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Future foreign leaders visit K-StateKansas The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth might seem an unusual place for foreign military officers... A state department military education program is, however, offering future world leaders an opportunity to get better acquainted with the United States--and Kansas, said Lt. Col. Teena M. Barber, public affairs officer for the college, which is based at Fort Leavenworth in northeast Kansas. The current class at the International Military Student Division of the Staff College includes 76 military officers from 68 countries, said Barber, who accompanied class members to an educational session at Kansas State University to learn more about the land-grant university's leadership role in agriculture. Topics for the day included agricultural research at K-State and an overview of programs that focus on water conservation and quality, environmental management, crop management, and genetically engineered crops in the United States and the world. Thomas R. Sedano, Jr., is from the Philippines. Lt. Col. Sedano said that he felt right at home during the session on genetically modified crops such as "yellow" rice that is enhanced with Vitamin A to prevent blindness. His wife, who along with his daughter is accompanying him while he participates in the program, is a biotechnologist. Major Muhammad Aamer Najam, also a member of the current class, is from Pakistan. He and his family arrived in the United States in June. Adjustments to what he calls "the West" have been eased somewhat by the fact that his wife, who is Pakistani, grew up in Scotland. Still, he said, driving on the right side of the road "can seem wrong." Najam, who grew up in a military family, is preparing a program on his country to present to classmates and the public in coming weeks. The educational sessions are part of the security assistance training program, he said. Inviting military officers from other countries to live and learn in the United States during the yearlong program provides an opportunity for them to learn about this country and its people, Barber said. Visiting officers often bring their families, and each is paired with three host families--one from the post, one from the community and one in the Kansas City area, she said. The exchange program is not new; it dates to 1894, but has been particularly vital since the 1940s according to Mike Brettmann, retired U.S. military officer who serves as its field studies program manager. Participation by international students in CGSC is educational, but also cultural, he said. The experience typically helps participants arrive at their own perceptions about the United States. "Twenty-six former participants have become heads of state," Brettmann said. More than 300 international officers who have graduated from the staff college have become ministers, ambassadors or representatives of their government, and more than 300 also have become chiefs of staff for their armed forces. More than 2,000 have achieved the rank of general officer. In addition to class sessions, participants in the security assistance training program also will travel to a Kansas University economics seminar, visit the Mid-America All-Indian Center, Eisenhower Library, State History Museum, Cessna Aviation and Truman Library. A staff excursion to Gettysburg, Pa., and Washington, D.C. also are scheduled, Barber said. The international military student attendance at CGSC is part of the U.S. Security Assistance Program, affiliated with the U.S. State Department. Date: 11/21/07
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