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 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
June 20, 2017 More than words: Different languages also means different ways of communicating. This Air Force staff sergeant is excelling at the challenge If you are a staff sergeant working in food service in the U.S. Air Force, a “by-name” request for your support from the Service’s top non-commissioned officer is notable and rare event — but that’s just what happened to Staff Sgt. Jason Sugimoto, a participant in the Air Force Culture and Language
June 6, 2017 LEAP: Captain finds use for Russian in Syria Over the last decade, the dynamic and multicultural nature of combat operations demonstrated a critical Air Force need to develop Airmen who not only know their job, but are culturally aware and language capable. The Air Force Culture and Language Center stood up the Language Enabled Airman Program
