250520-O-XX000-1005

Spanish LEAP Scholar, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Elio de los Santos interprets during exterior movement training for members of the 1st Battalion, 25th Marines and Guatemalan paratroops, known as Paracaidistas, on May 20, 2025, at the Paracaidistas’ training base near San Jose as part of CENTAM Guardian 2025. CENTAM Guardian, an annual, multinational exercise, fosters strong partnerships by enabling combined forces to effectively address shared security challenges. By deploying culturally and linguistically exceptional service members like de los Santos, LEAP directly advances the National Defense Strategy’s mandate to increase burden sharing with global allies and partners. This organic communication capability establishes the tactical interoperability required for combined forces to integrate seamlessly and share the operational responsibilities of regional defense. (Courtesy photo)