MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Spanish isn’t just a language, it’s a cultural bridge spanning continents, histories and identities. And the tasks Spanish LEAP scholars accomplish span nations, skillsets, and military operations.
“Beyond military-to-military TDYs to Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Argentina, my most impactful experience was in Spain,” said Lt. Col. Julio “Baxter” Arizmendi Laclaustra, who was a pilot for 15 years and now serves as a Foreign Area Officer (FAO). “I served as an MPEP Instructor Pilot at la Academia General del Aire in San Javier for over three years, working alongside over 70 Spanish, one Italian, and six Argentine instructor pilots, as well as one Dutch and a dozen Swiss civilian contractors. I learned invaluable flying and leadership skills from my partners as well as providing insights from the USAF perspective. Furthermore, I instructed in two airframes not in the USAF inventory, mentoring over 200 students now serving a NATO ally. I worked with a remarkable force that, 127 years ago, was at war with our country but has since become a pivotal ally. The Spaniards entrusted me with significant responsibilities, appointing me second-in-command of the flying training squadron and awarding me the Spanish White Merit Cross and an Honorary Instructor Pilot Diploma.”
“In 2015, I was selected as an aircraft maintenance exchange officer with the Chilean Air Force (FACh),” said Maj. Samantha Garrido, commander of the 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., which maintains the United States' sole E-4B fleet. “For two years, I was the only USAF member fully embedded with them, serving as a liaison for GE and Pratt & Whitney, managing their F-16 engine fleet. This exhilarating experience provided invaluable insight into foreign military operations. Upon my arrival as a Captain-select, the Chilean unit organized a base-wide promotion ceremony, an incredible event attended by the entire base. I was also selected by the U.S. Embassy to host both their Fourth of July and Election Day parties, conducting both events in Spanish and English, with one even televised across Chile.”
LEAP Scholars accomplish a wide array of missions because their language, regional expertise and culture skills are cultivated by the Air Force Culture and Language Center. The AFCLC uses several methods to develop LEAP Scholars. The first is eMentor courses, which consist of online teaching from a language instructor.
“I've actively participated in multiple eMentor courses since being accepted into LEAP,” said Master Sgt. Rommel Blanco, a Maintenance Management Analysis Specialist, who has completed four eMentor courses. “The current iteration of the program is particularly valuable from a military aid and assistance perspective. The instructor's background as a former Spanish officer was instrumental in expanding my military and technical vocabulary and providing invaluable insights into Spanish military thinking and operational procedures.”
“I have actively participated in the eMentor program since I became LEAP Scholar in 2014 and have completed two Advanced Spanish Language eMentor assessments, as well as two Advanced Spanish Special Project Research eMentors,” said Capt. Pedro Michaca, a Cyber Operations Officer at Hurlburt Field, Fla. “The Special Project Research sessions stand out because they were both intellectually challenging and highly rewarding. They required in-depth analysis, critical thinking, and the use of formal academic Spanish to discuss a variety of complex topics. The eMentor program has played a significant role in enhancing my overall language proficiency. It helped elevate my speaking and writing skills from conversational to a more academic, college-level standard. Engaging with native-speaking instructors and participating in structured, immersive discussions allowed me to refine my grammar, expand my vocabulary, and develop greater confidence in professional and operational settings.”
The AFCLC also utilizes Language Intensive Training Events (LITEs) where a LEAP Scholar is completely immersed in their language.
“During my time in LEAP, I attended LITEs to Tamarindo, Costa Rica; Bogotá, Colombia; and Seville, Spain. Tamarindo and Seville were language and cultural refreshers that enhanced my foundational skills,” said Arizmendi Laclaustra “However, in Bogotá, I served as a LEAP Action Officer, assisting the U.S. Embassy Security Cooperation Officer with document translation, English instruction for partner nation members, coordination of distinguished visitors, and special projects like regional air shows and conferences.”
