JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- With a mission to aid vision, Tech. Sgt. Saul Vazquez Melendez of the 624th Aeromedical Staging Squadron facilitated medical operations in Iquitos, Peru, as an official translator and public health specialist during the first iteration of AMISTAD 2025, a global health engagement directed by U.S. Air Forces Southern and designed to strengthen partnerships through the interoperability of joint medical support, beginning June 2.
For two weeks, American and Peruvian AMISTAD optometry teams relied heavily on Vazquez Melendez’s Spanish translation abilities for medical communications, announcements and mission briefings between AMISTAD leadership and the local hospital.
“My main role was as an interpreter,” said Vazquez Melendez. “I did announcements explaining the optometry workflow and status of operations to patients […] and if they needed me to translate for leadership, then I would go over there.”
Most notably, Vazquez Melendez emceed the AMISTAD 2025 closing ceremony with Loreto Regional Hospital, the Peruvian Air Force, the Ministry of Health of Peru, the U.S. Air Force and Canadian allies. His exceptional accomplishment of conducting the ceremony in English and Spanish was recognized and coined by Brig. Gen. Tara Nolan, AFSOUTH mobilization assistant to the commander. Though awarded at the closing ceremony, his interpreter skills were vital in daily medical operations.
“I was able to use my Spanish language [skills] to help patients,” he said. “Even though some of our providers have some [Spanish] knowledge, sometimes it was difficult [for them] to communicate with patients, so I was there to bridge that gap.”
Creating that language bridge was critical for medical providers to administer eye exams and properly assess patients. During clinic hours, Vazquez Melendez stood ready to translate for providers and staff who collectively saw around 75 patients daily. This was the highlight of his deployment, as he had an active role in changing people’s lives.
Because of AMISTAD 2025, medical teams could bring optometry services to remote communities deep in the jungle and help their residents see the world around them. According to Vazquez Melendez, some patients received prescribed glasses for the first time at the clinic. He recalled one patient who traveled the Amazon River by boat for seven days just to get her eyes checked by the optometry team. Local hospital staff also informed Vazquez Melendez that children receiving glasses could now learn to read because of their corrected eyesight. Clearly, AMISTAD 2025’s optometry medical efforts did more than improve vision; they improved lives.
Vazquez Melendez and other AMISTAD team members also strengthened ties with Peruvian public health authorities who gave insight into how their local public health systems manage infectious diseases and support remote communities across the country.
Vazquez Melendez’s functions as an AMISTAD 2025 translator and public health specialist exemplify the multi-capable potential and competence Reserve Airmen can bring to Air Force joint missions, domestic and abroad. His service facilitated AMISTAD 2025 communications and directly contributed to its overall mission of strengthening regional partnerships, advancing medical readiness and enhancing global interoperability.