The University of North Georgia (UNG) military programs are featured in the March issue of Army Magazine, a publication of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).
The article, "Mining a Different Kind of Gold: University of North Georgia Expanding ROTC Studies," focuses on the university's Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies (ILSS) and the role it has played in the expansion of UNG's military programs to include cyber and security studies and more international programs. The article highlights the success of individual students and recent record-setting accomplishments of the Corps of Cadets as a whole.
"We're very proud to gain national recognition for our university and Corps of Cadets, which produces motivated graduates who are well prepared to lead with character; who are agile and adaptive; who solve problems with innovative solutions; and who will win in a complex world," retired Lt. Col. Keith Antonia, associate vice president for Military Programs at UNG, said of the article. "We have a world-class leadership development program, and our cadets are our credentials."
Antonia and retired Army Col. Billy Wells, UNG's senior vice president for leadership and global engagement, both are quoted in the article. Wells highlighted the successful results in the year since the ILSS was created.
"After a year of mission-based functional realignment, academic performance, cadet internships, study abroad, and selection for nationally competitive scholarships have all set new records, well above the norm for the university as a whole," he said. "Additionally, performance of North Georgia cadets at the Cadet Leaders Course — always outstanding — has set new records with 32 percent of our cadets ranked in the top 15 percent of the nation."
As noted in the article, UNG has produced 51 general and flag officers, and cadet alumni include college presidents, politicians, writers and CEOs. Seventy-five percent of graduating cadets become commissioned officers, and many cadets are members of the Georgia Army National Guard while they attend the university. Additionally, all UNG cadets receive in-state tuition, regardless of whether they are from Georgia.
Rick Maze, editor-in-chief of Army Magazine and director of media operations for AUSA, visited UNG's Dahlonega Campus in December to meet several UNG administrators, tour the campus and attend a briefing about ILSS . Maze also had the opportunity to meet several UNG cadets.
Army Magazine has a paid circulation of more than 51,000, including thousands of active duty Army personnel, National Guard, Reserves, military families, and retired soldiers and more than 12,000 defense industry executives.
Established in 1950 and with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AUSA works to support all aspects of national security while advancing the interests of the U.S. Army and the men and women who serve. AUSA is a private, non-profit educational organization that supports the regular Army, National Guard, Reserve, retired soldiers, government civilians, wounded warriors, veterans, concerned citizens and family members.
UNG is one of only six federally designated senior military colleges in the country and is designated by the Georgia Legislature as The Military College of Georgia. With more than 18,000 students on five campuses, UNG is one of the largest public universities in Georgia.
