CHARLESTON, W.Va. –
Staff Sgt. Carlos Aguilar didn’t know it at the time, but growing up in a multi-lingual household would become valuable in his future military career and provide him with civilian job opportunities.
Aguilar was born in Panama City, Panama, where his father, at the time a member of the West Virginia Army National Guard, had met his mother during a Guard deployment. When Aguilar was two years old, he and his family moved to the United States and settled in the small community of Hansford, in Kanawha County.
Even though his father, brother, and uncles actively served, growing up Aguilar had no thoughts about joining the military himself.
“It’s kind of funny now, but my dad, brother, and several of my uncles are all in the military. I thought I would be the one to break the chain and didn’t want to join,” Aguilar said.
During his junior year of high school however, he realized that college was not an option if he had to pay for it on his own. He enlisted in the West Virginia Air National Guard, which his father had earlier transitioned to, to help him pay for school.
After joining, Aguilar also followed in his father’s footsteps by using his multi-lingual background to assist as an interpreter with the State Partnership Program and the West Virginia National Guard’s Spanish-speaking partner nation Peru.
“Both of my parents previously worked with SPP, so that is how I knew about the opportunity to interpret while I was serving,” Aguilar said. “They asked my mom if she knew anyone else who could assist when needed, and she told them I was available to help, too.”
“The most rewarding part about interpreting is seeing military leaders from around the world working together to make important decisions, as well as the people that I have met along the way,” he said.
Although he works full-time as an Aircrew Flight Equipment Specialist for the 130th Operations Support Squadron, Aguilar doesn’t limit his linguistic skills to just his military service.
In addition to working with the SPP, Aguilar also occasionally works as an interpreter for local court systems throughout the state. He has interpreted for multiple legal cases in Kanawha, Raleigh, Pocahontas and Hancock counties, to name a few.
Family connections led Aguilar to work with the court systems. Interpreting for court cases was one of the first jobs Aguilar’s father did after retiring from the West Virginia Air National Guard as a crew chief, and he told his son how to apply.
“As soon as I turned 18, I knew I could interpret part-time, and I still do today,” Aguilar said. “I like interpreting. It’s nice to go into a situation and know how necessary you are. It’s very rewarding.”
While interpreting is a rewarding experience for him, it has its challenges.
“The very first time interpreting for the SPP was very intense,” he said. “It was a weeklong event, and it was way more challenging than some of the court cases I have interpreted for.”
Regardless, Aguilar is proud to use his language skills to make a difference, both in his military career and in his civilian life.
“All of these experiences have made me proud of my heritage,” he said.
Besides interpreting, Aguilar said one of his favorite moments of serving in the WVANG so far has been going overseas and experiencing new cultures while supporting various missions.
Aguilar is currently attending Bridge Valley Community and Technical College, studying accounting. Once he obtains his degree, he plans on continuing his Guard service and utilizing his language skills to help build stronger multi-national ties with WVNG’s Peruvian partners.