This is the 19th year that Norwich University has received support from the Olmsted Foundation to travel abroad. Since 2005, about 100 students have benefited from this grant and have traveled to Kyrgystan, Tanzania, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Croatia, Senegal, El Salvador, Chile, Turkey, Slovenia, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina, Israel and the Balkans.
This grant supports Norwich students who are on a commissioning track as active-duty officers in the U.S. armed forces to travel abroad in the late spring/summer at no charge to speak to the people and visit the places that comprise a relevant international conflict. Study abroad promotes Norwich’s mission of educating future officers in cultural agility and global perspective and understanding. The selected cadets plan everything about the trip — booking flights, plotting itineraries and coordinating meals in the country they are visiting.
By experiencing a new culture and analyzing the NATO from diverse viewpoints, students gained firsthand experience to prepare for future military careers.
“The Olmsted Foundation is proud to sponsor these broadening opportunities for cadets at Norwich,” said Olmsted Foundation Executive Vice President Mark Elfendahl, a retired U.S. Army colonel. “The foreign exposure they receive will make them better officers and leaders in their respective services, and Norwich does such a terrific job planning and executing these trips.”
As they move into the second week of their trip, we’ve rounded up reflections from their first week on the ground.
May 2, 2023 | Day Zero - CDT Chatterton
Each day of our expedition to Georgia, one cadet will share the trip from their perspective. The first cadet to go is one of our communications officers - CDT Chatterton.
“The day began early. Although our first hard time was not until 1130, preparation started far earlier. My first alarm went off at 0800, however being a high-speed cadet, I continually snoozed my alarm and did not fully get up until around 0830. After quickly double checking my gear, I quickly took a shower and got dressed. My teammate Zoha and I then drove down to the gas station to grab some food. We both got mozzarella sticks. I ate all of mine and most of hers (my bad). By this point it was 1030. Time was ticking, heading back to South [Barracks], we met up with Koa and Jasmine in the hallway loading up their equipment and testing out the photography equipment. I then quickly grabbed my bags and we all headed down to the lobby together. The time now was approximately 1115. All team members were now accounted for except Walker and Lopez (Lopez would be meeting us in NYC). 1120 first signs of Walker, pushing a big cart in the elevator, hastily attempting to move his extra stuff into the storage room. The time is now 1125, our time hack was to be at Jackman [Hall] at no later than 1130. The decision is made for the rest of the team to begin moving towards Jackman, and I will stay behind with Walker to help him finish moving. Hastily, we grab the final cartload of gear. Of course, the cart is too broad to fit through the doorway, (typical Norwich) but working together we were able to muscle the cart through the doorway and into the storage room.”
Read the conclusion over on Instagram @nupeaceandwar (link above).
May 3, 2023 | Day One - CDT Mann
“On day 2 we started out on a plane to Istanbul. This flight was insanely long, but luckily our plane was equipped with screens so that we could watch movies, play games, or event watch the flight as it was happening. This made the time go by faster. A couple hours into our flight, the flight attendants came by with refreshments and a meal. We all were given the choice of either Cod or pasta, unfortunately for me my flight attendant ran out of pasta so I was stuck with the fish. I ended up just eating the sides and giving them back the fish. We all pretty much napped on the way, but when the flight attendants came by with breakfast we all were wide awake. They gave us eggs with tomatoes, with a side of fruit and cheese.”
Read the conclusion over on Instagram (link above).
May 4, 2023 | Day Two - Communication’s Team
After an early morning landing and a bit of exploring around the Georgian capital of Tiblisi, the team jumped right into their first meetings of the trip.
“This afternoon our team participated in our first organized meeting with Professor Giorgi Meladze of Ilia State University. The team discussed a wide range of topics from the role of law enforcement in Georgian society, to educational disparities. Thank you Professor Meladze for the lively discussion this afternoon.”
