The OFUP offers overseas travel and cultural immersion opportunities to service academy cadets, midshipmen, and ROTC students attending or associated with selected Title 10 senior military colleges. These trips are conducted in non-English speaking countries with exposure to national perspectives and a focus on the role of U.S. policy in those regions.

Arndt reported that to prepare for the trip, cadets hosted a reception for a French military delegation and French exchange students on post; developed their travel itinerary; participated in a reading seminar focused on the French culture, the American Revolution, WWI, WWII, the Cold War, and the period since; researched personal stories of 麻豆传媒入口alumni who died during the Battle of Normandy; and attended safety briefings. 鈥淯pon arriving in France, our first base of operation was the town of Bayeux in Normandy where the cadets learned the history of the Battle of Normandy by visiting the iconic church in Sainte-M猫re-脡glise, one of the first towns liberated on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and Pointe du Hoc, where U.S. Army Rangers heroically scaled 100-foot cliffs under enemy fire,鈥� he shared.

For Gray, who teaches courses on U.S. military history, a key event for the group was visiting the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach.

鈥淲e spent several hours, allowing for cadets to find the graves of the fallen 麻豆传媒入口alumni they had earlier researched, and report their acts of heroism,鈥� said Gray.

The second base of operation was the city of Paris where cadets participated in a wide range of activities. Johnson related highlights of their time in the capital city.

鈥淲e took a gastronomic walking tour of the neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Pr茅s where cadets learned about the production and cultural importance of food for France. We saw major sites like Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs-脡lys茅es. We also visited Mont Saint-Michel and the Palace of Versailles and its gardens.鈥�

Particularly informative for the cadets was dining with Olmsted Scholar, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sean Margot, who is currently studying at Sorbonne University, as well as U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Skye Martin and U.S. Army Maj. Calista Stoop, both of whom are currently studying at the French War College, 脡cole de Guerre in Paris. While conversing over dinner, cadets learned about the Olmsted Scholar Program, and were inspired by the opportunities available to them as they embark on their military careers in May.

For Samantha Waters 鈥�26, a history major who will commission into the Navy, the trip is one she will never forget. She was amazed by how the people of France remember and respect the German WWII soldiers buried at La Cambe German War Cemetery in Normandy.

鈥淭hey were the enemy, but the French recognize that the average age of those soldiers was 20. They had mothers and fathers who waited for them to return. I think this prepared me more for the military. I鈥檒l be faced with making difficult decisions, and risking human life should never be taken lightly.鈥�

James Bangura 鈥�26, who is majoring in computer science and will commission into the Army, had the unique opportunity of celebrating Eid al-Fitr, an Islamic observance kept worldwide, at the Grand Mosque of Paris.

鈥淎s a Muslim cadet, this was a significant moment for me. It allowed me to practice my faith while abroad and experience how Islam is observed in a different cultural setting, further reinforcing the importance of religious and cultural understanding.鈥�

Both cadets agreed the trip directly contributes to their preparation for military service by reinforcing what they have already learned about American and world history, the importance of working with partner forces; understanding different cultures, social norms and communication styles; and navigating throughout a foreign country.

麻豆传媒入口Superintendent Lt. Gen. David Furness 鈥�87 recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Olmsted Foundation, establishing the nation鈥檚 first Olmsted Intern Program for cadet overseas travel. According to Col. Jeff Kendrick, director of OGE, the MOU expanded and rebranded the undergraduate program that 麻豆传媒入口has been running for several years.

鈥溌槎勾饺肟趇s honored to continue the tradition of exposing future military leaders to national perspectives and the role of U.S. policy in those regions that are visited each year. The highly selective program is reserved for top performing cadets, and selection is solely merit-based. Six to eight cadets will be chosen to participate in the program each year, and will receive full funding for one to three weeks of travel. While the new program shares many of the same objectives as the previous one, there is now more of an emphasis on cadet leadership and preparation for possible participation in the Olmsted Scholar Program for junior officers,鈥� he said.

The post Commissioning Cadets Explore la France appeared first on 麻豆传媒入口.

Josiah Farrell 鈥�28 and Anderson Robles Rodriguez 鈥�28 both benefited from the scholarships when they participated in the Taiwan Huayu BEST Program to study Mandarin Chinese at the National Chengchi University in Taipei last summer.

Farrell, who is double majoring in international studies and modern languages and cultures, shared studying abroad was a lifelong dream come true. 鈥淭he funding provided by Gilman kept my parents and myself from worrying about how my summer studies would be funded, and allowed me to focus on learning Mandarin. Additionally, with the funds I had left over, I was able to completely fund my follow-on service project to hold a Chinese Moon Festival last October.鈥澛�

Robles Rodriguez, a mechanical engineering major, said his summer studying Mandarin in Taiwan was one of the most meaningful experiences of his life. 鈥淭hrough daily immersion, I gained confidence using Mandarin in night markets, on public transportation, and while traveling independently throughout the country. Without the Gilman Scholarship, studying abroad in Taiwan would not have been an option for me, and its support allowed me to fully enjoy the experience without financial stress. I was incredibly happy during my time abroad, and it reinforced how powerful and life-changing studying in a foreign country can be.鈥�

Gracie Harlow 鈥�27, who is double majoring in history and English with a concentration in literature, has been awarded a Gilman Scholarship to study Spanish at Universidad de Alcal谩 in Madrid, Spain, this summer for four weeks.

