MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. —
Defending the U.S. homeland is a cornerstone and the ultimate deliverable of the latest National Defense Strategy. It is also a task deeply intertwined with the specialized work of the AFCLC.
The AFCLC delivers a contribution to homeland defense by strengthening security cooperation with partner nations on U.S. borders, a mission directly supported by LEAP Scholars and tailored curriculum. This partnership helps contain threats before they reach the homeland.
“LEAP arms our Airmen with the linguistic and cultural tools that are essential for working hand in hand with Latin American mission partners,” said Capt. Konrad Bennett, Chief Security Forces 704thMunitions Support Squadron, Ghedi Air Base, Italy. “While many LEAP scholars are native speakers with cultural and family ties across the border, LITEs and e-Mentors provide professional vocabulary and sharpen language skills, giving Airmen confidence to interact fluidly with international partners.”
In his work as a LEAP Scholar, Bennett has seen firsthand how the AFCLC contributes to defending the homeland.
“As a Flight Commander at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA), I worked with a number of Spanish LEAP scholars,” he said. “They were frequently called upon to translate and serve as Subject Matter Experts with Mexico as well as multiple Central and South American mission partners. AFNORTH consulted my team for the development of a Security Forces career field for the Mexican Air Force, calling on us to showcase Security Forces techniques and training to a delegation from Mexico. By building partner capacity, the US enables Mexico to do its part to reduce threats on its side of the border. Additionally, one of my Airmen was tasked to translate for the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), CBP (Customs and Border Protection), DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), ARNORTH (United States Army North) and Department of State for cross-border security discussions in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Coordination between US and Mexican law enforcement agencies is crucial to a secure border and to reducing threats from transnational criminal and terrorist organizations.”
LEAP Scholar Tech Sgt. Edgar Bravo, Section Chief, Combat Arms/SFCA, 31st Security Forces Squadron with the 31st Security Forces Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy has also participated in activities that have strengthened security cooperation with partner nations and defended the homeland.
“The linguistic and cultural proficiency I gained through the Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP) has been invaluable in strengthening security cooperation,” Bravo said. “I had the opportunity to put these skills to direct use during the ‘FUERZAS AMIGAS’ exercise preparation, a critical disaster-response drill in Juarez, Mexico. There, I served as the lead interpreter for the U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) Commander, facilitating vital communication with our Mexican counterparts. Separately, my expertise was tasked by Inter-American Air Forces Academy (IAAFA) and the Mexican Air Force (SEDENA), where I played a pivotal role in helping them pioneer a foundational plan to establish their own Security Forces career field. Both of these experiences underscore how LEAP equips us to build trust and interoperability with our partners, directly enhancing our collective ability to secure our shared borders and protect the homeland.”
Rather than a separate mission, the AFCLC’s mastery of language, regional expertise, and culture is the core of its contribution to defending the homeland.
“The NDS top priority is Defending the Homeland, which now includes the Western Hemisphere,” said Dr. Daniel Uribe, the Air Force Culture and Language Center’s U.S. Southern Command expert. “In addition to preparing to defend our region from kinetic attacks, the NDS recognizes that homeland defense also hinges on interagency coordination, allied integration and partnerships with Western Hemisphere nations. Our LEAP Scholars and the AFCLC are critical to these efforts. The LREC capabilities the AFCLC provides the Air Force and Space Force enable deeper connections with our friends and allies in the region through security cooperation efforts, multi-national exercises, and humanitarian relief efforts. These strong connections also serve to deter potential adversaries. Our LEAP Airmen and Guardians are key enablers to the NDS LOE 1 Defending the Homeland.”
By James Brown, AFCLC Outreach Team
AFCLC
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