News

Reservist deploys as rock star-quality interpreter

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Grant Saylor
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  We can't all be rock stars like Shakira. But perhaps there's something in the water. Senior Airman Carlos Seoanes-Perla, 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, hails from Barranquilla, Colombia, the same hometown as the Latin pop music diva. And if recent events are any indication, Airman Seoanes-Perla is a rocker in his own right.

The information management administrator recently returned from a nine-month deployment to Lima, Peru, where he was employed primarily as an interpreter for Peruvian military officials and VIPs. The return to his Latin American homeland exposed the 29-year-old Airman to a rich variety of experiences, including a stint working with Peruvian emergency management officials coordinating the delivery of relief supplies to Haiti earthquake victims.

"I was doing a lot of phone translation," said Airman Seoanes-Perla, who speaks fluent Spanish. "Much of that involved coordination with U.S. government planes that were switching roles and flying supplies to Colombia to meet C-17s."

The C-17s would then fly the relief supplies to Haiti.

Airman Seoanes-Perla was working under the direction of U.S. Southern Command in the office of the Military Advisory Assistance Group, an organization for American military advisors sent to help train conventional armed forces of Third World countries. Airman Seoanes-Perla worked overtime travelling with the MAAG chief during a visit by the SOUTHCOM commander, picking up VIPs at the local airport and putting his interpreting skills to work.

Airman Seoanes-Perla sought out this deployment on his own without any prodding from his supervisors, contacting a recruiter in Georgia who worked for Air Mobility Command. His initiative and positive attitude have not gone unnoticed by his peers in the 446th AMXS.

"He's looking to increase his knowledge base by learning about what other people do in the military, and visiting foreign countries," said Master Sgt. Belinda Cargill, 446th AMXS NCOIC, command support staff. "Carlos is very much a go-getter."

Sergeant Cargill said Airman Seoanes-Perla's accomplishments are a direct result of his initiative and positive outlook. "He's always in a good mood, friendly and upbeat, and always willing to find a way to get the job done."

As for the rock star status of his famous hometown neighbor?

"She was big in the club scene when I lived there as a boy, but I was too young to visit any of those establishments," said Airman Seoanes-Perla, who now lives in Bothell, Wash.

While he may not have the same worldwide name recognition as Shakira, this ambitious, bilingual Airman is still making a world of difference in the Air Force Reserve.

Must be something in the water.