European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 01, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                . Air Force maj. John Wadsworth teaches English to cadets at the Spanish air Force Academy in san Javier. Assignment spa n . Officers on duty at Spanish air Force Academy Story and photos by Kenneth filera a  Furco Captain Parks his Spanish Jet in Iron of the con Iol  on Torrejon a s flight inc of to Cav to tvs Jet a Spanish Soldier looks Rubio i j Al Paia s attire a Llight Sivit with american Caplam s bars As Well As the Spanish Ait Force insignia on front of the suit an a Runcan hag decorates his sleeve pal s in i i in que to and another us air f , John Wadsworth i i he Spanish air Force Academy in san Javier under the military c a � Pic ram Between Iho United stair1 a i Spain pain is an instructor p lot or  is chief of la a adm i a Jim rfcs depart mar i it Subi i  .1.  . J irom one cwt to another a d a it s a Czirr crier Cal Sel of Rule Complete ei.ll"", n language " san a Rivici s Meiji am resembles in  a i Force Arlin s four year program students follow an academic program  or they Don t graduate with a  a l  raining 10 completed a san Javier located on Spain o own Eastorn coast at Iho Spir ,1, Academy officers Are trained in their specially at the  Academy the graduates go on to technical school. Pala said ii you re going to be a Pilot you graduate with your wings Al the Spanish Academy added the 31-year old Captain who spent 3vz years Al the u a Academy in Colorado Springs colo., As an Insixi Clor Pilot and Spanish teacher. In Spain he leaches third year students the elementary phase of flight training the basics of flying acrobatics and formation flying. Pala is the first officer to ill the instructor Pilot Obat the Spanish Academy. He helped create the position when the Spanish expressed interest in the Exchange a few years ago. When everything was done. I was the most qualified person Lor the Job. And it was time Lor Rio Noldte so i got  wads Vorih on the other hand volunteered Lor lhe0b As language instructor. He teaches English to approximately 400 cadets at the Academy. The Slot for an Exchange English teacher opened in the 1960s. When he applied for the Job there were a few Hundred others who were just As qualified. A Board reviews the application package which includes a resume family photo Wile s biography and other documents. From thai information. The Board members make a selection Wadsworth said. . Air Force capt Antonio Pala watches in Dot. Rafael Haro Complete paperwork before a training Light. Families of the instructors arc scrutinized along with the instructor since the assignment somewhat isolates them from the american Way of life. The Academy is about 300 Miles from Torrejon a. The nearest base with . Military services and activities. Knowing Spanish is a must. Being out of the mainstream of american events can be difficult to handle some hings Are  said Wadsworth. A 21-year Veteran of the air Force. There is no civilian base personnel office finance office or other administrative  Pala added. Sometimes we have to Load up the family and drive to Torrejon just for a medical  Wadsworth is not especially fond of driving to Torrejon every live weeks on a commissary raid but the major who s spent much of his career As an instructor enjoys the Job satisfaction. He and three civilian instructors schedule classes design curricula and write exams. While Pala Speaks mainly Spanish at the Academy Wadsworth whose wife Miriam is irom Honduras does t have to speak Lluent Spanish. And the students would rather speak English anyway he added. But now that i speak enough Spanish i have to catch Mysell. Sometimes it s easier to just give them the Spanish equivalent of an English word that s hard to  it took Pala some Lime to learn the Pilot jargon in Spanish. Even though i m native Spanish speaking there Are certain words pilots use that sometimes you ask yourself How would i define this How would i Loach the word Hare " said Pala who was born in Havana. He also had to learn the technical language. When you get into the manual of the aircraft and Slart talking All technical knowledge it s slightly different. But it s really helped me improve my Spanish he said. Education is a problem Lor Wadsworth and his family. There Are no american schools Al san Javier. Ii the children Aren t bilingual there can be problems he said. When my son Michael first started going to a Nursery he played by himself. He did l object to going and alter a while he was speaking Spanish like a  he said his daughters Heather 14, and Jennifer 13, Are not Lluent in Spanish. Wadsworth is concerned that when his children go Back to american schools they May be behind the other students academically. Alter work he tutors them helping with the Calvert correspondence course a course that the defense department uses Lor family members in isolated areas. But Overall the assignment oilers the officers something the average server remember does t get tha experience of working hand in hand with a foreign country s armed forces in their environment. Al an assignment like this you re representing the air Force America said Pala. When they talk about you. They Call you the americanos everything we and Bur far lilies do reflects directly on the . Air Koi co. We re under he spotlight most of he time and we Are representing America to added. It s important what we leave  sometimes it s a few strained necks. Sgt. Kenneth Fidler is with the 401st tac fighter Wing Public a fairs office at Torie Jonah. Spain. Monday May 1, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 13