<!--/* //NOSONAR */--><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<!--/* //NOSONAR */--><html  lang="en-US">
<head id="Head"><meta id="MetaDescription" name="DESCRIPTION" /><meta id="MetaKeywords" name="KEYWORDS" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1" /><title>
	Face of Defense: New Hampshire Airman Serves as Translator in El Salvador
</title><link id="css3605" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/module.css" /><link id="css4619" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/desktopmodules/ArticleCS/styles/DOD2/style.css" /></head>
<body>
    <main>
    <div>
    <div class="aprint news">
    <div class="header">
        <img height="100" class="print-logo" alt="Site Logo" src="/Portals/7/Images/SOUTHCOM_logo_thumb.jpg?ver=SIvIeRRofyrg5ZHPpvvh6Q%3d%3d" />

        <h1 class="title">Face of Defense: New Hampshire Airman Serves as Translator in El Salvador</h1>
    </div>
    

    <div><b>By Air Force Staff Sgt. Kayla White</b> <span class="date">/ Published Sept. 11, 2018</span></div>
    <span class="dateline-text">NEWINGTON, N.H., </span>
    <p>Surrounded by the lush, green, hilly terrain of San Salvador, for two weeks in July one <span><a href="https://www.157arw.ang.af.mil/" target="_blank">157th Air Refueling Wing</a></span> command post controller worked as a bilateral affairs representative and translator in the U.S. Embassy. 


<!--image-->



<div class="media-inline media-inline-small  media-inline-right  " style="max-width:300px">
    
    
    
    <a href="#pop2916085" class="popup" data-width="1360" data-height="1080">
        <div class="image-wrapper">
            <div class="overlay"></div>
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2018/Aug/31/2001964164/300/300/0/180808-Z-XF897-1006.JPG" alt="Staff Sgt. Kirsten E. Arends, a command post controller assigned to the 157th Air Refueling Wing, poses for a portrait on August 8, 2018 at Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H Arends traveled to El Salvador to serve as an iterim bilateral affairs representative as part of the N.H. National Guard's State Partnership Program with El Salvador." class="img-responsive" />
        </div>
    </a>
    
    
    
        
        
        
        <div class="minfo">
            
            
            <span class="caption">
                Air Force Staff Sgt. Kirsten E. Arends, a command post controller assigned to the New Hampshire Air National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing, poses for a portrait at Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H., Aug. 8, 2018. Arends traveled to El Salvador to serve as an interim bilateral affairs representative as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program with El Salvador. New Hampshire Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kayla White
            </span>
            
        </div>
        
        
    
    
</div>


<!--popup-->

<div style="display:none">
    
    <div class="media-inline-popup" id="pop2916085">
        <div class="media-inline-img-container"><img src="https://media.defense.gov/2018/Aug/31/2001964164/1920/1080/0/180808-Z-XF897-1006.JPG" alt="Staff Sgt. Kirsten E. Arends, a command post controller assigned to the 157th Air Refueling Wing, poses for a portrait on August 8, 2018 at Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H Arends traveled to El Salvador to serve as an iterim bilateral affairs representative as part of the N.H. National Guard's State Partnership Program with El Salvador." class="img-responsive" /></div>
        <div class="info">
            <span class="title">
                N.H. Airman uses skills in El Salvador
            </span>
            <div class="caption" style="max-width:1360px">
                Air Force Staff Sgt. Kirsten E. Arends, a command post controller assigned to the New Hampshire Air National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing, poses for a portrait at Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H., Aug. 8, 2018. Arends traveled to El Salvador to serve as an interim bilateral affairs representative as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program with El Salvador. New Hampshire Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kayla White
            </div>

            <div class="bottom">

                <div class="social">
                    <span class="subhead">SHARE IMAGE:</span>
                    <div class="a2a_kit a2a_default_style social-inner" data-a2a-url="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2001964164/mediaid/2916085/" data-a2a-title="N.H. Airman uses skills in El Salvador" data-a2a-media="https://media.defense.gov/2018/Aug/31/2001964164/1920/1080/0/180808-Z-XF897-1006.JPG" data-page-url="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/1627048/face-of-defense-new-hampshire-airman-serves-as-translator-in-el-salvador/">
                        <a class="a2a_button_facebook social-link" aria-label="Share on Facebook">
                            <span class="fa fa-facebook"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_x social-link" aria-label="Share on X">
                            <span class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_email social-link" aria-label="Share by emailing content">
                            <span class="fa fa-envelope"></span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js"></script>
                </div>

