Joint Base San Antonio > News

Flight nurse from Greece comes to civilian’s aid during medical emergency
September 5, 2023 — Capt. Aikaterini Sigala, a Specialized Aviation English student at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, was in the classroom when she heard a loud sound in the hallway. As a flight nurse in the Hellenic Air Force, she instinctively wanted to check the source of the noise. As it turns out, a male maintenance worker fell near the second-floor elevator and suffered a head injury because of an epileptic seizure... MORE

Hellenic Air Force nurse administers first-aid to maintenance worker

Fiesta Flambeau lights up San Antonio sky, as DLIELC students march in annual parade
May 8, 2023 — From the Battle of Flowers to the Texas Cavaliers River Parade, Fiesta events celebrate the rich and diverse history of San Antonio over the course of 10 days each April... MORE

International Military Students and staff prepare to march at the annual Fiesta Flambeau parade in San Antonio, Texas, April 29, 2023.

DLIELC welcomes Vietnamese alumni
May 8, 2023 — More than 50 years ago, three officers from the South Vietnamese Air Force attended the Defense Language Institute English Language Center.Henry Tran, Thu Nguyen, and Phuong Nguyen studied and learned... MORE

Thu Nguyen attended the Defense Language Institute English Language Center over 50 years ago.

U.S. Army Element at DLIELC advances Army’s recruiting efforts
April 11, 2023 — The Defense Language Institute English Language Center, or DLIELC, is a critical training center for members of the United States military and plays a significant role in advancing the U.S. Army’s number one priority – recruiting... MORE

U.S. Army Element Echo Company trainees prepare to attend lunch after their English language courses at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 03, 2023. DLIELC is the largest English language training program in the Department of Defense and is a critical training center for members of the United States military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Agnes Koterba)

Swim routine turns into lifesaving mission for DLIELC student
January 11, 2023 — Korean student, Lieutenant Ha, who recently graduated from the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, tested his skills during an everyday workout routine at the Skylark Aquatic Center in December... MORE

Coast Guard recruits join DLIELC’s Echo Company for English Language Training
September 27, 2022 — The first five Coast Guard recruits to train with the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland are honing their English skills over the next 10-24 weeks alongside the DLIELC’s U.S. Army Echo Company... MORE

Coast Guard recruits train at Defense Language Institute English Language Center
September 13, 2022 — U.S. Coast Guard recruits began instruction at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center as part of the Army's Echo Company at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Aug. 30... MORE

Five international dignitaries added to DLIELC Wall of Fame
May 9, 2022 — The names of five dignitaries were added to the International Wall of Fame in a ceremony at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland April 29... MORE

Honorees of Wall of Fame gather around cake

Why Afghan refugees met 37th Training Wing instructors
April 6, 2022 — The wind whipped sand across her face and a generator hummed in the background as Davina Farrell stepped off the plane. It was October 2021, and Farrell, an English as a Second Language/English as a Foreign Language instructor, and seven of her colleagues, had a mission... MORE

DLIELC instructors pose for group photo at Holloman AFB, NM

DLIELC holds Democratic Republic of Congo promotion ceremony
December 3, 2021 — In a unique and unprecedented ceremony, five military members from the Democratic Republic of Congo were promoted Nov. 2 at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland... MORE

Col Schaefer joins promotees from Democratic Republic of Congo

Defense Language Institute English Language Center recognizes National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 17, 2021 — National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. This month in the United States recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States... MORE

DLIELC welcomes alumnus Hungarian Air Chief
August 2, 2021 — Historically, the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland hosts about 100 international visits every year. These visits welcome high-ranking individuals from all over the world, all in support of the Department of Defense’s mission and security cooperation goals... MORE

Col. Schaefer joins Maj. Gen. Kilian at conference table.

DLIELC mobile training team support to Southeast Asia moves forward
May 26, 2021 — The Defense Language Institute English Language Center re-engaged its support of the Indo-Pacific strategy in early April 2021 by deploying Mobile Training Teams to the Vietnam Ministry of National Defense Center for Student Management and Advanced Officer Training (Unit 871) in Hanoi, and the Royal Thai Military Academies and Language Institutes in Bangkok, Thailand... MORE

DLIELC instructor Phil Reed shown in scenic photo in Hanoi, Vietnam.

DLIELC state-of-the-art labs give international students authentic experience
March 16, 2021 — Three Chadian Air Force personnel are the first Defense Language Institute English Language Center students to take advantage of the newest curriculum at DLIELC. This curriculum, pairing the latest virtual reality and artificial intelligence technology, aims to familiarize international students with English communications during aviation scenarios... MORE

Three Chadian Air Force personnel are the first Defense Language Institute English Language Center students to take advantage of the newest curriculum at DLIELC. This curriculum, pairing the latest virtual reality and artificial intelligence technology, aims to familiarize international students with English communications during aviation scenarios.

Lieutenants at DLIELC first women in Chadian air force to become pilots
December 29, 2020 — A journey begins with a single step, but for two lieutenants from the Republic of Chad air force, that first step was more than 7,100 miles from home... MORE

The Republic of Chad flag is shown on the uniform of one of the first two women in that service to become a pilot. They are attending General English Training at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

DLIELC unveils new Aviation Language Training Center
November 9, 2020 — The Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland held a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new DLI Aviation Language Training Center which houses the Watkins Aviation Language Preparation Room and Sirois Aviation Simulation Lab... MORE

Commander demonstrates new aviation simulator at DLIELC.

DLIELC resumes mobile training teams after COVID-19 pause
October 13, 2020 — On March 19, the Department of State advised U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. In response to the global health advisory, the closing of international borders and the cancellations of international flights, Defense Language Institute English Language Center personnel on outside contiguous United States mobile training teams, or MTTs, repatriated... MORE

The Defense Language Institute English Language Center is a world-renowned institution in the field of English Language Training with a mission is to teach, monitor and conduct the Defense English Language Program while providing a look into American culture.

DLIELC pilots virtual training team program with Puerto Rico
August 4, 2020 — To continue partner nation support across combatant commands and execute the global security cooperation mission amidst a global pandemic, the Defense Language Institute English Language Center piloted a one-week virtual training team program with Puerto Rico July 2020... MORE

The Defense Language Institute English Language Center hosts a group discussion between instructors and cadets during a class conducted over Zoom July, 2020. This Virtual Training Team initiative is in its piloting stage and may prove to provide U.S. partners across the globe a viable hybrid distance learning option.

Air Force’s inaugural ECHO Flight Airmen share their experiences
June 26, 2020 — Ten Airmen were part of the Defense Language Institute English Language Center’s first-ever ECHO Flight beta test, a replica of the U.S. Army ECHO Company program which has been carried out by DLIELC since 1975. ECHO flight’s mission was to provide English-language training and cultural immersion to enable anyone who would like to serve in the Air Force to do so effectively... MORE

U.S. Air Force basic training trainee Alexie Delgado Berrios goes through the Leadership Reaction Course

DLIELC international students receive generosity, support during COVID-19
June 16, 2020 — When Dan Vega, American Members of International Goodwill to Others, or AMIGO, program manager sent out a notice to all AMIGO sponsors for help with providing masks for international students at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, he received several generous responses to help... MORE

Master Sgt. Jeanett Vielman displays one of the handmade masks she donated for the students at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.