Campus Activities

Black American Heritage Month Activities (Click here for story)

DLIELC Picnic: (CLICK HERE FOR STORY)

DLIELC Around the Globe

U.S. Air Force Mentors Bring Power of AirLift to Afghans (news Article: by US Air Forces Central)

DLIELC instructor delivers language aid to Cambodia (news Article: by Mike Joseph 502nd Air Base Wing OL-A Public Affairs)

News & Events

lANGUAGE INSTITUTE'S MISSION REACHES FOR THE FUTURE

7/20/2010 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS)  -- With the buzzing of chatter, some in English, some in another tongue, and people moving about the building, the Defense Language Institute English Language Center here is a beehive of activity.

The international military students attending the resident program here have a purpose, and the instructors and professionals are dedicated to ensuring that all students attain their goal, according to DLI officials.

"The 1,000 or so students here are stepping stones to future American relationships within their country's military," said Army Lt. Col. Terry St. Peter, deputy commandant of DLIELC.

Outside his office was the newest graduate, a Southern Sudanese air force general officer. This graduation is important as the Department of Defense has stepped up operations in Africa with the formation of the U.S. Africa Command. (Click here to read complete story.)

Afghan commander visits DLIELC

5/27/2010 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas  -- Maj. Gen. Mohammad Dawran, Commander of the Afghan National Army Air Corps, visited the Defense Language Institute English Language Center May 21 to gain an up-close look at the English training Afghan students are receiving at Lackland.

"The main reason for the trip was to make contact with the Defense Language Institute in the United States," General Dawran said through an interpreter.

He said Afghan pilots, as well as other Afghan students, are learning English at DLI.

"(I'm visiting) to see them up close and understand their situation."

English Language Training for Afghans is part of a larger Department of Defense partnership building mission overseen by Air Education and Training Command which began in 2003 and includes resident ELT programs at Lackland and nonresident training sites throughout Afghanistan.

Training programs for the ANAAC students include General English Training, Specialized English Training and Instructor Development Training to develop Afghan English Language instructors.

General Dawran said learning English is important for the air corps as they transition to a new technology system.

"There is an urgent need to learn English because we are learning new tactics and making new relationships in new countries," he said. "The pilots can speak English whenever they are flying, whenever they are in operations."

General Dawran said the ELT program, which has graduated 298 Afghans in the past two years, has been successful.

"Based on the short time scale, we have made strides in achievement and in performance. From my outlook, it's an initiative toward a good future in Afghanistan," the general said.

DLI's nonresident training sites in Afghanistan include 134 students in intensive courses across Afghanistan and 68 army air corps students in a non-intensive course.

Fifty-nine Afghan students that have completed SET programs are now in follow-on-training programs throughout the United States; 18 of those are ANAAC students.

More than English language acquisition, General Dawran said ELT is essential to building relationships in an increasingly connected world. In addition, DLIELC students are provided a link to the rest of the world.

"More than 80 countries today are here learning English at this center," he said.
And while it's important to learn English, the general said it's also a great opportunity to learn about the traditions and issues in other countries.

"It is a way to share knowledge and understanding between different people."

During the visit, the general met with Afghan students for lunch at the Amigo Inn and discussions at the campus' headquarters auditorium.

In the future, the general said he is "100 percent" convinced the partnership between ANAAC and DLIELC will expand. The next step is to review the successes and shortcomings of the ELT program for Afghan students, the general said.

"The governments of Afghanistan and the United States are making long-term plans," he said. "That is our specific goal and we are moving toward that."

El Salvadoran vice chief views AETC programs

5/20/2010 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The vice chief of the Joint General Staff for the Republic of El Salvador visited Lackland May 10-11 to gain insight on U.S. Air Force educational and training programs.

The two-day visit by El Salvadoran Air Force Brig. Gen. Jaime Parada fell under the auspice of the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff's Counterpart Program, which is designed to facilitate bi-lateral relations and provide visiting air chiefs with a first-hand view of the U.S. Air Force while illustrating programs of mutual interest.

The Air Education and Training Command visit to Lackland included an overall mission brief from the 37th Training Wing and stops at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center as well as the Inter-American Air Forces Academy.

"I am (here) to learn much more about the 37th TRW, DLIELC, and IAFFA, the hot bed of technical training for maintenance troops and mechanics in Latin American partner countries," said General Parada. "I hope to gain more knowledge about the work, the missions and the roles these institutions play in the development of our troops.

"Ultimately, our hope is to take advantage of these valuable training resources by sending more of our personnel to these institutions for training and education," he added.

With scheduled stops at other major command installations across the country, the general stressed the need for the AFCOS Counterpart Program and its importance to El Salvador and other Latin America partner nations.

"The mutual cooperation between the armed forces of both our countries has always been excellent and it continues today. Our countries continue to share common goals and objectives in the region and abroad. In fact, our relationship extends abroad," he said.

As members of the multinational forces in Iraq, El Salvador committed 11 battalions to the war on terror, rotating forces every six months for five years from 2003 through 2008.

A graduate of the DLI English course 28 years ago, General Parada believes DLI's role in keeping El Salvadoran troops mission ready is vital to the mutual interests of both countries.

"The English I learned in the six months I was at Lackland has continued to serve me well throughout my military career," he said. "This is essential to the development of our officer corps. We've recently sent officers, majors, to DLI who now serve as English professors in our country.

"Today, these officers continue to teach others in country, he said. "I consider DLI a force multiplier - something that will continue to serve us and future generations of officers," he added.

IAFFA's technical training of servicemembers from El Salvador and other Latin American partner countries is also a vital link to achieving common objects in Latin America, according to the general.

"IAFFA trains our maintenance people and mechanics, along with MTTs (U.S. Mobile Training Teams)," General Parada said. "One of the lessons learned and what we consider an important training asset in El Salvador is the deployment of MTTs in our country."

These teams of U.S. specialists with a myriad of skills and training impart their knowledge to members of the El Salvadoran armed forces.

"The knowledge we gain is invaluable. It allows us to enhance our military readiness and to learn the new technical skills and processes necessary to better maintain our materiel and equipment," he said. "They are a valued commodity when it comes to the development of technical skills and the professional training of our servicemembers."

Looking to the future, General Parada expects El Salvador to have stronger ties and more opportunities to train with its U.S. counterparts.

"I am grateful to AETC for the opportunity to visit and learn more about U.S. Air Force training programs. We trust that the United States and AETC will continue to provide us with sufficient vacancies in the DLI, IAFFA and its other training programs so that future servicemembers are afforded the opportunity to effectively train and learn from members of the most professional and proficient military force in the world."