Article By: Clark Leonard
Accelerations in artificial intelligence and other sciences and technologies must be considered now for cadets to meet the challenges as leaders on the battlefield of 2035, according to the organizers of the University of North Georgia's (UNG) 2019 Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies (ILSS) Symposium.
UNG will co-host the two-day event with the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute to explore educational opportunities that will equip ROTC cadets with the competencies they need to succeed in this complex environment.
"We need to be ahead of the curve in preparing cadets' minds, bodies and leadership skills," said retired Lt. Col. Keith Antonia, associate vice president for military programs at UNG.
Set for Nov. 13-14 on UNG's Dahlonega Campus, the fourth annual event "Soldier-Leaders in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Pre-Commissioning Education" has its sights set on 2035, when this fall's freshman cadets will be field-grade officers (majors and lieutenant colonels).
Six speakers are scheduled for the two-day event, including two retired U.S. generals and an active-duty general from Australia. A new wrinkle is a science fiction writing contest, which retired Col. Sharon Hamilton, director of liaison and military operations at UNG, said fits perfectly with the theme of the symposium.
"Science fiction sparks our imagination to think about challenges from a new perspective," she said.
The winning submission will be read at the symposium.
The symposium review committee will select the most relevant and highest-quality submissions for nine to 12 scholars to present and discuss. Undergraduate submissions will be considered for poster sessions. Authors of selected abstracts will be invited to present as members of panels during the symposium. Extended papers from selected abstracts will be published by the University of North Georgia Press in a peer-reviewed, edited print and digital conference proceedings monograph.
Undergraduates, graduate students and cadets are invited to submit poster proposals (250 words) and short bio (150 words) by Sept. 30 to UNG digital commons.
The event is free to attend for UNG students, faculty and staff; speakers and panelists; and international cadets. The cost is $45 for all others. Registration is required.
Guest speakers for the symposium include: