Notes from the Field
Partnership Seminar German and American Reserve Officers Association
On September 13 to 15, 2023, Norwich University Center for Global Resilience and Security (CGRS) Co-Director, Dr. Kahwa Douoguih and two students jointly represented Norwich University and the Peace & War Center at the 2024 VdRBw-ROA-Partnership Seminar held at the Bundeswehr Medical Academy in Munich, Germany. The focus of the seminar was “NATO at the Crossroads? Political, Military, and Societal Challenges and Opportunities.”
Below represents each students’ report out from this event.
CDT Tori Poreda, Army ROTC
Tori Poreda is a senior Mechanical Engineering student at Norwich University pursuing minors in Mathematics and Leadership. She is contracted with the US Army with a year-and-a-half scholarship on track to be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in May 2025 upon graduation. She actively holds several leadership positions within the Corps of Cadets, Army ROTC, and other extracurricular activities such as her employment as a writing coach with Norwich University’s Center for Writing.
Reflections:
The 2024 Partnership Seminar for Reserve Officers of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States and the German Armed Forces Reservists Association was an enhancing experience that allowed me to strengthen my intercultural intelligence upon my first trip to Europe. I met with various US Army and German Reserve Officers to discuss political, military, and societal challenges and opportunities involved with NATO. Over the short trip to Wetzlar, Germany, many intellectual conversations and valuable discussions were kept daily between each seminar block. In addition to listening to the seminars briefed by NATO leaders, preliminary research, social media updates, self-reflections, and presentations were conducted. Self-reflections from each seminar highlighted key takeaways that I found important to learn and implement as I approach commissioning. Overall, this opportunity allowed me to gain an interest in war studies, developed my professionalism cross-culturally, and instilled confidence in my adaptable leadership abilities. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and look forward to enlightening others with the valuable information and lessons I have learned.
CDT Matthew Kuchar, Army ROTC
My name is Matthew Kuchar. I am a 3rd year cadet at Norwich University and a contracted cadet in the Army ROTC, Pioneer Battalion. I am a criminology major with a double minor in psychology and leadership, as well as part of the Norwich Rugby Team (NURFC). I am set to graduate and commission in the Spring of 2026 and pursuing to branch Armour in the United States Army.
Reflections:
The 2024 Reserve Organization of America and Association of the German Armed Forces Reservists partnership seminar, titled: “NATO at the Crossroads?” was an immensely eye-opening experience that was nothing short of informative, professional, and educational. The chosen location for the seminar was in Wetzlar, Germany, a beautiful little city in central Germany, about an hour north of Frankfurt. This location had a lot of historic presence as we were provided with a guided tour of a bunker located within the city. There was a total of five seminars spanning across two days with topics including: Nato Strategies, Logistics and Supply of the US Army in Germany, Hybrid Warfare, US Army in Europe, and Gen Z Recruiting and Retention in the Reserves. These seminars laid out and extremely great map of the structure of NATO, the current state of Europe in relation to Russia, and possible issues that need to be solved regarding these relations. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to attend this seminar as it has allowed me to truly see into the present issues in Eastern Europe and provided me with the key information I need to spread the knowledge I have acquired.