Army ROTC

By Cadet Ezra Silverburg

 During the summer, I had the privilege of taking part in training opportunities provided by both the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and Army ROTC. Global Scholars took me to various historic sites across Europe before I attended Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, and later in the summer, U.S. Army Cadet Troop Leadership Training (CTLT) took me to Grafenwoehr Army Garrison in Germany. These parallel experiences showed me the need to cultivate cultural competence within the framework of modern military leadership.

The Global Scholars trip to Europe gives cadets the opportunity to conduct on-site battlefield tours of the Allied campaign through Normandy, Germany, and the Ardennes. I visited the historic landing sites and drop zones of Operation Overlord, ventured into the dense foliage of the Hurtgenwald, and explored the enduring craters that bore witness to the valor of the 101st Airborne Division in the Ardennes. The soldiers who fought there, many the same age as me, bore the responsibility of spearheading the liberation of Europe from the clutches of Nazism. In this endeavor, they collaborated with a diverse array of allied armies and resistance movements.

These soldiers, whose lives had been predominantly spent in rural America or within the precincts of metropolitan areas, suddenly found themselves serving as liberators in a foreign land. They represented a beacon of hope to the Europeans who had valiantly withstood the oppressive Nazi threat. They were thrust into an environment that demanded not only combat leadership but the art of diplomacy and cultural bridge-building. Thus, history reinforces the necessity for today's military to embody not just the mantle of a warfighter, but also that of an international ambassador for the United States. 

My time at CTLT in Grafenwoehr offered a lesson in the importance of globally-present leadership. I spent most of my time with the 51st Truck Composite Company, learning how our support forces enable our combat arms and NATO allies in training. Within U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF), integration is a mainstay, entwining our forces with the rich history and doctrine of our NATO allies in pursuit of interoperability to deter aggression. Our troops stationed in Europe serve as both a response and deterrent force, poised to act swiftly to any potential conflict that may threaten the continent. The relationships with our partners and allies is essential to success in current competition and any future conflict.

Furthermore, I worked with an engineering unit tasked with the role of instructing allied soldiers in the utilization of American equipment. In this task, junior enlisted and noncommissioned officers assumed the role of instructors, teaching equipment operation to their allied counterparts, while officers taught equipment employment. Overcoming not only the barrier of language, but also bridging disparities in thought processes and training methodologies, these soldiers demonstrated remarkable adaptability and an ability to find common ground in the process of instruction. For those who consistently collaborate with foreign partners, it is the capacity to dynamically learn and collaborate with individuals representing diverse languages, cultures, and doctrines that facilitates efficient training and effective operations.

Being a leader of character transcends borders and extends to encompass all individuals. A shared attribute among many successful leaders, both past and present, is an unwavering dedication to hone cultural competencies and shared ethical values. Values and ethics transcend the individual cultural and linguistic experiences, and serve as the foundation for trust between those who differ. Individual character is the glue that holds together collective effort, especially in a cross-cultural setting.

Leaders of the past also exemplified cultural competence in their capacity to adapt on the fly while working alongside foreign allies. Fortunately, the Army and the Corps have given us the resources and opportunities necessary to sharpen our own cultural competency through a blend of classroom education and experiential learning. As the torchbearers of future leadership, it is our duty to enhance the interoperability and adaptability of our military forces by deepening our comprehension and competency in the diverse array of cultures with which we interact