UNG cadets Andrew Garner and Ian Priour are the first participants in a military academy exchange in Lithuania, and faculty member Dr. Raluca-Viman Miller is teaching in Romania this semester.
Article By: Agnes Hina
The University of North Georgia (UNG) has added a new program to its military academy exchange program, and two UNG cadets are taking advantage of the opportunity. From Feb. 27 to June 26, the pair of cadets are fully immersed in Lithuanian culture while studying at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania.
This internship will fulfill graduation requirements for strategic and security studies majors and will provide these cadets the opportunity to broaden their understanding of other nations’ worldviews and cultures.
To be able to see from the perspective of other another country is crucial to the development of cadets seeking to commission into the Army, according to Wesley Pirkle, director of global military programs.
"The cadets who participate in these opportunities are able to better understand more intuitively what it looks like to be on the other side of the planet," he said.
I am getting to learn about the world from the point of view of a different country. This helps to shape my worldview in a broader sense, instead of that of the U.S. only.
Cadet Ian Priour
UNG sophomore
Cadet Ian Priour, originally from Round Rock, Texas, and fellow cadet Andrew Garner arrived in Lithuania in late February. The sophomore who is pursuing a degree in strategic and security studies shared that a typical day can start as early as 6:30 a.m. with a trip to the gym and won't end until around 9:00 p.m.
The cadets have their weekday formation at 7:45 a.m. and then go straight to class, which for Priour lasts until 11:30 a.m. Afterward, he will grab lunch and explore all the country has to offer.
In addition to studying abroad, Priour and his peer Garner meet cadets from the European Union and NATO, which Priour said has been his favorite experience thus far. The opportunity allows him to better understand not only the United States' allies, but how to conduct himself in a foreign country.
"I am getting to learn about the world from the point of view of a different country. This helps to shape my worldview in a broader sense, instead of that of the U.S. only," Priour said. "As for the military training side of things, it is great learning to work with NATO Allies. These are countries I may work with throughout my career so learning to understand how to work with Allies early in my career will only benefit me in the long run."
Other UNG cadets on military exchanges this semester include:
Republic of China Military Academy, Taiwan
Fu Hsing Kang College, Taiwan
Nicolae Balcescu Land Forces Academy, Romania
Korea Military Academy
UNG also has a faculty member participating in these military exchanges. Dr. Raluca Viman-Miller, associate professor of political science and international affairs, is teaching this semester at the Land Force Academy (LFA) in Sibiu, Romania. As a visiting professor, she teaches a variety of classes on different topics such as international organizations and collective security issues. Miller teaches students participating in the international semester, which includes 64 international cadets and 100 Romanian cadets.
"This experience so far has been unbelievable. LFA has gone above and beyond to offer me the best accommodations, access to their resources and collaboration with their students and faculty," Viman-Miller said. "It is an opportunity that no one should pass up."
For more on outgoing international cadet programs like military exchanges or internships, UNG students can visit the Global Military Programs website to see what programs are currently being offered and learn information on how to apply.
