ROTC Students See the World Through Embry-Riddle, Department of Defense Scholarship Program For Mitchell James, spending eight weeks in Jordan, immersed in another language and culture, was life-changing. “I’m looking at a career in the military, so being able to speak Arabic will help me stand out in military and civilian life,” said James, a junior Army ROTC student. “Cultural awareness is also important as an Army officer.” James participated in the Project Global Officer (GO) program, a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative for ROTC cadets that’s meant to improve the critical language skills, regional expertise and intercultural communication skills of future military officers through full-ride scholarships to study abroad. In 2023, a Mandarin Chinese language focus was offered in Taiwan, and an Arabic language focus was offered in Jordan. In summer 2024, Project GO included programs in Taiwan and Morocco. Embry-Riddle is one of just 27 institutions nationally selected to host a Project GO program, according to Dr. Aaron Clevenger, assistant provost and dean of International Programs. “Embry-Riddle’s inclusion demonstrates the university’s commitment to excellence in international education, critical language instruction and the global competency training of our future U.S. military officers,” said Clevenger.
A SUMMER IN TAIWAN
Jason Marsan started Project GO with some Chinese language ability, but the program boosted his skills, as well as his cultural understanding. “We have had some of the country’s best students in the program,” said Dr. Leeann Chen, faculty field coordinator for Project GO Taiwan and professor of Asian Studies in the Department of Global Security and Intelligence Studies. “They are so motivated, and the learning doesn’t stop in the classroom.” Project GO Taiwan, held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, houses students at a hotel near National Kaohsiung Normal University. Local faculty and Embry-Riddle professors lead lessons and trips to local tourist destinations.
A SUMMER IN JORDAN
When Charles Bellett participated in Project GO Jordan, it was his first time traveling out of the country — which he said he’s now planning to do much more often. “It was amazing,” said Bellett. “We lived with host families, which was one of the best parts about it.” The Arabic program is taught by AmidEast faculty in Amman, Jordan, where students stay with local families. On weekends, students visit Petra, the Dead Sea and other cultural sites. AmidEast also offers a course that gives students a deeper look into culture, including the country’s food, religion, history and traditions. Arabic is a challenging language, James said, but being multilingual opens up more career opportunities and bonus pay in the military. Through Project GO, he also had the opportunity to meet ROTC students from around the country. “That was one of the best parts — I made lifelong friends,” said James.
This story was originally written by Melanie Azam with Embry-Riddle’s News Team.
2023-2024 Annual Report | 11
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online