                <div class="action">
                    <div class="action-item download-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_download.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2018/Aug/31/2001964164/-1/-1/0/180808-Z-XF897-1006.JPG" title="N.H. Airman uses skills in El Salvador" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Download Image</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <div class="action-item detail-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_link.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/IMAGERY/igphoto/2001964164/mediaid/2916085/" title="N.H. Airman uses skills in El Salvador" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Image Details</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item photographer">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_photographer.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>Photo By: Staff Sgt. Kayla White</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item virin">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_info.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>VIRIN: 180808-Z-XF897-1006</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    
    
</div>













<style>
    #cboxClose {
        position: absolute;
        top: 5px;
        right: 5px;
        display: block;
        background: url(/desktopmodules/articlecs/images/media_popup_close.png) no-repeat top center;
        width: 40px;
        height: 40px;
        text-indent: -9999px;
    }

        #cboxClose:hover {
            background-position: bottom center;
        }

    .me-plugin {
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;
    }
</style>
<script type="text/javascript">

    var gih = 0;
    var giw = 0;
    var pup;
    var g_isDynamic = false;

    function popupResize(ibox, w, h, doResize) {
        if ($(ibox).hasClass('dgov2popup-info')) {
            // This block is included once, so is shared by all media tokens.
            // this block is how we execute the special resize for dgov2's slideshow popup
            dgov2slideshowPopupResize(ibox, w, h, doResize);
            return;
        }

        if (!g_isDynamic)
            return;

        var isMobile = window.matchMedia('(max-width: 1200px)').matches;

        if (isMobile) {
            $.colorbox.resize({ width: "100%", height: "100%" });
            $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").width('100%');
            $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").height('auto');

            $(ibox).find(".info").css('height', 'auto');
            return;
        }

        var iw = w;
        var ih = h;
        var ww = $(window).width();
        var wh = $(window).height();
        var hextra = 40;
        var wextra = 360;
        var hborder = 120;
        var wborder = 120;
        var maxw = ww - wextra - wborder;
        var maxh = wh - hextra - hborder;
        var ratio = Math.min(maxw / iw, maxh / ih);

        iw = Math.floor(iw * ratio); // use floor to avoid overflow scrollbar
        ih = Math.floor(ih * ratio);

        //        console.log(iw + " " + ih + " --- " + (iw + wextra) + " " + (ih + hextra))

        $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").width(iw);
        $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").height(ih);

        $(ibox).find(".info").height(ih);

        if (doResize)
            $.colorbox.resize({ width: iw + wextra, height: ih + hextra });
    }

    $(window).resize(function () {
        if (g_isDynamic && pup !== undefined)
            popupResize(pup, giw, gih, true);
    });

    $(window).load(function () {
            $(".popup").click(function () {
                giw = $(this).data('width');
                gih = $(this).data('height');
                pup = $($(this).attr('href'));
                g_isDynamic = $(this).data('dynamic') === 1 ? true : false;

                popupResize(pup, giw, gih, false);

                var w = "768px";
                var isMobile = $(window).width() < 768 ? true : false;
                w = "auto";
                if (isMobile)
                    w = "100%";

                const isDgov2Slideshow = $(this).attr("data-isdgov2slideshow") != undefined;
                const isDGOV2 = false;
                const slideNumber = parseInt($(this).attr('data-slide-number'));
                const slideIndex = slideNumber - 1;
                //console.log("slideNumber for popup", slideNumber)
                const popupThis = this;
                $(this).colorbox({
                    className: 'inline-popup', fixed: true, transition: "none", opacity: .9, inline: true, width: w, height: 'auto', maxWidth:"80%", maxHeight:"100%", close: isDgov2Slideshow || isDGOV2 ? "<i class='fas fa-times' />" : "X", onClosed: function () {
                    },
                    onComplete: function () {
                        var popupHeight = jQuery(this.href.substring(this.href.lastIndexOf("#"))).outerHeight(true);
                        if (jQuery("#colorbox").height() < popupHeight) {
                            jQuery("#colorbox").height(popupHeight);
                        }
                        if (g_isDynamic) {
                            if (!isMobile) {
                                bodyScrollLock.disableBodyScroll(this);
                            }
                        }
                   
