300th MI Brigade linguists bridge language gap for Beyond the Horizon Guatemala

Sgt. 1st Class Angel Lopez, left, of the 142nd Military Intelligence (MI) 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.

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

BTH 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. 

Army Staff Sergeant Reinaldo Colon-Burgos, 1^st Company, 135^th Aviation Battalion, Missouri National Guard, is a native Spanish speaker functioning as a pay agent in his second BTH deployment.  He spoke highly of the 300^th 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, 141^st MI Battalion, 300^th 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 300^th 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. 1^st Class Angel Lopez, 142^nd MI Battalion, 300^th MI Brigade, Utah National Guard, has been deployed several times, but this BTH 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 BTH 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.” 

BTH 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.  BTH operations will continue through July 14.

Links to more information: 

U.S. Southern Command - Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief 

BTH-Guatemala photos on U.S. Army South Facebook Page