Utah Guard linguists bridge language gap for 'Beyond the Horizon Guatemala'

By Spc. Anthony D. Jones, Task Force Arriero Public AffairsMay 14, 2012

Utah Guard linguists bridge language gap for Beyond the Horizon Guatemala
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Angel Lopez, left, of the 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 300th MI Brigade, Utah National Guard, deployed in support of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012, translates between U.S. military personnel and Guatemalan civilians in Sa... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Utah Guard linguists bridge language gap for Beyond the Horizon Guatemala
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Angel Lopez, 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 300th MI Brigade, Utah National Guard, deployed in support of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012, discusses the upcoming day with Guatemalan security forces in Sarrax-Och, Guatemala. L... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Utah Guard linguists bridge language gap for Beyond the Horizon Guatemala
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Angel Lopez, 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 300th MI Brigade, Utah National Guard, deployed in support of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012, distributes candy to children in class in Sarrax-Och, Guatemala. While the military e... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Utah Guard linguists bridge language gap for Beyond the Horizon Guatemala
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Angel Lopez, 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 300th MI Brigade, Utah National Guard, deployed in support of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012, distributes candy to children in class in Sarrax-Och, Guatemala. While the military e... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Utah Guard linguists bridge language gap for Beyond the Horizon Guatemala
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – While touring the temporary school facilities in Sarrax-Och, Sgt. 1st Class Angel Lopez, right, of the 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 300th MI Brigade, Utah National Guard, deployed in support of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012, takes a pic... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

COBAN, Guatemala (May 14, 2012) -- Utah National Guard members from the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade are deployed as linguists in support of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2012 and are bridging the communication gulf between U.S. military personnel and the host nation's military and citizens.

Beyond the Horizon operations in Guatemala have been underway since March 14 and have consisted of engineering projects and medical aid stations rendering care to Guatemalan civilians. Sailors, Airmen, and Soldiers are working side-by-side with Guatemalan military engineers to construct or rebuild schools and health clinics in various communities, and the linguists' importance in their success to this point cannot be overstated.

Staff Sgt. Reinaldo Colon-Burgos, 1st Company, 135th Aviation Battalion, Missouri National Guard, is a native Spanish speaker functioning as a pay agent in his second Beyond the Horizon deployment. He spoke highly of the 300th MI Battalion, whose Soldiers he's worked with in the past, and emphasized the importance of a language capable force.

"Linguists tie two countries together to accomplish a mission," said Colon-Burgos. "We're liaisons for the U.S."

Chief Warrant Officer Robert Sandberg, 141st MI Battalion, 300th MI Brigade, Utah National Guard, described the makeup of his battalion by saying, "We have several different (jobs), but everybody is a linguist."

This large availability of linguists contributes to the high deployment rate of 300th MI Brigade personnel throughout the world. While in Guatemala, Sandberg has been working with Army and Air Force engineers in both Tactic and Balbatzul to facilitate the construction of a women's clinic and school, respectively.

Sgt. 1st Class Angel Lopez, 142nd MI Battalion, 300th MI Brigade, Utah National Guard, has been deployed several times, but this Beyond the Horizon mission is his first as a linguist. He has been occupied at the Sarrax-Och job site, allowing U.S. Army engineers to incorporate Guatemalan army engineers into their operation.

Both Sandberg and Lopez volunteered to support Beyond the Horizon and appreciate the opportunity to give to the communities where they've worked.

"I like that we're out here doing the humanitarian stuff," Lopez said.

Minutes later, he toured the temporary school and distributed pockets full of candy to the excited children.

Sandberg, talking about the community's reception of BTH forces, said, "They love what we're doing."

Beyond the Horizon is a U.S. Army South-led humanitarian and engineering support mission deploying military engineers and medical professionals to demonstrate U.S. support and commitment to Guatemala and its people. Beyond the Horizon operations will continue through July 14.

Related Links:

Survey team gains experience supporting Beyond the Horizon exercise

Army.mil: National Guard News

STAND-TO!: Beyond the Horizon 2012

U.S. Army South

Utah National Guard

U.S. Army South on Facebook

Utah National Guard on Facebook