Is speaking another language while in military uniform allowed?

Hmm. If the answer is no, does Pvt. Hernandez have to strip before
calling his mother who speaks no English?  Is that why on the news you
see American soldiers who know Arabic naked when they speak to Iraqis?

from my understanding of the rules and regulations you are allowed to
speak another language in uniform only if it is a personal
conversation and not about missions.

What about Navajo code talkers (yes, that's a few decades back)?  What
about dealing with allied foreign militaries when no representatives
speak English?

Certainly it's permitted. The military has dozens and dozens of
language schools where people speak foreign languages in uniform all
the time. In addition, it isn't uncommon for entire companies of men
and women from, say, Puerto Rico to be combined into one unit
specifically because of the language barriers. Officially these
soldiers speak (or learn to speak) english, but as a rule they and
their trainers speak spanish in their day-to-day activities.

tutuzdad-ga

Actually, yesterday I asked my EO representative and found that there
is an Army Regulation prohibitting the use of a foreign language while
in military uniform. This rule goes into affect when there is at least
ONE soldier present who DOES NOT speak the language. When I am sure of
the AR, I will provide it for record. I am a 92G, attached to a
consolidated DFAC, where the majority of the soldiers are from Puerto
Rico. It bothers me when everyone in the room is speaking english and
all of a sudden someone says something in Spanish, then they all
laugh. In uniform or not, THAT IS RUDE!!!

AR 600-20. 4-13. Says that the English is the operational language of
the Army.  However, commanders may not require soldiers to use English
unless such use is clearly necessary and proper for the performance of
military functions.  Accordingly, commanders may not require the use
of English for personal communications which are unreleated to
military functions.  Bottom line there
is not an Army Regulation prohibitting the use of a foreign language while
in military uniform.  I would like to see and know that EO, he or she is a sorry EO.