When regional security and humanitarian crises call for a unified, multinational response, clear communication is just as important as tactical proficiency. During CENTAM Guardian 26, Scholars from Air University’s Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP) demonstrated this as they served as an essential language and cultural bridge between the United States and six partner nations.
“CENTAM Guardian 26 was a multinational exercise co-hosted by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and the Government of El Salvador from April 16-27, 2026, across various locations in El Salvador,” said Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Ventura, NCOIC Enterprise Cybersecurity, 690th Intelligence Support Squadron/Plans and Resources Flight, Joint Base San Antonio Lackland. “Building on an annual tradition since 2022, the exercise brought together military and security forces from the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Belize, and the Dominican Republic. It focused heavily on Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) readiness (area assigned). The broader strategic goal was to develop agile, responsive forces prepared to address dynamic security challenges, including transnational threats, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises, while strengthening partnerships and regional security cooperation.”
The execution of such a massive, multi-national operation relied heavily on seamless interoperability. Although the Air Force had a reduced footprint this year, the LEAP Scholars ensured the branch's impact was deeply felt, earning high praise from the exercise's organizers.
“The LEAP Scholars that joined our Joint Team for CENTAM Guardian 26 in El Salvador performed their Spanish to English and vice versa translation support in a professional and high-quality translation/interpreter service all while becoming part of the Joint Staff executing the exercise,” said Jose R. Aldape, an Exercise Planner with U.S. Army South (Sixth Army). “Since the Air Force bowed out of the exercise this fiscal year due to other operations ongoing, the LEAP team still brought an Air Force presence to the exercise. The LEAP Scholars translated for Generals, Colonels and small to large groups flawlessly.”
LEAP Scholars performed so well that the exercise planners hope to make them an integral part of future exercises.
“A new request has been submitted for LEAP Scholar support for CENTAM Guardian 27 Honduras,” Aldape said. “We are hoping that the LEAP Program leads see the value of supporting our exercise and possibly others as well since we have a good five major exercises yearly.”
To achieve this level of flawless integration, the LEAP Scholars were dispersed across the exercise, taking on a wide array of specialized roles that placed them directly alongside joint and allied forces.
“I was paired directly with the U.S. Coast Guard team, providing language, regional, and cultural expertise in support of operations with the Salvadoran Coast Guard and Fuerza de Tarea Naval Tridente,” said 1st Lt. Christian Ruiz, MQ-9 Pilot, 867th Attack Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev. “My efforts focused on maritime security operations, including countering illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, enhancing maritime domain awareness, and supporting container inspection procedures. I also contributed to coordination efforts across personnel, equipment, and training events, including classroom instruction and exercise execution. Additionally, I supported Visual Boarding, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations, strengthening interoperability for maritime interdiction and port security missions.”
“I served as a linguist and instructor supporting AFSOUTH and MARFORSOUTH,” said Tech Sgt. Camilo Guzman, Requirements and Optimization NCOIC with the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron/Requirements and Optimization Section out of Aviano Air Base, Italy. “My primary role was to interpret for U.S. Army and Marine counterterrorism elements and to help train 60 Salvadorian reconnaissance soldiers. I provided real time translation during tactical training, ensured accurate communication between U.S. instructors and partner forces, and helped deliver instruction that improved their reconnaissance, readiness, and mission execution skills.”
“I supported the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) as both an interpreter/translator and liaison,” said Master Sgt. Elio De Los Santos, Operations NCO, Defense Attaché Office at the U.S. Embasy in Madrid, Spain. “As the only member with prior CENTAM Guardian experience, I coordinated directly with Army South and our LEAP team before and during execution to ensure seamless integration. Our role extended well beyond interpretation and translation. We advised leadership, connected teams across organizations, and supported planning efforts. We bridged critical gaps in communication, culture, and operational understanding among partner nations, helping align everyone toward our common objectives.”
By stepping into these varied roles, the scholars found themselves navigating a complex web of international and interagency partnerships. For many, this intense collaboration was the highlight of the mission.
“Working alongside partner nation forces and interagency counterparts was both professionally rewarding and operationally effective,” said Ruiz. “The collaboration demonstrated a unified commitment to shared security objectives, with all participants contributing resources and expertise toward a common mission. The integration between U.S. Coast Guard personnel and Salvadoran forces was particularly seamless, driven by strong motivation and a shared focus on advancing exercise goals. This environment fostered trust, interoperability, and mission success.”
