Ulchi Freedom Guardian: Communication is key to ROK-US relationship

by Staff Sgt. Cody H. Ramirez
7th Air Force Public Affairs

8/25/2014 - OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea  -- "Annyeonghaseyo" and "hello."

Each word represents a different way to greet someone -- one in Korean, one in English. This is a just a small example of a major difference between the two languages. Now, imagine not only attempting to greet someone who speaks another language, but trying to discuss elaborate military plans and operations. It is not going to be an easy feat.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jonghwan Kim enables these discussions to take place between U.S. and Republic of Korea Air Force members while filling in as a translator for Ulchi Freedom Guardian Aug. 18 through 29. He works on the U.S. side, translating spoken word and written documents.

"Anytime something needs to be discussed with ROKAF, I jump around and translate between the military members," Kim said. "Anytime there are messages coming down from the exercise scenarios, or script cell, I have to translate it into Korean, so ROK and U.S. are on the same page and have a mirrored understanding of the message."

Kim, who was born and raised in South Korea, and later immigrated to the U.S., said providing translations for UFG came with some challenges.

"The operational Air Force uses a lot of acronyms and the ROKAF [members] have specific words they are used to hearing, so that was the biggest challenge -- military vocabulary and acronyms," he said.

Leading up to the exercise and during its first couple of days, Kim said he was focused on learning the Korean military terms and how to say them properly while abiding by South Korean customs and courtesies.

"The messages have to be very precise, so there is a lot of pressure [on me]," Kim added. "Every time I translate, I have to be very careful to use the right words, so there is no miscommunication between each side."

Although the military-specific vocabulary made the job difficult at first, Kim has experience to help him through the exercise. This is not his first time working as a translator.

In college, Kim took Japanese language classes. Now, he uses that knowledge to his advantage while stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. He often translates for the 374th Medical Group and for cultural events in the area surrounding the base.

"At Yokota, I translate what we are capable of at [the 374 MDG clinic] to local Japanese leaders and Japan Air Self-Defense Force members," Kim said. "Sometimes, I translate for the patients. They tell me where it hurts or what the patient needs."

At Yokota, Kim is with the 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron optometry clinic. He works with patients and assists them in ordering glasses and contact lenses.

Working optometry and translating come with their obvious differences, but Kim said what made this exercise unique was the operations he witnessed.

"This is my first time exposed to the operational aspect of the Air Force," said the eight-year staff sergeant, speaking from his medical background. "I have had a lot of opportunities to see the other side of the Air Force and how it operates, so this is a great experience for me to understand the big picture and what we do."

Republic of Korea Air Force Capt. Yuhwan Park noticed the benefit of having a translator on staff.

"Translators worked as a bridge between Korean and U.S. during this exercise which led to its success," Park said. "Being able to have conversations between [U.S. and Koreans] made it a lot easier to complete the tasks at-hand."

Park also said that translators allowed for clear messages and mission directives during meetings.

Kim is proud of the support he was provided the Air Force during UFG.

"It was really an eye-popping experience for me," Kim said. "Things I had seen on movies before, with computer screens and dozens of people scurrying around a room, I got to see it first-hand finally. It was my first time to be in that kind of control room, so it was a really great experience."

Kim said he recommends Air Force members who know multiple languages take the Defense Language Proficiency Test. Members can qualify, and they will be pulled for military missions, exercises and temporary deployments to utilize their language skills.