ADAZI MILITARY BASE, Latvia – While many college students across the United States are enjoying traditional spring break festivities, a handful of students from two universities used their spring break to take a trip across the world for a unique learning experience.
Officer cadets from seven North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations, including U.S. cadets from the United States Military Academy and University of North Georgia, converged at Adazi Military Base, Latvia, as part of Latvian International Week for cadets, March 16.
During Latvian International Week, the cadets are experiencing Latvia through tours, academic events and cultural events while tying in their military education with the trip to Adazi Military Base.
Sgt. Maj. Terry Baumann, operations coordinator for the University of North Georgia, said his cadets visited the base to get an idea of how the Latvian land forces operate.
“In the future they may be operating with other NATO forces, and learning at a young level now before they’re actually lieutenants will be beneficial,” Baumann said.
While on base uniformed cadets from the U.S., Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Georgia, Denmark and Latvia toured the explosive ordnance disposal school, tactical air control party school and Joint Terminal Air Controller simulator.
“My cadets here are both international affairs students, language students,” Baumann said. “Being able to utilize their language, especially Russian, [while] working with other nations is important not only for their degree but for their career and to develop themselves.”
After the tour, cadets were brought to a static display featuring vehicles and weapons of Latvian allies and soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
“It’s interesting to see as much as you can see from other armies,” said Lt. Jackie Dalby, a Danish officer and cadet. “I think it’s always going to be beneficial.”
Soldiers explained components and capabilities of Styker Armored Fighting Vehicles and various weapons systems while allowing cadets to have a hands-on experience with their equipment.
Dalby said she enjoyed seeing the various weapons systems and comparing between Latvian and Danish military capabilities.
After lunch at the dining facility the group had an opportunity to participate in a live-fire featuring various Latvian weapons systems.
Leonid Milman, a USMA officer cadet said this experience is about building international relationships and gaining exposure to militaries around the world.
“Having interaction with their culture just widens your horizons and makes you think, ‘When I’m working with allies its not just a random person behind a uniform,’ but it’s an actual person and they do believe in certain things,” Milman added.