Article By: Clark Leonard
University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets and leaders traveled abroad this summer for a wide range of professional development opportunities and events. This included multiple visits to international military academy partners, as well as conferences and leadership courses.
Cadets who gained experience abroad this summer included:
Some of the cadet travel was paid for by the U.S. Department of Defense funding for UNG's Institute for Cyber Operations, while the Olmsted Foundation funded the Switzerland trip. The Olmsted Foundation gave a $26,000 grant to UNG for 2022 and has provided more than $140,500 in six years for international experiences for cadets from UNG, Atlanta-area historically black colleges and universities, 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.
Additionally, UNG President Bonita Jacobs; retired Col. Joseph Matthews, UNG commandant of cadets; and retired Lt. Col. Wesley Pirkle, UNG director of global military programs, visited Korea Military Academy.
"UNG's partnerships with international military academies and the financial support we receive provide valuable overseas experience for cadets in multiple countries," retired Sgt. Maj. Terry Baumann, UNG assistant director of global military programs, said. "We are grateful to provide these unforgettable leadership lessons and global perspectives for our cadets."