“Working with multiple branches and partner nations was one of the most rewarding parts of the exercise,” said Guzman. “Each organization brought unique strengths: Marine reconnaissance expertise, Army counterterrorism experience, Air Force coordination, and partner nation operational knowledge. The collaboration created a shared learning environment where everyone contributed to a common mission. It reinforced how essential interoperability is for real world operations across the region.”
“Working in such a diverse, multinational environment was incredibly rewarding,” said De Los Santos. “I had the opportunity to interact directly with personnel from the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Embassy DAO, Military Group/Security Cooperation Office, Joint Task Force-Bravo, other SOUTHCOM entities, Salvadoran Armed Forces, Belizean Armed Forces, DEA, and DHS. The experience reinforced how clear communication and cross-cultural understanding drive mission success, especially when aligning various partners with different perspectives and capabilities toward common objectives. Building rapport across these organizations strengthened cooperation and demonstrated the power of unified effort.”
This unified effort was made possible by the unique capabilities the scholars brought to the table. In high-stakes scenarios, they proved to be a linguistic tool and much more for the task force.
“The participation of LEAP Scholars was valuable because we served as the essential linguistic bridge that enabled the effective coordination of complex exercise operations between Salvadoran directors, JTF-B, and participants from the five visiting nations,” said Ventura. “By facilitating this communication, LEAP Scholars directly advanced U.S. national security interests. We helped participating forces with their interoperability and collective capacity to respond effectively to complex scenarios, validating regional crisis response frameworks, and supporting SOUTHCOM's strategic lines of effort.”
“LEAP Scholars provide more than language; they bring cultural understanding, operational awareness, and the ability to bridge communication gaps in high stakes environments,” said Guzman. “During CENTAM Guardian, having LEAP-trained Airmen ensured that training was delivered accurately, relationships were strengthened, and partner forces felt respected and included. Our presence accelerated trust, improved the quality of instruction, and enabled smoother coordination between U.S. and partner units.”
While the exercise benefited greatly from their presence, the scholars also walked away as more capable joint warfighters with invaluable lessons that will enhance contributions to their current unit and shape their future military careers.
“I learned how powerful language and cultural skills can be in shaping mission success,” said Guzman. “Beyond translation, I saw firsthand how communication builds confidence, strengthens alliances, and enhances tactical outcomes. I also gained a deeper appreciation for the professionalism of our partner forces and the importance of sustained engagement in the region. The experience reinforced that readiness isn’t just about equipment or tactics, it’s about relationships.”
“The primary takeaway was the sheer complexity of interagency and multinational communication,” said Ventura. “I learned that effective interpretation in a joint operational environment requires not just language fluency, but also a deep understanding of diverse regional dialects and the distinct operational cultures of civil and military forces. The experience highlighted that cultural agility is just as critical to interoperability as tactical proficiency."
That critical cultural agility was not developed overnight. The scholars credited Air University’s Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC) for providing the rigorous foundational training necessary to succeed in such a dynamic environment. The three LEAP Scholars were each deliberately developed through periodic Language Intensive Training Events and online synchronous eMentor courses. Also, Guzman and De Los Santos are graduates of the Language Enabled Airmen Postured for Agile Combat Employment, or LEAP-ACE course that teaches force employment technical vocabulary and interpretation skills for use in the field by General Purpose Force Airmen.
“AFCLC prepared me by developing my language proficiency, cultural competence, and confidence to operate in joint and multinational environments,” said Guzman. “Through LEAP training, online courses, and immersion opportunities, I was able to step into CENTAM Guardian ready to teach, interpret, and support mission execution. AFCLC’s emphasis on real world application made the transition into the exercise seamless.”
“AFCLC's LEAP courses directly enabled my performance during this event,” said De Los Santos. “The LEAP-ACE Morón course and its Translation and Interpretation training prepared me for the pace and complexity of this mission. Additionally, my participation in CENTAM Guardian 2025 through LEAP strengthened my ability to interpret joint concepts and quickly adapt to unfamiliar terminology and procedures. I applied that training with confidence in this dynamic, multinational environment. I think that the combination of formal coursework and practical experience gave me the foundation I needed to succeed and contribute meaningfully to the mission.”