U.S. Army Africa, ROTC cadets reap benefits of cultural, language program

By Rich Bartell, U.S. Army Africa Public AffairsAugust 8, 2014

U.S. Army Africa, ROTC cadets reap benefits of cultural, language program
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 11 ROTC cadets assigned to temporary duty with U.S. Army Africa, their summer vacation exceeded all their expectations and previous job experiences. "With USARAF's execution of CULP, cadets worked side-by-side with Africans, trained with Italians, di... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Africa, ROTC cadets reap benefits of cultural, language program
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 11 ROTC cadets assigned to temporary duty with U.S. Army Africa, their summer vacation exceeded all their expectations and previous job experiences. "With USARAF's execution of CULP, cadets worked side-by-side with Africans, trained with Italians, di... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Africa, ROTC cadets reap benefits of cultural, language program
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 11 ROTC cadets assigned to temporary duty with U.S. Army Africa, their summer vacation exceeded all their expectations and previous job experiences. "With USARAF's execution of CULP, cadets worked side-by-side with Africans, trained with Italians, di... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Africa, ROTC cadets reap benefits of cultural, language program
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 11 ROTC cadets assigned to temporary duty with U.S. Army Africa, their summer vacation exceeded all their expectations and previous job experiences. "With USARAF's execution of CULP, cadets worked side-by-side with Africans, trained with Italians, di... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Africa, ROTC cadets reap benefits of cultural, language program
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 11 ROTC cadets assigned to temporary duty with U.S. Army Africa, their summer vacation exceeded all their expectations and previous job experiences. "With USARAF's execution of CULP, cadets worked side-by-side with Africans, trained with Italians, di... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Africa, ROTC cadets reap benefits of cultural, language program
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 11 ROTC cadets assigned to temporary duty with U.S. Army Africa, their summer vacation exceeded all their expectations and previous job experiences. "With USARAF's execution of CULP, cadets worked side-by-side with Africans, trained with Italians, di... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

For 11 ROTC cadets assigned to temporary duty with U.S. Army Africa, their summer vacation exceeded all their expectations and previous job experiences.

While participating in the U.S. Army Cadet Command's Culture and Language Program known as CULP; the cadets completed a variety of missions in Africa and Europe over a two-month period.

According to Maj. Chris Sturm, cadets who were assigned to USARAF took part in a unique version of the CULP. Sturm coordinates CULP for USARAF as the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's International Army Programs liaison. He explains how the program works.

"CULP at USARAF is unique," said Sturm. "We brought in a CULP team and shaped the program to send several teams on targeted missions that benefited USARAF objectives."

In most other locations, the program is three weeks in duration and normally focuses on a language program. Nine non-USARAF-led CULP missions are ongoing in African countries this summer.

"The typical template for a CULP mission is to deploy eight to 10 cadets plus two cadre from Fort Knox for three weeks directly into a partner nation to take part in a single mission," Sturm said.

Cadets assigned to USARAF racked up several successful missions in Morocco, Comoros, France and four different locations in Italy.

"With USARAF's execution of CULP, cadets worked side-by-side with Africans, trained with Italians, discussed effects of the Arab Spring over lunch in the home of a Moroccan family, or took stock of European and American approaches to Africa scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from a range institutions and European Union member states," Sturm explained.

In Paris, two cadets represented USARAF at an event for the European Union's Institute for Security Studies.

Cadet Thomas E. Sims, a 20-year-old junior from Washington University, in St. Louis, Mo., attended the Paris ISS workshop. He said that his CULP experience is unlike any summer job.

"I've not ever had a summer job that sent me to Africa to help in language training, then to Italy to train with the Italian Army and then to Paris as part of a international multilateral conference," Sims said. "This has given me exposure to events, people and places that many of my contemporaries have not had."

For Cadet Mary Kate Venhuizen, a 20-year-old junior at Texas Christian University, training with Italian Army cadets was one the highlights of the USARAF assignment.

"Training with Italian cadets will be a life-long memory for me," Venhuizen said. "At the Italian Army Infantry School, we rappelled, fast-roped and zip-lined with our Italian contemporaries. It was a great team-building experience."

USARAF assigned cadets trained with the Italian Army in several locations throughout northern Italy.

Interestingly, one of the ROTC cadets was born and raised in Kenya.

Cadet Patrick K. Njeru, a 28-year-old junior at Ohio State University, speaks Swahili and a few other African tribal languages. He said the CULP program provides many benefits.

"The CULP internship with USARAF is a huge benefit to both the Army and cadets," Njeru said. "By using cadets to carry out missions, the Army gives us a chance to develop our skills in relation to our up-coming careers. The relationships that we made with cadets and junior officers from other armed forces will be beneficial later in our careers, particularly when we carry out missions with them."

Asked where he would like to work after he receives his commission, Njeru replied, "I would like to work for U.S. Army Africa."

For Cadet Ryan M. Hayes, 20, also a junior at Ohio State University, teaching English language skills to members of the Comoros Army.

"Comoros is a small nation, made up of several islands between the African continent and Madagascar," Hayes said. "What I learned in Comoros cannot be replicated in an ROTC classroom. The communications skills, teaching and true leadership experience I received there was, and will be, a memory of a lifetime," Hayes said. "After three weeks of dealing with the language barrier, the Comorian soldiers I worked with wrote an entire operations order in English."

Working alongside U.S. Army noncommissioned officers deeply affected Hayes.

"I've also learned that NCOs are the backbone of the U.S. Army. As a junior officer, I will learn as much as I can from them and respect their vast knowledge," Hayes said.

Cadet William McCabe, 23, is a junior at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania. As a former enlisted tank operator, his perspective of CULP was influenced by some of his previous experiences.

"I had the opportunity to shadow an officer with the 173rd Airborne Combat Team," McCabe said. "There is a tremendous amount of desk work that officers have to deal with and I didn't necessarily see that when I was an enlisted Soldier. This program shows me that there is a lot more to the Army than just the combat arms branches. I also had the opportunity to work with people from different backgrounds and religions. Some of my previously held beliefs have changed because of this experience."

Sturm sums up the benefits of the USARAF's approach to CULP.

"Having a dedicated CULP team reside at USARAF headquarters allows maximum flexibility and the ability to execute multiple engagements," Sturm said. "It further allows the command to strategically supplement these CULP teams with USARAF personnel. There is very little cost to USARAF in imbedding their personnel on these missions.

"CULP provides ready resources, funding, and flexibility where the command has found a way to harness for maximum benefit. The USARAF model for leveraging CULP is unique and not being executed outside of the command.

Sturm concluded, "and the best part of the CULP program is that it is a well resourced vehicle that allows this access not only to the cadets, but USARAF staff and other key U.S. personnel."

Related Links:

US Army Africa