Senior Airman Mayra Fomin, an airman with the Idaho National Guard, discovered an unexpected avenue to Serve In Spanish while supporting her community during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Born in Mexico and raised in the United States from the age of four, Fomin grew up fluent in both Spanish and English. This bilingual upbringing became invaluable when she was called upon to assist in the COVID-19 response efforts in Idaho.
Joining the Idaho Air National Guard in 2017, Fomin initially served in a traditional airman role before transitioning to a full-time technician position with the 124th Force Support Squadron. It wasn’t until 2020, three years into her service, that she realized the full potential of her Spanish language skills within the Guard. As the COVID-19 crisis escalated, Gov. Brad Little activated the Idaho National Guard to support health centers and medical facilities across the state. Fomin was among the hundreds of Guardsmen who volunteered to mobilize, and her assignment at Southwest District Health in Caldwell proved to be a unique opportunity to serve in Spanish.
Upon arrival, the staff at Southwest District Health were delighted to find that Fomin was bilingual. Recognizing the significant Spanish-speaking population in Idaho, estimated to be over 80,000, they immediately assigned her to a crucial role. As the only Spanish-speaking service member at the location, Fomin became the point of contact for investigating and monitoring positive COVID-19 cases within the Hispanic community. Her responsibilities included translating vital health information and guidance into Spanish, ensuring this often-underserved population had access to accurate and timely updates.
Fomin expressed her deep satisfaction in being able to serve in Spanish, stating, “It has made me feel so happy to hear the comfort in their voices because they’re able to communicate with someone in their language.” She understood firsthand the challenges faced by the Hispanic community in accessing information and navigating the complexities of the pandemic. “I’m Hispanic and I know for a fact that it’s very difficult for people in my community to understand what’s going on and get the right information out there,” Fomin explained. Her ability to serve in Spanish bridged a critical communication gap, fostering trust and ensuring that Spanish speakers received the support and information they needed.
The experience was particularly rewarding for Fomin, who had initially joined the Guard to serve her community. Despite her full-time technician role, her commander facilitated her volunteer deployment, enabling her to contribute directly to the COVID-19 response. Serving in Spanish allowed her to address concerns and answer questions from Idahoans who might otherwise have struggled to communicate effectively with health officials. This was especially important in alleviating the isolation and anxiety felt by many during the pandemic.
Adding another layer of empathy to her service, Fomin had personally experienced COVID-19. Having undergone quarantine away from her family, she could connect with individuals who tested positive on a personal level. “Having COVID helped me personally relate to the community and it gave me the opportunity to reassure individuals that their symptoms and health would improve,” Fomin shared. Her firsthand experience, combined with her ability to serve in Spanish, made her an invaluable asset in comforting and reassuring members of the Spanish-speaking community during a challenging time.
