MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. —
Twelve LEAP Scholars recently took a star turn during Southern Star 2025 in Chile, enhancing communication and understanding among U.S. forces, six participating nations, and 10 observers throughout the complex multinational exercise.
“Southern Star 2025 was a two-week multinational special operations exercise hosted by Chile and co-led by U.S. Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH),” said Senior Master Sgt. Pedro Estrada, a flight chief with the Operations Branch, 502 Communications Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. “It involved over 2,700 personnel from six participating countries and 10 observers. The exercise simulated a UN-authorized stabilization mission with scenarios involving amphibious navigation, urban combat, non-combatant evacuation operations, maritime and air control, and live-fire precision training across 3,700 kilometers of Chilean territory, from Antofagasta to Punta Arenas. It’s considered the largest SOF (Special Operations Forces) exercise of its kind in Latin America.”
Because of the scope of the exercise, the team of LEAP Scholars performed a large assortment of roles during the training.
“Upon arrival, I was assigned to Rancagua (Headquarters) as a translator, assisting in both English to Spanish and Spanish to English translations for the Plans and Future Operations Cell,” said 1st Lt. Dalismarie Guzman-Velez, a Resources Deputy Flight Commander with the 937 Training Support Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio. “I served as a key communications facilitator for Army J35 / Lt. Col. Timothy Moore and 40 Chilean War College students. During my time there, I facilitated real-time communication between Lt. Col. Moore and the Chilean War College students. I also had the opportunity to translate briefs for 10 general officers during the exercise and approximately 40 general officers / civilian equivalents on the last day. During the exercise, I supported the coordination and execution of 45 joint missions, providing direct interpretation during planning and targeting meetings, CONOPS briefs, and executive-level engagements. I produced over 80 pages of operational documents, including operational orders, fragmentary orders , intelligence bulletins, visual tools, and assessments. I was frequently called upon for unscheduled interpretation needs throughout the headquarters.”
“My role specifically was to translate and interpret for the Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component in Rancagua Air Base,” said Master Sgt. Martin H. Hermosillo, a staff superintendent with the 524 Special Operations Squadron at Duke Field, Fla. “My role evolved into playing more of just a translation role at times due to my experience in SOF aviation through which I was able to streamline a vast amount of the processes and efforts due to my knowledge in aviation and in the Special Operations enterprise.”
The variety of participating nations, branches, and agencies involved in the exercise helped make this mission a memorable one for the LEAP Scholars who participated.
“This was a truly magnificent experience due to the fact that every service and ally nation have their own way of navigating a task,” said Hermosillo. “What really made everything flow in synchrony is the openness and willingness to learn from each other. Like any other exercise, things are meant to run a bit rough but with the ability to have a team mentality and leave egos aside every mission turned into a learning opportunity.”
“It was an incredibly enriching experience,” said Estrada. “I worked alongside Chilean SOF, MARSOC (Marine Forces Special Operations Command), the U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Squadron, and Chilean law enforcement and customs agencies. Each interaction deepened my appreciation for joint and multinational operations. It also reinforced how vital clear communication, trust, and cultural fluency are in high-tempo coalition environments. Every agency brought a unique perspective, and mutual respect drove mission success. These engagements broadened my understanding of Latin American defense structures and highlighted the essential role of language and culture in joint operations.”
While the LEAP Scholars were enriched by their Southern Star experiences, they also elevated the exercise with all the capabilities they bring to the table.
“LEAP Scholars bring more than just language skills,” said Estrada. “We offer cultural insight, diplomatic awareness, and operational fluency. In my case, I prevented potential international incidents, kept logistics flowing, and enabled mission-critical decisions through real-time translation. Without embedded LEAP professionals, miscommunication could’ve caused delays or even mission failure. We bridge the gap between strategy and execution across cultures and languages. LEAP Airmen serve as force multipliers by enhancing cooperation, reducing friction, and enabling real-time problem-solving in complex joint environments.”
“Having LEAP scholars was crucial for this exercise; it made it a lot smoother when it comes to communication between both nations,” said Staff Sgt. Vanesa Wagner, an Air Force recruiter out of Randolph AFB, Texas. “There is already a high level of complexity for this exercise especially because of the number of moving pieces. So having the communication portion taken care of and ensuring the correct message was being delivered was key.”
The LEAP team played a pivotal role in Southern Star, and they also gained additional skills that can be used in future missions.
“Overall, I learned a great deal about operations planning,” said Guzman-Velez. “I was actively involved in the process, with shifts lasting 12 hours each day. I appreciated the opportunity to see behind the scenes of how operations are conducted, how intelligence is collected, and the logic behind how personnel and equipment are assigned to accomplish missions. It was an interesting and rewarding experience, especially as a prior enlisted individual who has a passion for readiness and deployments!”
“This experience reaffirmed that language and cultural fluency are not just support tools, they are mission enablers,” said Estrada. “I learned how to adapt my communication style to rapidly changing operational environments and how to mediate between multiple stakeholders with competing interests. I also gained deeper insights into Latin American military protocols, civil-military coordination, and the strategic role of soft power in international defense cooperation. I also learned that language is power, especially in joint environments and helped hone my ability to operate in fluid, high-stakes scenarios.”
The rigorous curriculum that the Air Force Culture and Language Center provides to LEAP Scholars is one of the reasons why they can thrive and be force multipliers in exercises like Southern Star.
“Before this LITE, the AFCLC provided me with the opportunity to attend the University of Montana’s Defense Critical Language Program, where I learned a lot about Latin America, including our relationships with partner nations and the importance of collaboration,” said Guzman-Velez. “The course covered various aspects, including language, socio-political, and economic factors. I believe that experience prepared me significantly for this exercise, and I am grateful that the team trusts the program enough to send us out for these amazing opportunities. I can’t wait to participate in other LITES!”
“AFCLC’s LEAP program prepared me exceptionally well,” said Estrada. “The consistent language immersion, eMentor sessions, and prior LITE experiences gave me the confidence to operate in complex, multilingual scenarios. More importantly, the cultural training helped me read the room, understand unspoken dynamics, and navigate sensitive situations with professionalism and tact. LEAP gave me the tools to not just translate words, but to build bridges.”
Since LEAP Scholars come from the general force and bring their military skills and experiences with them, they are also able to communicate in technical and military terms with partner allies.
“This is exactly the type of exercise LEAP Scholars should participate in,” said Capt. Joshua Taylor, an Intelligence Officer with the 9th ASOS. “We were doing joint operations, and you had to use joint operational language. One of my tasks was to take the operations order that was written in Spanish and give it to Navy Seals. Technical terms for diving, boating, landing zones, these are terms that you would never use in daily life. We were using military jargon in English and Spanish.”
Because LEAP Scholars are well prepared and dynamic force multipliers, they are sought out by the leadership of large multinational exercises like Southern Star 25.
“Language Enabled Airman Program Scholars were essential in the execution of the Special Operations Command South largest joint exercise, SOUTHERN STAR 2025, supporting over 2,000 military members from multiple partner nations,” said Capt. Anton Klokun, Chief, J13 Plans & Operations, SOCSOUTH, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. “They provided real-time translation within the Combined Forces Special Component Command headquarters, briefing senior leaders and enabling operational coordination between United States and Chilean forces in five geographically separated units, spread across 3,700 kilometers.”
By James Brown, AFCLC Outreach Team
AFCLC
