News

On May 19th, 10 members of the Corps of Cadets 2009-2010 leadership embarked on an traveled  to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Qingdao, and Beijing, with a focus on strengthening the language and cultural competency of future military officers.  The program was designed to give the cadets insight into potential geopolitical conflicts in Asia, as well as a greater understanding of the culture, language, and history of China. Cadets commented that the excursion helped them to obtain “a real feel” for China’s major role in the world.

The trip represented the first of what university representatives will become an annual tradition at Texas A&M, an international expedition among cadet leaders to expose future leaders to key regions around the world and to give them a greater understanding of the cultural and historical roots within those regions.  The trips are also designed to provide the cadets with rudimentary language skills, and to encourage critical language study among future military personnel.
Professor of Naval Science Colonel Gerald Smith ’82 said the program had achieved its goal:  “The cadets experienced a life changing event, they have a new found appreciation for China issues as well as a new understanding of the importance of learning about other cultures and foreign languages.”

On their trip, the cadets received private briefings by senior level governmental and military representatives at both the American Institute in Taipei, Taiwan and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.  Current economic trends in Asia, military trends and development, and discussions the long standing tension between China and Taiwan were among a few of the topics discussed during these sessions. Cadet Sam Oswald ’10 stated “This unique experience has provided us as future military officers first hand insight into the value of diplomacy within this region, as the military arm should be used as a last resort.”

In addition to briefings, the cadets were able to interact with Chinese students at Ocean University of China in Qingdao, and at National Taiwan University.  During these meetings, the cadets discussed everything from music to government and censorship. The interactions with students provided the cadets with a very different perspective on many issues facing China.” “We enjoyed the interaction so much we hosted them for dinner that evening, what began as a seemingly insignificant cultural discussion blossomed into lasting friendships, said cadet Cade Taylor of the Aggie Band.  

The cadets also took a hike up the Great Wall and made visits to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the 2008 Olympic Venues. “To have had the opportunity to travel half way around the world with fellow cadets and experience China’s rich culture and interact with its people is something we will never forget,” said Brent Lanier ’10 Corps of Cadets Commander.   “Whether it was singing the Aggie War Hymn in Beijing, eating scorpions in the night market or roaming Tiananmen Square days before the 20th anniversary of the infamous crackdown, there was never a dull moment on this trip,” Cadet Lanier said.  

One of the goals of the excursion was to help cultivate language skills among future officers, and the cadets were able to learn about the origin and development of the Chinese language along the way. The cadets visited the headquarters of Hanban, the Office of Chinese Language International, in Beijing, which helps to support the Confucius Institute at Texas A&M, where they learned about the growth of the Chinese language internationally.  Some of the cadets learned to write Chinese characters and enough conversational mandarin to formally greet others, order meals, and shop at the night markets.

The excursion is part of a project at Texas A&M University focused on engaging Corps of Cadets in critical language study. Selected cadets received a full scholarship for the excursion through a grant provided to Texas A&M University by the Institute for International Education.  The grant, part of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Language and Culture Project, is to provide opportunities for ROTC cadets and midshipmen to study the languages and cultures of world regions critical to U.S. national security and prepare them to respond to the global challenges of the 21st century. The program goals are to create on-campus and overseas programs to enable students in the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets to gain greater exposure to the Chinese and Arabic-speaking worlds, as well as to create courses and other programs to improve language skills. The project is a collaborative effort of the International Programs Office, the Corps of Cadets, the and the Arabic and Asian Languages Office in the College of Liberal Arts.   

Contact: Lacie Karnauch, Institute for Pacific Asia, lkarnauch@ipomail.tamu.edu or 979-845-3099.

Visit to the National Taiwan University

Catch'Em young and Teach'Em Gig'Em

Hong Kong in the rain

Visit to the US Embassy in Beijing

Visit to the Confucius Institute Headquarters

Gig'Em on the Great Wall of China

The Chopsticks experience

A taste of traditional Chinese wedding dress