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 3, 2018 ‘A dream come true’: A trajectory through trial, tragedy shapes Air Force career Capt. Lesly Toussaint isn’t your average Airman. Even if you overlook his advanced degrees (he has two, and they are from universities in France and Canada,) his rise from enlisted Air Reserve technician to commissioned officer, and his fluency in three languages – he would still stand out.
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 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 16, 2018 Culture and Language…An Airman’s Perspective Airmen have a unique way of thinking about things and when you study our culture, it’s easy to explain. We are the legacy of pioneers who dared to defy gravity. Our heritage is to take to the heights and not only see but think about everything in new dimensions. It’s only fitting then that Airmen
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 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. 28, 2018 ‘Surreal’: Air Force Major relies on military, language training in aircraft crash rescue One minute, you’re having a well-deserved beer after a long hike. The next minute, all hell breaks loose, and you find yourself in the middle of a dangerous crisis. How do you react? What do you know that could be the difference between life and death?Military training was key for Maj. Braden
July 19, 2017 Thinking in Chinese – Staff Sergeant finds meaning beyond words through LEAP “Do you understand me?” is a question often asked when people who speak two different languages meet. The question of understanding goes deeper than just the meaning of words, though – according to one Language Enabled Airman Program participant, language skills are only part of the equation. To
July 7, 2017 Francophone Captain shines in Africa With time spent in more than 13 African countries, Capt. Megan Gallagher is not your typical U.S. Air Force officer.As part of the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, Gallagher spends about half her time traveling from her home station at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to various locations
