq and in Afghanistan then discusses the need for conflict interpreters in those areas. Once the distinction of the different categories of conflict interpreters is drawn, the paper focuses on locally recruited interpreters and the risks and concerns their profession entails. Analysis of this information demonstrates that conflict interpreters are a necessity. They must endure the dangerous nature of their profession, which ultimately pushes them to look for a better life in the country of their employer. With the US government providing little to no assistance so that their foreign employees can obtain a US Visa, conflict interpreters either look on to NGOs or are left to fend for themselves.