Over 100 international officers visit Kansas capital building to learn

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Military officers representing 94 nations met Governor Laura Kelly, learned about the government, and toured the state capital building.

On Thursday, July 18, 122 international military officers visited the Kansas state capital to learn about the Kansas National Guard and its duties, learn about the state legislative process, and the state judiciary system, part of a U.S. Congressionally mandated security cooperation Field Studies Program.

The group took part in a presentation from the Kansas National Guard’s legislative liaison, Lt. Col. Keith Marshall, on its history and current structure.

They then went to the second-floor rotunda to meet Governor Laura Kelly for a picture and hear the governor’s proclamation declaring Thursday as International Officers Day followed by an overview presentation about the Kansas government and a tour of the capitol dome.

The officers also learned about the judicial process by watching a mock trial in the Old Supreme Court Room.

“Our country is 237 times smaller than the U.S.,” said Major Daan Moes of the Royal Netherlands Army. “That means the size of our Army and our defense forces are a lot smaller as well. So, the amount and the skill that things are on are way different. It is a big difference, and it influences a lot of the processes as well. A lot of countries are multi-cultural these days, and we see that presented in our Army as well. So, I think on your diplomatic skills and your cultural skills it brings you a lot.”

The international officers are students of the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth.

The Kansas Public Affairs office said most officers who attended the college became General Officers in their nation’s militaries, top military service members, and joint Chiefs of Staff. Some have moved on to become Ambassadors, Prime Ministers, Presidents, and even Kings, according to the Kansas Public Affairs office.

“I was really excited to come here because I have a commander, a superior from Armenia who had graduated here and he was always telling me about the great opportunity about the great experience that he had here,” said Major Sarhad Abrahamyan of the Armed Forces of Armenia. “After graduating [the college], I would like to be a more educated officer, [and] have more experience. The one thing I would like to take from here is knowledge.”

David Marshall Bornn, Jr., director of the Field Studies Program within Fort Leavenworth’s International Military Student division, says the program’s purpose is to be transparent with the servicemembers of other nations.

“It is always good for the American people to know that when we give money to these countries, we have decided that we need to have strategic partners around the world,” said Bornn Jr. “That when they come here for their schooling, we are taking the time to provide them with a better understanding of what America really is. Not the Hollywood version or maybe the media version that they are seeing over in their countries. So, it is our job to ensure that when they leave here, they will be able to integrate better American forces, [and] American diplomacy, because they have had a good foundation of what America is and what it may not be, the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

International officers have been attending Fort Leavenworth’s Command and General Staff Officer course since 1894, making 2024 the 130th year international officers have taken part in the college. This year also marks the 70th year the officers have traveled to the state capitol to participate in the program.

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