Language, cultural skills critical to enhancing Indo-Pacific interoperability

U.S. Air Force Culture and Language Center

Forging strategic relationships is vital for the United States and its Allies and Partners to further national security objectives. However, creating and sustaining those bonds can be challenging in areas such as the Indo-Pacific, a vast and dynamic region that is home to nearly 40 nations, more than half of the world’s population, 3,000 languages and seven of the world’s largest militaries.

Building partnerships to deter aggression requires not only understanding the region’s diverse cultures but also speaking its languages. Culture and language training in the armed forces is vital to enhancing operational effectiveness and diplomatic engagement.

The U.S. Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC), based at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, manages a volunteer program for active duty officers and enlisted Airmen and Guardians, known as the Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP), to develop service members with cross-cultural and foreign language proficiency. LEAP Scholars, in turn, strengthen partnerships and interoperability, while deepening understanding of potential adversaries.

“To defeat the strategy of our adversaries, our operational output as a team must be greater than the sum of the parts,” AFCLC Director Howard Ward said. Language, regional expertise and cultural (LREC) skills, when integrated with Allies and Partners, help develop “combat-ready war fighters poised to address threats to national security.”

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Chance Italiano was selected for LEAP nine years ago as a staff sergeant. Initially scoring a limited-working proficiency in Japanese, he used AFCLC’s eMentor online language and culture courses to develop fluency and apply skills in an operational setting. Italiano participated in a Language Intensive Training Event in Tokyo, among other activities, and briefed a Japanese news crew during a flight.

“My LREC training has enhanced my ability to mitigate cultural and language barriers and increase interoperability between allies,” Italiano said. “Military operations require close coordination and communication with all parties involved, especially with our allies in the Indo-Pacific region, where different cultures and languages are prevalent. My LREC training enabled me to build upon my existing cultural and language skills and hone them as tools to help strengthen alliances through mutual respect, comprehension and camaraderie.”

LREC training also helps U.S. military personnel become familiar with how allies “think and approach problem sets, which enables us to interpret more effectively,” Italiano said. “In every operation I have been involved in where LREC skills were utilized, I’ve been met with immense gratitude for our work. The rapport we build with our allies goes a long way toward strengthening alliances and partnerships in the region.”

U.S. Air Force Maj. Melany Delgado also developed her Japanese language proficiency through LEAP and was among 15 LEAP Scholars who participated in a bilateral mission in which Japan hosted U.S. Defense Department payloads on two of its satellites orbiting above the Indo-Pacific.

“My role was as a language bridge and cultural expert,” Delgado said. “I facilitated communication between U.S. and Japanese engineers.”

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ramchand Francisco, a native of the Philippines who speaks Tagalog, returned to his homeland in 2022 as a LEAP Scholar to support Kamandag, an annual exercise led by the Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps to enhance defense and humanitarian capabilities.

“While our job descriptions stated linguists or interpreters, there wasn’t a playbook of what our day-to-day responsibilities would be,” Francisco said. “However, during the first few days of interaction before exercise execution, our Marine brethren slowly noticed the ease with which we communicated with others, how warm the Filipinos were toward us and how exceptionally accommodating they were toward us. … We eventually wore hats as logisticians, escorts, mentors, instructors, tour guides, subject matter experts [and] emcees for sporting events.”

U.S. Air Force Maj. Jewelyn De La Cruz, an international health specialist fellow at Pacific Air Forces’ Global Health Engagement Office, is a LEAP Scholar who speaks Tagalog and Korean. Born in the Philippines, she understands the importance of using language and cultural skills as a bridge in contributing to global mission requirements.

“I have had opportunities to support activities in the region, and the ability to communicate in the common language has helped establish mutual trust and develop shared objectives, especially in my current role,” De La Cruz said. “Sharing a language serves as a connector. The training I received through LEAP has not only increased my comprehension of the exchanges and conversations but has also instilled in me a deeper appreciation and respect for the various cultures.

“I have become more cognizant of the multifaceted nature of language, recognizing that it is influenced by the surrounding cultural and historical contexts,” she said.

Italiano said language and culture skills are crucial to deterrence and defense.

“As LEAP Scholars, we serve as force multipliers by enhancing communication and interoperability with our Indo-Pacific allies, while also deepening our understanding of the cultural factors that may influence our interactions with adversaries,” he said. “Understanding the languages and cultures of our allies and adversaries helps build better partnerships, negotiations and deterrence, with the end goal of minimizing the potential of armed conflict.”