Airman experiences Lajes culture through LEAP

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores --  An Airman is benefiting from the cultural richness of the Azores at Lajes through the Language Enabled Airman Program and increase the Air Force's bilateral relations.

Capt. Jesse Gilley, an intelligence officer from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, was assigned to the 65th Air Base Wing for a nearly four-week immersion opportunity, which will help hone his Portuguese language skills and cultural understanding.

LEAP is used to develop Airmen who already speak a foreign language, but have a desire to increase their knowledge of the language and culture, said Gilley.

"It's a career-long program designed to sustain and enhance language and cross-cultural skills, with the end goal of producing a language speaker who can perform their core job duties in their respective foreign language," said Gilley, who applied for the program in September of 2010 and was selected in November. "The Air Force and Airmen are deploying in increasing numbers to varied parts of the world. To have Airmen that are ready to deploy or travel with language and cultural experience adds to what the Air Force brings to the fight."

The program, launched in 2010 for Air Force commissioned officers or cadets, is designed to identify and foster foreign languages skills for Airmen throughout their careers.

Potential applicants had to demonstrate higher levels of foreign language proficiency as measured by their past performance in language courses, their Defense Language Proficiency Test and Defense Language Aptitude Battery scores, and their previous foreign language exposure.

The DLAB measures an individual's propensity for learning a language, while the DLPT measures one's reading, writing and speaking capability in a specific language.

In order to be selected for the program, Gilley had to demonstrate scholastic achievement and have exceptional military performance. "As every applicant for the program, I had to write an essay, provide college transcripts, get approval from the first O-6 (Colonel) in my chain of command, and provide current DLPT and DLAB scores," he added.

While assigned here, Gilley had an opportunity to work with another Portuguese-speaking Airman in charge of the Lajes Political Affairs Office, Lt. Col. Charles Tobia.

"This year, in an effort to expand opportunities and expose LEAP officers to a higher level of language proficiency in Portuguese, Air University looked at placing the candidates in Portugal, and Lajes Field was the ideal location, as we employ over 700 local national employees and maintain close partnership with the host partners -- the Portuguese air force," said Tobia, Chief of Political Affairs who arranged opportunities for Gilley to work in different squadrons and with the Portuguese air force.

Tobia said Gilley is one of the three officers that will visit Portugal, splitting their time at Lajes and at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon. The two other officers will be visiting Lajes in September and October, respectively.

According to Tobia, several organizations have made it possible for this program to be a success. He said Gilley spent some days at the 65th Operations Support Squadron, where he worked in different sections, such as airfield management, weather and aircraft ground equipment, among others.

"He also spent several days visiting CES learning about how infrastructure improvements are developed, approved and executed at Lajes, particularly in light of the 65 ABW being a tenant on a Portuguese air force base," Tobia added. "Captain Gilley was also put to work, helping Political Affairs lay the initial groundwork for the highly successful Force Protection condition exercise."

Gilley also spent a few days shadowing Portuguese leaders in Air Base 4, and he went on patrol with their security forces.

Gilley said he is glad to be part of this program, and for the experiences he gained from the Lajes leadership. He said everything he learned will be used to further his career as an Intel officer.