“I was selected to attend Squadron Officer School in Bogota, Colombia via LEAP and the Inter-American Air Forces Academy,” said Capt. Andres Fedele, a T-6A Instructor Pilot at Columbus Air Force Base. “Through this opportunity, I engaged with Colombian officers and senior enlisted leaders through a variety of leadership exercises and workshops. I also participated in a LITE in Santiago, Chile which helped me increase my cultural understanding of Chilean history, politics, economics, and US-Chilean relations.”
A recently- developed new form of LITEs is the Language Enabled Airmen Postured for Agile Combat Employment(LEAP-ACE) course series which teaches advanced-proficiency LEAP Scholars how to express ACE concepts in a target Strategic Language, increasing the capability of coalition and multi-lateral operations while furthering adversary understanding. Tech Sgt. Camilo Guzman, a Requirements and Optimization Section Chief with the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, recently participated in LEAP ACE during an Airfield Damage Repair (ADR) Exercise at Morón Air Base, Spain.
“The latest innovation in the form of LITEs prepared me for the Agile Combat Employment (LEAP-ACE) Course,” said Guzman. “This program educated me as a LEAP Scholar by providing advanced knowledge to proficiently articulate Agile Combat Employment (ACE) paradigms in a selected strategic language. This training enhances my effectiveness in coalition and multinational operations while improving my understanding of potential adversaries.”
Enhancing LEAP Scholars’ ability to work in coalition and multinational operations is key, because the United States’ ability to collaborate seamlessly with partner allies is an advantage its adversaries do not have.
“I worked on the airfield repair site as a Spanish linguist and CE expert, coordinating closely with Spanish Air Force civil engineers,” said Guzman. “My role was crucial in maintaining accurate, prompt, and mission-execution knowledge among U.S., Spanish, and Portuguese forces. The multifaceted operation involved the movement of equipment, evolving processes, and collaboration among the engineering teams of three nations, which required precise communication. We aimed to ensure that the Spanish staff clearly understood their roles to avoid any potential misunderstandings and delays in this highly stress environment.”
AFCLC Spanish language courses are designed to familiarize Scholars with variations of how the language evolved across cultures, time, and geography..
“One of the most fascinating and distinctive aspects of the Spanish language and culture is the diversity found across the Spanish-speaking world,” said Michaca. “Unlike many other languages, Spanish exhibits a wide range of regional dialects, pronunciations, and linguistic expressions—not just from country to country, but even within regions of the same country. This linguistic variation adds depth and richness to the language and requires cultural and contextual awareness to communicate effectively across different Spanish-speaking populations.”
Because LEAP Scholars come from the general force, they are also able to communicate with partner nations when dealing with military and technical matters.
“I used Spanish technical and military vocabulary daily during my 38-month assignment in Spain, supporting flight instruction,” said Arizmendi Laclaustra. “Additionally, I assisted the U.S. Military Group in Colombia and a Subject Matter Expert Exchange in the Dominican Republic for their NCO Development program, translating and communicating complex military concepts.”
“During the South American Air Chiefs and Senior Enlisted Leaders Conference in 2023, I volunteered to translate and narrate the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) demonstration in Spanish for all conference attendees,” said Blanco “This required me to translate a significant amount of technical and military vocabulary into Spanish. In some cases, I had to re-write sections to accurately convey the concepts being explained. Ultimately, the attendees were very impressed with the clarity and accuracy of the narration.”
“I translated a readiness assessment on aircraft maintenance capabilities for the Guatemalan Air Force,” said Garrido. “My maintenance background and deep understanding of maintenance operations greatly facilitated the translation. I was able to accurately convey nuanced ideas that didn't have direct translations and felt confident the assessment would be highly impactful for them.”
As LEAP Scholars grow and develop their language and regional expertise and culture (LREC) skills, some choose the path of becoming Foreign Area Officer (FAO). A FAO is a commissioned officer who specializes in international affairs. Their roles include advising senior leaders on political-military operations, building relationships with foreign leaders, coordinating security cooperation, and serving as defense attaché or political-military planners.
