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The Air Force Culture and Language Center has designed and managed a program to sustain, enhance and utilize the existing language skills and talents of Airmen.
The program known as the Language Enabled Airman Program is designed to develop a core group of Airmen across various specialties and careers possessing the capabilities to communicate in one or more foreign languages.
LEAP helps Airmen become proficient in their language of choice by offering the eMentor program. These computer-based classes are similar to distance learning courses as Airmen will be paired with their mentor, who is a highly qualified language instructor, and a cohort of LEAP participants within their specified language.
Airmen will develop reading, listening and verbal language skills throughout their training. These courses will provide the knowledge and confidence to improve both your defense language proficiency test and oral proficiency interview, which are requirements to remain in good standing while in LEAP.
Once Airmen have been accepted, completed an eMentor course and have remained in good standing, LEAP allows them to sign up for Language Intensive Training Events. These events are one of two training vehicles designed to help Airmen enhance and sustain language and culture skills for the U.S. Air Force. Events located outside of the continental U.S. have an additional objective of cultural engagement, which helps Airmen gain an appreciation for how the locals live in a particular culture or region.
Advanced LITE members have further objectives of applying those language and culture skills and gaining exposure to U.S. and host nation dynamics, intra-country processes and programs and inter-country relationships among various players in the region.
If a newly selected LEAP member has a beginner or intermediate proficiency level, they may be offered to travel to selected language schools where they meet with other LEAP participants. The goal is to provide a 28-day TDY to develop their language and communication skills on the target language, said Arizmendi Laclaustra.
Recently, Capt. Julio Arizmendi Laclaustra, a B-52 Stratofortress pilot assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, attended an advanced LITE.
“If the [language] proficiency level is advanced, members may be selected for an advanced LITE such as the one I had the honor to attend. I was selected for a U.S. Southern Command tasker. I was assisting the Air Force Mission Group at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, where I had the opportunity to work with the Colombian air force Pentagon-equivalent, called the Defense Ministry (CAN).”
If selected for an OCONUS TDY, chances are Airmen will not only develop their proficiency but their cultural awareness in a country or region in accordance to their target language, he said.
While in Colombia, Arizmendi Laclaustra utilized his bilingual skills frequently. He performed translating duties for distinguished visitors and letters from General Welsh to the COLAF Chief of Staff Señor Mayor General Guillermo León León. He volunteered to be an English tutor for members of the CAN, attended the System of Cooperation among the American Air Forces conference, which is the world’s largest air force and aviation cooperation conference.
During his LITE, Arizmendi Laclaustra assisted in coordinating a U.S. F-16 to fly in one of the largest airshows in Latin America, the Rio Negro Airshow.
“Upon my return, 200-300 people knew where Minot AFB was located, as I proudly represented our home unit,” said Arizmendi Laclaustra. “Two months down the road, the great iron men and women from the 5th Operations Group Operations Support Squadron received a very unique request. They were to plan a 16-hour B-52 sortie to participate in a low flyby of a 5th Bomb Wing BUFF over the Rio Negro Airshow, the same airshow I helped coordinate. 5th OG leadership gave me the unique opportunity to fly on this sortie which had several objectives, two of which were to perform the fly by and execute a joint airborne intercept between our B-52 and a COLAF Horus Cessna Citation.”
During this sortie, Arizmendi Laclaustra translated several radio transmissions in Spanish, enabling communications with the Horus jet.
“My favorite part of this program is the unique opportunity that it has offered me to become a well-rounded officer, aviator and professional,” said Arizmendi Laclaustra. “It has opened my cultural awareness and understanding of our partner’s air forces and the impact we have on each other as we strive to meet our nation's and commander's intents. It has given me the opportunity to meet people who have left an inspirational mark in my career, aid in my development and travel and see the world.”
| Date Taken: | 05.13.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2016 15:24 |
| Story ID: | 215626 |
| Location: | MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, NORTH DAKOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 50 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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