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Air Force Language Professional of the Year Award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Robyn Hunsinger
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  
Tech. Sgt. Samuel Han, 316th Training Squadron instructor supervisor, received this year’s Air Force level Language Professional of the Year Award. The AF LPOY Award is the most prestigious award given out to the linguist community and is given out to one individual across the Air Force.
 
When Han first joined the military as a Korean linguist, he never expected to receive such high-level recognition, but rather focused on just doing the job.
 
“My focus was not so much on mastering the language early on in my career so I never took it that seriously,” said Han. “I was like ‘well, I know enough Korean to get by’. That was the ignorance of me as an Airman.”
 
Now, at 13 years in service, Han has a very different perspective on what his career means to him.
 
“Anybody that’s been around over the last 13 years knows my ups and downs in my Air Force career,” said Han. “As an instructor, your job is to train the new generation that one day will replace you. I can now see how much we as instructors contribute to the overall big Air Force. That is the most rewarding, they we do here in Air Education and Training Command.”
 
The AF LPOY Award is designed to identify and recognize outstanding military language professionals and their accomplishments, as well as recognizing the critical role that military language professionals play in supporting the warfighter missions.
 
“TSgt Han was qualified to win this award because of his Defense Language Proficiency Test scores, overall Airmanship, his achievements in the area of foreign language, his hard work in language-related self-improvement, and language-related community service,” said Master Sgt. Elisha Cole, 316th TRS flight chief.
 
Han’s leadership and peers have seen his hard work and exemplary attitude toward his job.
 
“We were extremely excited to hear that Tech. Sgt. Han had won the AF LPOY Award,” said Cole. “Tech. Sgt. Han works extremely hard and strives to differentiate himself as truly one of the best and winning this award is an outstanding accomplishment and puts his name out there in front of the entire career field.”
 
Han was approached by his leadership to go up for the award, but had little faith he would achieve it.
 
“When I was approached by my leadership here,” said Han, “they said look, we think you have what it takes. You’re putting in the work, you’re trying to help better the community, and so I really thought about it. ‘Okay, maybe I’ll draft up something and if it wins, it wins. If it doesn’t, at least I tried. The worst they can say is no.’”
 
Months went by with no word about his package so Han assumed he hadn’t won. While attending a language proficiency course at the joint learning resource center here, Han’s leadership came in. He assumed that they were only spectating to see how their instructors kept proficiency in their language in the training environment.
 
“I thought Lt. Col. Sharp wanted to watch our instructor teach to see firsthand how instructors maintain their language,” said Han. “He told me that I was selected as the Language Professional of the Year. I thought I was selected for the unit or the squadron. I had no idea he was telling me I had won the Air Force-level award. I had no thought in my mind that my packet was competitive enough to win against almost 4,000 people.”
 
Having achieved this award, Han has a new outlook on his career and goals for the future.
 
“I have a different perspective of what the Air Force means compared to when I joined,” said Han. “My goal now is to be the best leader, the best follower, and the best version of myself.”
 
Han’s leadership believes winning this award will not only lead him into better opportunities, but will also inspire other linguists to put time and effort into their careers and goals.
 
“Being recognized as the LPOY at the Air Force level is yet another confirmation of Tech. Sgt. Han’s drive and commitment to being among the very best in our career field,” said Cole. “Winning this award will not only serve him well personally on upcoming promotion boards and applications for selective programs and assignments, but also serves as motivation to those linguists that have worked with him both in previous assignments and here in the 316th.”
 
Han also offered some advice for linguists in training and future linguists on what is necessary to succeed in the Air Force. He also challenges Airmen to think about their military careers and what they wish to achieve.
 
“The Air Force pays you to learn a language,” said Han. “You are considered a part of 1% of the Air Force. You have a responsibility to the Air Force. Your words matter. Your actions matter. Once you swear into the Air Force, you are given tools, training, and resources to have the opportunity to be successful. It’s how you control that. How do you control your destiny? How much effort do you need to give so that you are successful?”
 
“I am very grateful for the leadership at Goodfellow,” said Han. “I am a bit biased when I say this, but we have the best leaders in our squadron. I am truly fortunate to have those individuals in my life, to keep me on track, and to teach me and to help me to be a better version of myself. I want to thank everyone here for all of the support that I received through it all. It shows that Goodfellow is a family. At the end of the day, whether we win or lose, we all win. Having that mentality, I am truly fortunate to be a part of this base.”