Photo By Juan F. Jimenez | An International Military Student breaks through the defense during a soccer game with...... read more read more
FORT LEE, Va. — It was a hot day, but that didn’t stop the energy on the field.
Laughter and competition filled the air as international military students and their U.S. counterparts gathered for a day of sports and camaraderie. Basketballs echoed against the pavement, soccer players called for passes across the field and volleyball teams rallied under the sun. Despite the heat, participants remained engaged, finding connection through shared activity.
More than 100 students representing over 30 countries took part in the International Military Sports Extravaganza, an annual event hosted by the Army Sustainment University’s International Military Student Office. “This is the fifth annual International Sports Extravaganza,” saidCol. Daniel Horn, commandant, Army Sustainment University.
“It’s an opportunity for us to bring our international partners together and play some sports like basketball, soccer and volleyball and build those relationships.”
The event offered participants a chance to connect beyond the classroom. Players encouraged one another across language barriers, forming bonds that extended beyond the games themselves. Between matches, students gathered in small groups, exchanging stories bonding and cheering their teams.
“The International Military Student Office supports more than 100 foreign students at any given time, with numbers fluctuating depending on course schedules,” saidCyndolia Perry, the field Studies program manager, IMSO. “Each year, thousands of international military students train in the United States, building relationships that contribute to long-term partnerships.”
Leaders emphasized the importance of those connections in both training and future operations. “We’re not going to fight alone,” saidCommand Sgt. Maj. Thomas Skelton, the senior enlisted advisor to the commander at Army Sustainment University. “This gives international students the opportunity to see partners they could work with in the future, and it gives our Soldiers a chance to learn about other cultures and potential future environments.”
Skelton also highlighted the role of the program beyond the event itself.
“With every international student, we pair them with an American sponsor,” he said. “That helps them navigate cultural differences, get settled and experience life here. Events like this also help recruit more people to be part of that mission.”
As the day progressed, friendly competition intensified, but the focus remained on teamwork and connection. The Navy claimed the volleyball title, Transportation secured the basketball championship, and IMSO took home the soccer trophy, each earning bragging rights until next year’s event.
Events like the Sports Extravaganza play a key role in fostering teamwork, cultural exchange and mutual understanding among participants.
The IMSO Social Sponsorship Program is continually seeking volunteers to act as sponsors, taking a genuine interest in international military students and assisting them with learning about U.S. culture. IMSO actively recruits sponsors both within the installation and from neighboring communities.
To learn more about the IMSO Social Sponsorship Program or to volunteer, call the Army Sustainment University IMSO at 804-821-7131.
At the end of the day, as the games concluded and participants began to disperse, the impact of the event remained clear.
“The IMSO exists to provide international military students the opportunity to build relationships, understand one another and experience the U.S. way of life,” Perry said. “Events like this strengthen partnerships, foster trust and remind us that we are stronger when we stand together.”
| Date Taken: | 12.31.1969 |
| Date Posted: | 04.20.2026 20:01 |
| Story ID: | 563150 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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