FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (Feb. 17. 2011) - International military participation adds to knowledge at the Command and General Staff College, but can also serve as an output to military professionalism throughout the world, two international officers said.
The countries of Southern Sudan and Lesotho sent military officers to CGSC for the first time this year. The Intermediate Level Education 2011-02 class of 336 students has 48 military officers from 47 countries. Students presented flags from their home countries.
Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., commandant of CGSC and commander of the Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, thanked local sponsors for providing a welcome to the international students and their families.
"By your efforts, our international students are brought into a unique association that is strong in the Leavenworth, Lansing and Kansas City communities," he said.
Caslen also reiterated support for the country of Egypt, which is undergoing a political transition under control of its military. CGSC has trained Egyptian officers since 1955.
"I want to reaffirm my strongest commitment to our Egyptian students ... both past and present," Caslen said. "We at the Combined Arms Center stand by you and salute your tremendous professionalism, that your army hasn't swayed in the immense and excruciating pressures over the course of the last few weeks."
Maj. Ufulle Kenyi, the first officer at CGSC from Southern Sudan, was once part of the Sudan People's Liberation Army. It once served as a separate faction, but now serves as the official army of Southern Sudan.
Voters in Sudan approved separating the country in a referendum in January. If all goes as planned, the U.S. will recognize Southern Sudan as an independent country in July - midway through Kenyi's education at CGSC. He did not yet hang a flag at CGSC.
Kenyi said it was an honor to be the first officer from his country and said his goal was to learn methods other countries use to train military.
"Southern Sudan is a new country and one of the most challenging issues are those of security," he said. "Five years ago, we were not professional soldiers and the challenge now is to professionalize the military. Transformation requires structure from top to bottom."
Maj. Daniel Lichaba, the first officer from the African country of Lesotho, hung his nation's flag for the first time at the Lewis and Clark Center. Lichaba said Lesotho is surrounded entirely by the country of South Africa. It is home to one tribe, the Basotho.
"The biggest problem we are facing now is insurgents," he said. "It's a challenge to link up military defense with governments. Terrorism is a worldwide problem. I think it's worthwhile to learn how to win this fight."
Lichaba also wants to translate his education into supporting better military training in his country.
"You cannot keep peace without having a trained, professional, disciplined army to deal with emerging threats in the world," he said.
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