FORT BLISS, Texas - As the smell of cuisine from countries on opposite sides of the globe wafted through the air, the drums accompanying the dance of a Taiwanese lion began to grow louder. Meanwhile, a young girl stood patiently while a flag was painted on her cheek, a friend tugging at her sleeve to fetch some souvenirs from another nation nearby.
The colorful and delicious scene Thursday night at East Fort Bliss' Centennial Club was experienced by Soldiers, civilians and family members of all ages attending the USASMA International Exposition. More than 600 people sampled the food, culture, language and history of the 38 foreign countries represented in Class 61 at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. Under the theme, "We Are One," senior NCOs from around the world took a break from their studies to showcase their homeland's unique flair.
"It went way beyond our expectations," said Warrant Officer 1st Class Goh Soon Meng, an NCO in the Singapore army who holds a rank equivalent to a U.S. sergeant major. "The students created tremendous presentations that were, together, a great achievement."
USASMA's international students, who are among the highest-ranking enlisted soldiers in their home country's armed forces, study U.S. military tactics and doctrine alongside their American counterparts in USASMA's 10-month Sergeants Major Course. In addition, international students and their family members also take part in a year-long series that explores the history, government, culture and traditions of the United States.
"The expo was a great opportunity for our international students to share with the larger Fort Bliss and El Paso communities all about where they came from," said Michael Huffman, director of the International Military Student Office at USASMA. "But, we also want to encourage community members to, in return, share about American customs and culture."
USASMA's international student sponsorship program is the cornerstone of the academy's efforts to teach the American cultural experience. Sponsors in the local community invite international students to join their families for quintessentially American special occasions, like Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, a family camping trip, a baseball game or watching the Super Bowl.
"Sponsors aren't hosts; we're not looking for families for our students to live with," Huffman said. "We're just looking for people in the community that, from time to time, can share typical American cultural experiences that they can't learn from a book or by watching TV. American media may be ubiquitous outside the U.S., but you can only learn what American life is truly like by experiencing it firsthand."
While all Sergeants Major Course students work on projects that delve into the military capabilities, politics and history of each country, the expo provided a rare opportunity to sample in person the culture of each nation.
"Through projects like the expo, all students are able to come to a common understanding by learning each other's culture and way of life," Goh said. "It's a great help to our studies. It may not seem like one night can do so much. But, such experiences ultimately reinforce the theme that, 'We Are One.'"
Applications are currently being accepted from community members interested in serving as a sponsor. For more information, contact USASMA's IMSO office at 915-744-9451 or at <a href="http://usasma.bliss.army.mil">http://usasma.bliss.army.mil</a>.
The U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy's mission is to develop agile and adaptive noncommissioned officers and enlisted Soldiers through professional military educational opportunities that meet the challenges of full-spectrum operations in an era of persistent conflict. Located at Fort Bliss, Texas, the Academy provides courses that have an Armywide focus; every NCO in the Army is educated by USASMA or its products. It is home to the Sergeants Major Course, the Battle Staff NCO Course, Advanced Leader Course Common Core instruction and Structured Self-Development. With SSD, the academy will touch every enlisted Soldier in the Army. The academy is also sought out by other armies throughout the world as the leader in enlisted education - an institution that is moving from a military organization that trains, to an academic institute that educates Soldiers.
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To contact Michael L. Lewis, e-mail <a href="mailto:michael.lewis73@us.army.mil">michael.lewis73@us.army.mil</a>.
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