LA MESA, Panamá -- LA MESA, Panamá – For U.S. Airmen supporting AMISTAD 2025, medical supplies, advanced procedures and long days of patient care tell only part of the story. Behind the scenes, it’s language—and the Airmen and the guardians who bridge it—that makes the mission possible.
As part of AMISTAD 2025 in Panamá, Spanish-speaking Airmen from the Air Force’s Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP) are ensuring nothing gets lost in translation. By connecting U.S. medical teams with their Panamanian counterparts and patients, they are breaking down barriers, speeding up care, and strengthening partnerships that will last well beyond the mission.
“LEAP scholars have been critical,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mario Ortiz Jr., who oversees the Air Force’s Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP) participants during the mission. “They don’t just provide translation—they help our members immerse in the culture here in Panamá. When you remove barriers, the work flows better and people feel more connected.”
The Language Enabled Airman Program, or LEAP, was launched by the Air Force Culture and Language in 2009 to deliberately develop Airmen with advanced foreign language skills and cultural expertise. Selected through a competitive process, LEAP scholars balance their primary career fields with language sustainment training and are called upon to support real-world operations, exercises, and international missions where communication is critical.
During the two-week global health engagement, Ortiz is managing 13 Spanish-speaking LEAP Airmen spread across sites in La Mesa, Chitré and David. Their daily responsibilities range from translating between U.S. and Panamanian doctors to explaining procedures to patients, and even helping hospital staff communicate concerns to U.S. team leads and at times, their role goes beyond language.
“At the La Mesa clinic, our LEAP scholars have transcended what they were asked to do,” Ortiz said. “They’ve stepped in with construction projects and other tasks. LEAP fosters a ‘get it done’ mindset, and they’ve proven that over and over again.”
For one U.S. Space Force guardian, volunteering for AMISTAD meant both reconnecting with his heritage and stepping outside his career field. Fluent in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English, he’s been able to bridge not only languages but also cultures throughout the mission.
I love this kind of work—it’s about giving back,” said Space Force 2nd Lt. Pinto Covelli. “Being here brings me back to my roots. I grew up speaking Spanish, so this feels natural.”
That connection to language and culture quickly translated into hands-on support for the mission.
“My job is to make it work—whatever’s needed,” Covelli added. “Since we’re set up in a child development room, we had to turn it into a mini dental clinic to fit two more dentists. I’ve been checking supplies every day, matching Spanish and English labels, making sure everything is accounted for and organized so it’s easy to grab and go. On top of that, I’ve helped with sterilization, patient instruments, and rotating patients in for procedures and cleanings—you name it. I’ve done a little of everything.”
Stepping into roles beyond his job specialty also gave Covelli the sense that he was contributing to something larger than himself.
“It’s stepping out of my comfort zone, but I know I’m helping the larger mission, not just doing my job,” Covelli said. “That’s the best part.”
Ortiz agreed, adding that the program’s impact extends beyond mere translation.
“LEAP is indispensable,” he said. “At the NICU, for example, having a LEAP scholar with the nurses has allowed for rapid communication when every second counts. That can save lives. Without this program, progress here would have been much slower.”
Both Ortiz and Covelli point to a larger lesson: every Airman brings skills beyond their job specialty code.
“Sometimes we think our mission is only what’s in our AFSC,” Ortiz said. “But a person has more to offer—whether that’s language skills, cultural knowledge, or something else. LEAP is just one way to unlock those abilities, and AMISTAD is proof of how powerful that can be.”
In a mission defined by medical readiness and partnership, it’s the Airmen fluent in more than one language who quietly multiply the impact. Their ability to connect cultures are showing that words- much as medicine- are what make AMISTAD 2025 a success.