“I am a recently developed Foreign Area Officer (FAO),” said Arizmendi Laclaustra. “I earned an Advanced International Affairs Certificate with a Latin American focus at the Texas A&M Bush School of Government in Washington, D.C. and now serve as the Central America & Caribbean Regional Director and Caribbean Desk Officer. After becoming a FAO, I completed In-Region Training in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I assisted the Security Cooperation Officer firsthand, reminding me of my LEAP Action Officer role ten years earlier. I travel to countries in my portfolio to support AFSOUTH/CC Maj. Gen. David A. Mineau during Key Leader Engagements, serving as his direct link in political/military advisement. My LEAP involvement prepared me by enhancing my language proficiency, cultural awareness, and communication skills through LITEs, TDYs, and my assignment in Spain, enabling me to build effective relationships with partner nations.”
Whether or not they become FAOs, Spanish LEAP Scholars remain vital partners in increasing the warfighting readiness of the United States and its partner nation allies.
“During CENTAM Guardian (a multinational military exercise hosted by Guatemala in May, 2025) I saw firsthand the impact that LEAP contributes to the warfighting readiness,” said Tech Sgt. Mark Fain, of the 422 Communications Squadron at RAF Croughton. “One huge benefit is that as military, we already have some sort of weapons training background. This was very useful when interpreting for the Marines and the Guatemalan paratroopers. A hired interpreter would not have been able to get up close with the weapons and they would probably not be as familiar as we are. There were also times when we were conducting war games in the jungle and already have training and experience to be able to jump straight in, whereas a hired interpreter might not be able to. LEAP’s involvement in CENTAM Guardian saved the DoD money and time. We forged connections not only within the DoD but with partner nations. I can say that I proudly represented LEAP and the USAF during this exercise and had an unforgettable experience.”
The organizers of large training exercises often recruit and fund LEAP Scholars as a tool for increasing realism and warfighting readiness, and this trend is likely to continue.
“LEAP Scholars added an astronomical bolt of realism to our Field Training Exercise, the capstone of the Antiterrorism Level II for Special Operations Forces (SOF-AT2) course at the USAF Special Operations School,” said Richard Reddecliff, Irregular Warfare Instructor and Course Director, SOF-AT2, USAF Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla. “Role playing as host nation officials appointed to liaise with visiting U.S. forces, the LEAP Scholars solidified the critical importance of cultural awareness and respect when conducting country-to-country engagements. SOF-AT2 students commented that the LEAP role players opened their minds, resulting in a greater understanding for effectively communicating with host nation authorities toward constructive outcomes. We hope to have LEAP Scholars as permanent fixtures in SOF-AT2!”
Regardless of what part of the globe they travel to or what mission they contribute to, Spanish LEAP Scholars continue to be a force multiplier in solidifying relationships with allies and increasing warfighting readiness.
“LEAP significantly contributes to warfighting readiness in several key ways,” said Blanco. “First, it facilitates clear and effective communication during joint exercises, breaking down language barriers and ensuring seamless coordination amongst diverse units. This improved communication translates directly to enhanced operational efficiency and reduced risk of misunderstandings in high-pressure scenarios. Second, LEAP fosters cooperation during training missions, allowing US forces to learn from and adapt to the tactics and strategies of partner nations, thereby broadening their skillsets and preparing them for a wider range of potential conflicts. This collaborative environment also allows for the sharing of best practices and the development of standardized procedures, further enhancing interoperability. Third, LEAP builds goodwill during humanitarian assistance operations by enabling US forces to effectively communicate with and assist local populations, strengthening relationships and fostering trust, which is crucial for long-term stability in affected regions. Furthermore, interactions with foreign military members provide invaluable insights into how the rest of the world perceives America, its policies, and its military capabilities. This understanding allows US personnel to adapt their communication styles, address potential misperceptions, and ultimately improve international cooperation and interoperability, fostering stronger alliances and a more unified front in addressing global security challenges.”