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Vance FAIP who learned Japanese at USAFA will use his skills abroad

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christian Soto
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Whether strengthening ties through exercises with partner nations, being stationed overseas or deploying, one common challenge American Airmen face is overcoming language barriers. 

Multi-lingual Airmen are rare, but for the select few with this vital skillset getting the opportunity to help their unit build relationship with partner nations can be the highlight of a career. 

Capt. Adam Payne, a T-6A Texan II instructor pilot with the 33rd Flying Training Squadron, learned Japanese as a student at the Air Force Academy. 

“I started learning Japanese at the Air Force Academy and did that for four years,” said Payne, who after completing his time teaching new pilots to fly at Vance will soar above the Sea of Japan in a KC-135 Stratotanker for his next assignment at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. 

“The Air Force has given a me couple opportunities to go to (Japan) and use the language, which definitely helps with learning it,” he said. 

As the Pacific Air Force’s premier air base, Kadena plays a crucial role in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific through an agile, innovative, ready force. Through coordination with allies and partners, the Airmen of Kaden project decisive airpower to ensure regional stability and security. 

A mission that is made easier when Airmen flying missions there are fluent in Japanese. 

“Our Air Force is filled with talented and dedicated Airmen who perform daily missions vital to our national security, and the security of our allies and international partners,” said Col. Carl Miller, the deputy commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing, at Vance. “Multi-lingual Airmen offer the units they are assigned to a tremendous strategic advantage when it comes to engaging and working with our allies and partners.”

Payne credits the time he spent learning the language at the Academy with his opportunity to serve at Kadena.

“The language ability definitely helped with the process for being selected,” said Payne. “The big things that helped me get the assignment were working very hard in the squadron and having the ammo for my commander to vouch for me for being a great asset in Kadena.”

Payne said he looks forward to arriving in Japan, where he will join the largest U.S. military installation in the Indo-Pacific and the largest wing in the Air Force. 

“I feel that it helps close the language gap between the nations that like to work together and enhance the mission at Kadena,” said Payne.