                        // for popup having data-isdgov2slideshow attr (see above)
                        if (isDgov2Slideshow) {
                            const popSelector = '#dgov2popup-target-1627048';
                            const ssSelector = '#dgov2slideshowId-1627048';
                            dgov2slideshowPopupInit({
                                numSlides: 0,
                            startingSlideIndex: slideIndex,
                                popupSelector: popSelector,
                                slideshowSelector: ssSelector,
                                slideshowMediaId: 1627048,
                        });
                giw = $(popupThis).data('width');
                gih = $(popupThis).data('height');
                pup = $($(popupThis).attr('href'));
                popupResize(pup, giw, gih, true);
            }
            $(window).resize();
        },
        onClosed: function () {
        pup = undefined;
        if (g_isDynamic)
            bodyScrollLock.enableBodyScroll(this);

        if (isDgov2Slideshow) {
            const popSelector = '#dgov2popup-target-1627048';
            const ssSelector = '#dgov2slideshowId-1627048';
            dgov2slideshowPopupDestroy({
                popupSelector: popSelector,
                slideshowSelector: ssSelector,
            });
        }
    }
    });

    });

    
    $(".popup-slideshow").colorbox({
        inline: true,
        onComplete: function () {
            SlideshowInit();
            $.colorbox.resize();
            // stop scrollbar from flashing
            $("#cboxLoadedContent").css("overflow", "");
            $("#cboxLoadedContent").css("overflow-y", "hidden");
        },
        onClosed: function () {
            $('.slideshow-gallery').trigger('slideTo', 0);
        }
    });
    
    });
</script>





</p>
<p>New Hampshire Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Kirsten E. Arends traveled to the capital of El Salvador as part of the National Guard Bureau’s <a href="http://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/J-5/International-Affairs-Division/State-Partnership-Program/" target="_blank">State Partnership Program</a>, which has joined El Salvador and the state of New Hampshire as strategic partners since 2000.</p>
<p>Under the SPP, the airmen and soldiers of the <span><a href="https://state.nationalguard.com/new-hampshire" target="_blank">New Hampshire National Guard</a></span> have collaborated with members of the Salvadoran armed forces in support of the Beyond the Horizon exercise, which promotes cooperative civilian and military relationships between the U.S. and El Salvador.</p>
<p>"I worked in the Security Cooperation Office at the U.S. Embassy," Arends said.</p>
<p><strong>Language Skills</strong></p>
<p>There, she used her Spanish-language skills. She replied to requests for official training proposals, worked to ensure selected Salvadoran service members had appropriate clearances to attend specific training events and conferences, and coordinated with the travel office to book travel for these events. Arends also helped plan future New Hampshire National Guard partnership events in both El Salvador and New Hampshire.</p>
<p>Capt. Raymond R. Youngs, the New Hampshire SPP director, said the partners collaborate to execute more than 15 missions each year. Efforts include knowledge exchange about practices and techniques in areas such as logistics, medicine, vertical rescue maneuvers and enlisted leader development.</p>
<p>"This is a great opportunity for a National Guardsman to work outside their state with the active duty in a joint environment," Youngs said.</p>
<p>Through initiatives such as the SPP, the U.S. also builds and maintains strong relationships with other nations, ensuring mutual peace and prosperity.</p>
<p>"The biggest project that I directly helped to accomplish was given to us on a Friday afternoon, with less than a week to execute after receiving official authorization to proceed," Arends said. "The almost impossible task: Send 67 Salvadoran ROTC cadets to a month-long training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After what seemed like an impossible six days of negotiating, vetting, expediting the cadets' visas and coordinating transportation to and from the course, we managed to successfully send 65 cadets."</p>
<p>Arends said that stepping outside her traditional role within the command post gave her perspective she would not otherwise have gained. Working in a joint environment, she said she witnessed a diverse group of organizations working toward shared objectives.</p>
<span>"As long as you have a supportive team and members who are willing to come together despite differences in branches, rank, and even languages, whatever tasks are presented can be accomplished," Arends said. "It was truly impressive to see such collaborations happening within the U.S. Embassy that directly supported the local government as well as helped to further train and support the U.S. government and the New Hampshire National Guard."</span><br />
</div>

    </div>
    </main>
</body>
</html>