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USAFSOS Language Center named best in SOCOM

  • Published
  • By Erica Vega
  • Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The U.S. Air Force Special Operations School Language Center at Hurlburt Field, Fla., earned the Special Operations Command Institutional Language Program of the Year award Aug. 11.

Army Brig. Gen. Sean Mulholland, Special Operations Command South commanding general, presented the award which covered the period of July 31, 2013 through Aug. 1, 2014. The center also earned the award in 2012.

"I'm extremely proud," said Lt. Col. Trevor B. Benitone, USAFSOS commandant. "This win validates that the partnership that we have with (Air Force Special Operations Command) and the (Defense Language Institute) is a valid one and that we're stepping up and producing good results."

"This recognition by U.S. Special Operations Command is a testament to the quality of language training provided by USAFSOS," added Barbara J. Barger, the Air Force Senior Language Authority.

All four service special operations forces component schools were eligible to compete. The packages were evaluated on three factors; training certifications of the schools staff, a narrative that describes the program, its policies, and its chain of command engagement and production capabilities versus the operation requirements.

"USAFSOS stood out where it counts the most: production of language-qualified Air Force Special Operations Forces and combat aviation advisors to meet operational capability requirements," said Jack Donnelly, chief of SOF Language Branch.

The mission of the USAFSOS Language Center is to provide foreign language initial acquisition training and language sustainment and enhancement programs to meet the linguistic proficiency required for special operations missions.

"The Air Force recognizes that foreign language, regional expertise and cultural capabilities enable us to accomplish our missions in foreign countries and engage with our international partners," said Barger.

Grisel A. Mundo-Love, USAFSOS Language Center director said one of the centers greatest accomplishments this year was the addition of a language testing area enabling the center to offer testing priority to students in language coded positions within AFSOC. She said she believes it gave USAFSOS the edge on the competition this year.

During the award period, 92 students were enrolled at the language center in Arabic, Brazilian-Portuguese, Dari, French, Indonesian, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Thai initial acquisition training. In addition to these languages, Benitone said the language center is able to provide AFSOC support in 35 languages on any given day.

"We try to be flexible because we understand that the operations tempo is incredible," said Mundo. "The Airmen have very limited time to complete their training so we try to maintain flexibility and support our Airmen as much as we can."

For more information on the USAFSOS Language Center and upcoming classes visit http://www.afsoc.af.mil/usafsos/.