Oct. 23, 2018 LEAP Perspective: Returning home to Kenya Staring into the eyes of more than a dozen children at Mogra Children’s Centre and orphanage, Second Lieutenant Levi Mburu realized his life had come full circle---from Kenya to the United States and back to his homeland again. Once a young Kenyan boy, he was now a man and was at the orphanage
Sept. 10, 2018 LEAP Spotlight: 1st Lt Gorge Hernandez-Rodriguez When 1st Lieutenant Gorge Hernandez-Rodriguez enlisted in 2008, he was living in Puerto Rico, struggling financially, and looking for a way to support himself through college. Rodriguez knew the Air Force would afford him those opportunities, but he had no idea that his commitment and his language
June 29, 2018 Weather and Culture: The forecast for a great Air Force partnership U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Zachary Kelly’s model data, meteorology abilities, and geography skills are some of the most important tools in the Air Force forecaster’s armory. For four years, his weather knowledge served as a guiding light for pilots at Yokota Air Base in Japan. Combining his
May 14, 2018 Congo native and Airman inspired by the ‘Tree of Life’ A canvas painting of a baobab tree dominates the small hallway in the Air Force Culture and Language Center. Hanging on a wall, the red and orange water colors slowly blend to form a breathtaking African sunset overlooking vast grassland. Frayed at the ends, the artwork pays homage to the ancient
May 1, 2018 Air Force Scholar LEAPs to the top of his ISOS class Growing up, Captain Rocque Gartland’s abuelita would tell him stories about his family, his Chilean heritage, and what is means to be “lo mejor”.Translation: the best“You don’t have to always be the best, but you should always do your best,” Capt Rocque Gartland said, “work as hard as you can and
April 24, 2018 A warm welcome: LEAP participant meets Chinese PLAAF leaders Midday and middle of the week, a wave of blue and navy uniforms washed over the inner circle of Air War College. Decorated in lapels, badges, and insignia, from a far, the group looked like one synchronous unit. But up close, it was an obvious blend of foreign and U.S. military members: the Chinese
April 17, 2018 In Niger, Airmen continuously work to build relationships Capt Dustin Tanen constantly relives his time in Niger. He remembers the sights and sounds of downtown Niamey, the sandstorms of the 11-month dry season, and the intersection of Francophone, Muslim, and west-African cultures. As a special operations pilot, he traveled to Niamey, Niger in May 2017
March 12, 2018 Three LEAP participants selected for the Mansfield Fellowship program The Mansfield Fellowship Program is one of the most prestigious international fellowships in the world and this year, three of the selected Mansfield Fellows are also members of the Language Enabled Airman Program.
March 12, 2018 LREC symposium: Addressing the critical role of cross-cultural competence in the Air Force The programs are heading to the printers, the speakers have been finalized, and preparations are well underway for Air University’s Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture Symposium in Montgomery, Alabama.
March 9, 2018 LEAP preparing Airmen for the future Sixteen years have passed since Lieutenant Colonel Dear Beloved joined the Air Force. At the time when he entered, there were mounting tensions between Iraq and the U.S. and a shortage of Arabic speakers in the military. Lt Col Beloved did not speak a second language, but, he knew he needed to