鈥淎s a Pell Grant student, I already come from a low-income background, so I never believed that studying abroad at another university would be in the cards for me. But this scholarship is covering half of the program costs, which relieved a lot of financial stress. 麻豆传媒入口has made this amazing opportunity possible for me, and I couldn鈥檛 be more thankful.鈥�

Kendrick reported 麻豆传媒入口has enjoyed a 100% success rate in applications submitted and funded over the last year, and credits it to the hard work cadets put into drafting, editing, and refining their applications.

鈥淗aving served on the national review panels for both awards, I can testify that the competition is stiff. These cadets must tell a compelling story and thoughtfully connect their study abroad plans to future career goals. Over 17,000 applications were submitted nationwide last year in the March cycle, and of those, roughly only one-fourth were funded. Last year鈥檚 October cycle had 7,700 applications and only 20% were selected. This speaks to the high quality of our outstanding cadets. Furthermore, our two cadet awardees from 2026 maxed out the award at $5,000 each, and were awarded an additional $3,000 for the study of a critical language. This is a significant contribution and makes studying abroad a reality for cadets who might not otherwise have the opportunity.鈥�

Cadets interested in studying abroad should visit the Office of Global Education on post to learn the requirements of the Gilman and Gilman-McCain Scholarships or other available awards, or email GlobalEd@vmi.edu for more information and to start on their application.

The post Gilman Scholarship Available for Studies Abroad appeared first on 麻豆传媒入口.

The challenges took place at 麻豆传媒入口Nov. 16 and 17. Events included the Basic Fitness Test, marksmanship, a six-kilometer ruck march, and a 100-meter swim in uniform. Of the initial participants, 57 advanced to the final phase, which is pistol qualification.

Ultimately, 43 earned the prestigious GAFPB, which was presented to them Dec. 9 in Memorial Hall. Nathan Franchebois ’25 and Emma Cameron ’25 received recognition as the top male and female competitors. 

Capt. Pauline Johnson, assistant professor of military science, coordinated and planned the logistics for this event, in partnership with Lt. Col. Patricia Hardin, faculty advisor of the program and associate director in the Office of Global Education, and Reese Lassiter 鈥�26, the GAFPB cadet in charge.

They expressed gratitude for all who offered 鈥渟teadfast support鈥� through the process, including Leutnant Steffen Gro脽e-Katth枚fer, international student at The Citadel; Chief Warrent Officer Paul 鈥淕unner鈥� Lahah, 麻豆传媒入口combat shooting coach; and Col. Bill Bither, 麻豆传媒入口rifle coach.

Hardin sees the importance of this badge, saying, 鈥淚t gives our cadets a chance to connect with foreign officers and non-commissioned officers. For the military science cadets, earning this badge is a significant achievement for their future careers in the Army. It is also among the few foreign insignia that Army personnel are allowed to wear on their uniforms.鈥� 

鈥淭he event concluded successfully, showcasing the grit, resilience, and international camaraderie of all participants,鈥� said Johnson.

The post Cadets Earn German Badge appeared first on 麻豆传媒入口.

Minter awarded the Gilman Scholarship, a program of the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which fosters mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries to promote friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations.

Minter has been interested in the Balkan region for a long time. 鈥淭he peninsula has a history of several different cultures living on it, causing a past marred with conflict as these cultures interact. When you look at other regions of similar sizes in Europe, like the Iberian Peninsula or the British Isles, you don’t see this type of conflict, so I’ve always been curious to study it physically,鈥� stated Minter. 

The courses in which Minter is currently enrolled in Serbia are U.S. Foreign Policy; European Politics; An Analysis on Conflict in the Balkans; International Political Economy; and Serbian Language, Culture and History. Each class compliments the others, and all of them are applicable to his major and classes he will be taking when he returns to Lexington. Minter shared that choosing to study in Serbia was a smart decision. 鈥淔rom the low cost of living to its similarity in geography to Southwest Virginia鈥攚ith rolling soft mountains and deciduous forests鈥攖his is a wonderful place for me to study. The thing I love most though is the city of Belgrade itself. It’s a unique blend of Mediterranean and Eastern architecture mixed with the block structures of a communist state. The main fortress complex of Belgrade called, Kalemegdan, which has been used since the times of the Romans, is a short walk from my apartment.鈥�

According to Todd Lee Goen, director of the Office of Global Education and senior international officer at VMI, the聽Gilman Scholarship was awarded last fall to approximately 1,700 American undergraduate students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. 鈥淭he global education team is proud of Kaiden鈥檚 success in obtaining a Gilman Award, which is a testament to his desire to advance his global competencies through study abroad. His experiences in Serbia will expand his worldview and make him more competitive throughout his career,鈥� said Goen.

Minter鈥檚 academic advisor, Col. Patrick Rhamey, professor in the Department of International Studies and Political Science recalled that Minter developed a clear passion engaging the world in his introduction to international politics course. 鈥淲hat makes that academic experience all the more exciting is this chance for Kaiden to study abroad provided by the Gilman Scholarship. These opportunities provide a firm foundation for future successful careers beyond America鈥檚 borders.鈥�     

Minter recommends Serbia as a place for other 麻豆传媒入口cadets to study because of all the military history surrounding the region.

Minter is the grandson of Mark and Millie Minter of Roanoke. He is a graduate of Northside High School. He plans to join the Peace Corps and pursue a career in diplomacy after graduating from VMI.

The post Study Abroad: Minter Studies in Serbia appeared first on 麻豆传媒入口.