Puerto Rico Wing

[colkemp]

This is a random thought that just popped into my head. Now I have been to Puerto Rico (old San Juan) many many times. Now majority of the people there speak spanish and there is actualy a vast amount of people that dont speak any english or they know very little.Does anybody know if the puerto ricans speak spanish on their CAP radios instead of english? Also is there a reg (to me it would be common sense) or rule stating that you must speak english on radios? When I was just doing research on their wing website alot of their stuff is in spanish. I kind of wish that i had visted a squadron when I was their. I will next time!

[BillB]

When I was Southeast Region DCS Cadet Programs, I made several trips to Puerto Rico. When Ramey AFB was open, the cadets from the Squadron there came to the Florida or Southeast Region encampments since many only spoke english (military brats). Puerto Rico runs their encampment in spanish. But the majority of Puerto Ricans have an understanding of english, but their radio net was run in spanish to prevent misunderstanding and errors.

[Capination]

This is a great question. Having participated in 99% of all Puerto Rico CAP SAR/DR exercises in the last five years I can assure you that CAP Comms are in English. Sometimes you will find someone speaking Spanish but it is the exception. I would say that in or around 50% of U.S. Citizens residing in PR speak English. The same percentage applies to CAP members. The website is now in English. If you are visiting Puerto Rico in the future you are more than welcome to contact me through this forum before you arrive and I can make arrangements so that you can participate in any local CAP activity during your visit.

[colkemp]

Thanks  that answered my question greatly. Last year I was in San Juan for a week befor my cruise left and looked around the city old and new. Its a great place. What brought up the question was that i was looking through old pictures. When i was at the airport in san juan (if i remeber this correct ) there is a smaller airport across the water? And i remeber seeing a CAP plane at the end of the runway. I took a pic of that and it never and just found it. Also when i was leaving to go back state side i ran into a group of cadets in there blues going state side also. I decided to give them arun for there money and ask them some questions (they did not know i was a cap major at the time). One of those things that if you ever see those cadets again you will bring that up. (i spoke spanish with them at the airport)

[Luis R. Ramos]

Here we go again! Someone questioning the ability or inability of Puerto Ricans to talk in English.

My father served in the 762nd Anti Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion during WWII. An uncle served in the 766th AAA Gun Battalion. Both units, as well as about ten others served by Puerto Ricans, in the Panama Canal Defense Zone. The histories of both the 762nd AAA and 766th AAA state that "almost all could speak English but with a result that only themselves understand."

As if there is only one way to speak English. We hear that "Great Britain and the United States are separated by a common language."

If you grew up in New York, and go to California, the English is very different. So is within New York City. I visited Tennessee with a friend I made at Indiana University-he was born there. We went to a fast-food place, and after I ordered, the lady at the teller asks me if I wanted some pie. Her pronunciation made it sound as "paa." Of course I did not understand her! So I turned to my friend, a born Tenessean, and told him about that. He said "I could not understand her either!"

I have lived here in the United States since 1984. Although I do still have an accent, many, many times I order something at a grocery store, and I am told "I do not speak Spanish." This irks me as I am talking in English to an English speaker. Yet she would find me with an accent, all of a sudden I am "speaking Spanish."

Not only have I been here speaking English for almost 30 years, I was active CAP for 10 years, participating in around 25 SAREX and missions, communicating via radio. After I left, I was a dispatcher for 5 more years in a volunteer ambulance group! If I could not "speak English," I would not have been allowed to operate radios, I think.

When the United States came into Puerto Rico, public school was done in English, from 1898 to about the 1940's.

So yes, Puerto Ricans do speak English although Spanish is preferred.

Flyer333555

[EMT-83]

The member who actually lives in Puerto Rico says "great question". The guy who left 27 years ago is offended.

Just saying.

[BillB]

Foe years Cadets from Ramey AFB Composite Squadron in PR came to Florida for summer encampments. The reason being PR Wing held their encampments in Spanish. However as part of the SER Inspection Team doing the Unit Insapection I found everyone from PR Wing staff spoke english.

[GroundHawg]

The member who actually lives in Puerto Rico says "great question". The guy who left 27 years ago is offended.

Just saying.

:clap:

[JeffDG]

Also is there a reg (to me it would be common sense) or rule stating that you must speak english on radios?

Why would it be common sense that they would need to speak English?

The radios are about communications.  That said, the language used should be the one that is most likely to communicate the message.  In PR, that may well be Spanish in some instances.  Why on earth would you impose a regulation that could impede effective communications just for the sake of making it in English?

[Luis R. Ramos]

C'mon, guys and gals. Pour it on...

:clap:

Flyer333555

[wuzafuzz]

C'mon, guys and gals. Pour it on...

:clap:

Flyer333555

Pour what on?  Vitriol and intolerance? 

The OP asked an honest question based on his or her experiences.  If that presents a teaching opportunity, seize the moment and educate.  Strive to do so in keeping with our core values, including RESPECT.  I'm sure we all falter from time to time, I have, but let's try not to invite a dog pile on another member. 

[Luis R. Ramos]

I was just being sarcastic.

EMT did not like my response, apparently, and neither did Ground. So I was asking whether others had some more comments regarding my initial response, to "pour it on" me.

Anyway, on my response I did not intend to be disrespectful towards the OP, but it was a knee reaction in what appeared to me NOT to be a honest question based on MY experience with native English speakers.

That is, many times English speakers hear my still slightly accented English and answer "I do not speak Spanish," NEVER mind I never used Spanish with them.

I just felt the question the OP asked was NOT, or should NOT have been a valid assumption. Will try, in the future, to watch my language. I am 56 years old, and it appears age has made me more rash, jumping to conclusions before thinking. It is not an excuse, I know, I should be wiser now...

Thank you for trying to restore civility.

Flyer333555