First cadet studies in South Korea
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia's (UNG) international cadet programs are providing a variety of opportunities this fall for members of the Corps of Cadets while also welcoming cadets from partner schools.
Leonora Ndow, a junior from Snellville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in criminal justice, is the first UNG cadet to study at Korea Military Academy (KMA) in Seoul, South Korea. Plus, six cadets from Taiwan and an international student from Austria are participating in the Corps of Cadets.
Ndow's semester in South Korea is the next step in a growing partnership after two KMA cadets studied at UNG in the spring. Lt. Gen. Jung Soo Kim, KMA's superintendent, is also visiting UNG from Oct. 4-5.
A cadet on UNG's National Service Leadership Track (NSLT), Ndow took Korean classes previously at UNG. NSLT cadets do not commission but seek employment with the federal government, global commercial entities or nongovernmental organizations upon graduation.
"I want to gain further understanding of the Korean language and become fluent," Ndow said.
Ndow aspires to work for a government agency or the Atlanta Police. This fall, she is taking notes on the leadership approaches KMA takes with its cadets.
"I want to grow my leadership so I can teach more to my fellow cadets when I come back," she said.
Sun Yutong, a junior pursuing a degree in political science, is one of two Taiwanese cadets from the Fu Hsing Kang College of the National Defense University (FHK). She appreciates the friendly nature of students, faculty and staff at UNG and is grateful to learn English and explore American culture alongside FHK classmate Huang Ching-Wen. She has been impressed by UNG's seamless blend of cadets and civilians.
"UNG cadets can find a balance between being a cadet and a college student," she said.
Three Taiwanese cadets from the Republic of China Military Academy (ROCMA) are four-year international students at UNG and participating in the corps; they are junior Li Hung Chang, sophomore Yung-Han Chou and freshman Chen-Chih Yuan. A fourth ROCMA cadet, senior Jeremy Tseng, is studying at UNG for a semester and taking part in the corps.
Arthur Weinwurm, who is from Austria but does not attend a military academy, is pursuing a four-year degree in international affairs at UNG while participating in the corps. Weinwurm, who is in the Ranger Challenge specialty unit, is glad to be at UNG.
"I wanted to incorporate the military into my studies to help me grow as a leader," he said. "The way people talk about the Corps of Cadets, that made me want to come here."
In addition to the exchanges, UNG will send cadets Christopher Hood and Mark Cordovado to the NATO School Oberammergau in Germany for a 10-week internship this fall and plans to send cadets to international conferences in the spring.
"We are grateful we are still able to send cadets abroad," retired Sgt. Maj. Terry Baumann, assistant director of global military programs, said. "We follow State Department and University System of Georgia guidance on COVID-19 safety protocols."
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