Air Force Culture and Language Center Articles - Search LITE

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
Feb. 27, 2018
From Montgomery to Romania and Moldova: Air War College courses take students around the world

The temperature was a bitter 16 degrees, ice coated the roads, and snow had just begun to fall when Dr. Tricia Fogarty and her Air War College students arrived in Romania back in February.
March 16, 2017
Speaking the lingo: Ethiopia BPC

Amharic is not a widespread language, but it is spoken by the 100+ million inhabitants of Ethiopia. This country in Africa is one of the few to have resisted colonization and has a proud heritage and culture.
March 16, 2017
LEAP Spotlight: Maj Charlynne McGinnis

“Thanks to LEAP, I felt confident conversing in Filipino when we met up with Philippine key leaders at the US Ambassador's house and discussed political and military concerns shared by both countries. Highlight of the night was former President Fidel Ramos unexpectedly showing up!”
Feb. 15, 2017
Language, Culture and medical knowledge boosts ties for Airman, Bundeswehr

Language and cultural training, packed in with the right amount of Air Force job proficiency, can culminate into a valuable product. In November 2016, the German military spent four weeks working alongside that product as, 1st Lt Nadine Suh, a health services administrator assigned to 22d Medical
Jan. 27, 2017
DLIFLC & Air University: 10 Years and Counting

How time flies! 2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLI or DLIFLC) of Monterey, CA providing foreign language classes on the Air University (AU) campus here at Maxwell AFB, AL.
Nov. 15, 2016
LEAP: Experiencing Germany’s largest military hospital

In October 2016, I received the unique opportunity to spend four weeks at the largest Bundeswehr (Armed Forces of Germany) hospital as part of the Air Force’s Language Enabled Airmen Program (LEAP). This rare opportunity not only allowed me to practice my language skill, but I was also able to learn