Olmsted grant gives cadets experience overseas

The University of North Georgia (UNG) has received a $26,000 grant from the Olmsted Foundation for 2022 to support international opportunities for cadets from UNG, three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in Atlanta, and Georgia State University.

These trips, typically one to three weeks in length, take place in non-English-speaking countries for cadets who display outstanding leadership and plan to commission into a combat arms branch in the active-duty Army.

"We're very grateful for the enduring support from the Olmsted Foundation to enable our cadets and those from the Atlanta HBCUs and Georgia State University to develop greater cultural understanding, a critical competence for future military leaders," retired Lt. Col. Keith Antonia, UNG associate vice president of military programs, said.

The funds are generally used to offset travel and international health care costs. The latest trip supported by an Olmsted grant came in fall 2021 when cadets Mark Cordovado and Christopher Hood completed a 10-week internship at the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany.

We recognize that the success of the program at UNG requires predictability in terms of sponsorship. Given how magnificently the university has executed to date, we know that sustained grants are in good hands and will be used well once the opportunity to travel presents itself.

Retired Col. Mark Elfendahl

Executive vice president of the Olmsted Foundation

"We recognize that the success of the program at UNG requires predictability in terms of sponsorship," Elfendahl said. "Given how magnificently the university has executed to date, we know that sustained grants are in good hands and will be used well once the opportunity to travel presents itself."

This is the fourth year of Olmsted funds being available for African American cadets in Atlanta. The first three years, it supported cadets from Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University who were part of ROTC at Georgia State. Now, African American cadets who attend Georgia State are also eligible.

Maj. Darrell Lyles, interim professor of military science at Georgia State, said the Olmsted opportunities will mark the first time going overseas or the first time flying for some of his cadets.

"I love that exposure. It's an education," Lyles said. "It's going to light a fire under them."

UNG plans to send 10 of its cadets and three from either the HBCUs or Georgia State to Nicolae Bălcescu Land Forces Academy in Sibiu, Romania, from April 2-9 for International Cadet Week.

The Olmsted Foundation's latest grant brings its total gifts to UNG to $140,500 over six years, including $25,500 for HBCU cadets. Through the end of 2021, 40 UNG cadets and seven HBCU cadets have been part of the overseas immersion opportunities.