May 5, 2023 | Day Three - Communication’s Team
“Yesterday was a very busy day for our Olmsted team. The morning began with a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where we had the opportunity to meet with the deputy minister. We then had a very insightful and productive discussion about the frozen conflicts in South Ossetia, and Abkhazia, and about Georgian Security interests.
After this meeting we met with a public affairs officer of the European Union Monitoring Mission to Georgia, where we discussed the EUMM on going efforts to monitor the situation in the occupied territories, and to ensure compliance with the 6 point agreement. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos during this event.
The day ended with a visit to the Jumuh Mosque, the largest Mosque in Tbilisi, where we had the opportunity to sit down and meet the Mosques Sunni Imam. After a very insightful discussion about the history of Islam in the caucuses, particularly during the Soviet era, we had the opportunity to tour the Mosque. One of the few Mosques in the world where Sunni and Shia sects pray side by side in the same facility. Overall the Mosque felt very welcoming, and we are very thankful to the generous it’s shown to us there.”
May 6, 2023 | Day Four - Communication’s Team
“This morning our team visited the Yezidi temple. After a brief tour of the sanctuary we had the opportunity to discuss the Yezidi faith, customs and history with the local Sheikh. The discussion was very eye opening not only the historical but contemporary persecution faced by the Yezidi community in many regions of world. The Sheikh ended by reminding our team of the moral responsibility Military Officers and those in positions of authority have to protect the dignity and rights of minorities. We are all very grateful for the warm reception we received and feel that although we came in as stranger we left as friends.”
“This Afternoon our team had to split up to effectively accomplish the mission. The whole team initially traveled a Georgian Military Base to participate in an out reach program which seeks to train Georgian youth in basic survival that could save their lives if war ever returned to the nation. The existence of such a program truly puts into perspective the security reality that all Georgians are forced to live with on a daily basis. The interactions that our Cadets had with there Georgian peers this afternoon were vital in increasing and was something that cannot be effectively taught in a classroom.
Due to time constraints about half of our team had to depart the military training facility early an return to Tbilisi for another meeting. Although getting to the meet went less than smoothly, valuable lessons were learned about the importance of the planning process in accomplishing the mission. When our team finally did arrive at Building F of Ilia State University, we were able to engage in a very insightful discussion with Dr. Nodia, one the leading political scientists in Georgia, about the state of Georgian democracy. Dr. Nodia also provided some unique and value insight into how his youth and education in the USSR, has shaped the way he views the democracy. Dr. Nodia ended by reminding the team to never take the freedoms we enjoy in the United States for granted and the importance of continually struggling to maintain our democratic institutions.”
May 7, 2023 | Day Five - CDT Coyne
“Yesterday was day full of cultural immersion. Before landing in Georgia we knew we would be staying in a hotel and had read online reviews but had no idea exactly what to expect. Our team was incredibly lucky, Zura the owner of the hotel has been a fantastic ambassador for his nation treating us not just as guests but as adopted family. He has been extremely gracious in providing our team with breakfast each morning and allowing us to use his facilities to hold our team meeting. Yesterday morning he surprised our team with homemade wine from his own personal vineyard. Thank you Zura for your generosity and hospitality.
After the our delicious breakfast our team was picked up by Tamar and David of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and traveled to the ancient Georgian Capital of Mtskheta. After a delicious traditional Georgian meal, we traveled to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, and were given a fantastic tour by Nani. As both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and as an active Cathedral Svetitskhoveli not only provided the team with glace Georgian history, but into contemporary Georgian culture and society. While we were touring the site we saw both medieval frescos as well as a modern Georgian Wedding and baptism ceremony.
After Svetitskhoveli we traveled a short distance to Jvari Monastery overlooking the ancient capital. One of the oldest Monasteries in the world, Jvari provided us with both incredible views and was an excellent example of early Georgian architecture. Thank you Nani for the informative and engaging tour.”
CDT Coyne recaps our very exciting and insightful day with the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.