JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas —
A visit to the Lackland Shoppette led to a chance encounter with Filipino air traffic controller First Lieutenant Febe Salina Acenas. During this shopping trip, her path crossed that of her cousin, who is now an Air Force squadron commander with the 737th Training Group.
As a recent graduate of the Defense Language Institute English Language Center, Acenas spent two months learning and refining her English skills. While studying here, she learned from phone conversations with her family that she had a cousin in San Antonio.
Despite their time on campus and in the surrounding area, they had never met. Acenas only expected to see him again one day in the Philippines.
But fate brought them together.
“I’m so proud that I met my cousin,” said Acenas. With a mixture of nervousness and excitement, she spent her last weekend before the recovery training with her new-found extended family.
They shared stories of their family connections and recognized that they were bound by blood. Acenas attended his change of command ceremony, witnessing the long-standing Air Force tradition when Lt. Col. Matthew Redaja assumed command of the 319th Training Squadron in June.
“It creates a stronger bond between us,” Acenas said. “The language courses at DLIELC were a rewarding experience, and not just because I was an international military student. It was the brotherhood and sisterhood we all had. It was not a coincidence that I met my cousin here, but it was fate and God’s grace that it happened for a reason. Thank you, DLIELC.”
Acenas always wanted to join the military and found that the DLIELC fostered international friendships and communication. Her fondest memories include not only the connections she made, but also the local brisket and steak she enjoyed and the time she spent with family.
“You (DLIELC) are the link between this good and unforgettable bond with my family and the conversations with my international military student commissioners,” Acenas said.
DLIELC, the 637th Training Group of the 37th Training Wing, builds security cooperation capability through English language instruction and cultural immersion. DLIELC serves more than 100 countries and provides support to more than 30 foreign locations worldwide.
