Fort Bliss, TX –
On Feb. 4, international military students from the Sergeants Major Academy (SGM-A) Class 75, along with their families, embarked on a three-day visit to San Antonio and Austin Texas, as part of the Field Studies Program (FSP). The program is an essential component of the Sergeants Major Academy’s curriculum for international students. It is designed to expose them to U.S. institutions, government processes and cultural heritage. Trips such as this one, serve as an opportunity for students to engage with American history, governance and military partnerships.
While in Austin, Texas, the students and their families received a guided tour of the state capitol building and gained insights into the structure and function of the Texas government. During their visit, the 89th Legislature was in session, allowing students to learn how lawmakers debate and pass policies. They were able to see the stunning architectural detail of the Capitol Dome while looking up from the rotunda floor. At the center of the dome is an eight-foot-wide star, surrounded by capital letters spelling out “T E X A S.” On the ground floor students and their families stopped to view the Medal of Honor Exhibit, which displays information about heroic Texan’s who have gone “Above and Beyond” in service to the nation.
On the third day of the trip, students went to the Defense Language Institute-English Language Center in San Antonio, Texas, were they observed language training classes attended by military personnel from allied nations and military partners. Chief Warrant Officer Tibor Polgár from Hungary, who was a student at the DLI-ELC in February 1999, reflected on coming back saying, “the infrastructure and all the technology that has been brought into the classroom helps to develop all the learners. It is awesome compared to the books and pencils we had back then. The smart boards they have are helpful for both the instructors and the students to learn.” The SGM-A students also received a brief from Lt. Gen. Omar Jones, Commanding General of Installation Management Command (IMCOM) and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Copeland. They discussed IMCOMs four core competencies – Soldier and Family Services, Infrastructure, Readiness and Deployment and Base Operations, concluding with a question-and-answer forum. Responding to a question on how to improve an organization to achieve its goals, Copeland said, “I am a firm believer in getting down to where the Soldiers are, to understand what they need.” He went on to stress the importance of being a connected leader, concluding with “relationships are enduring.”
On the final day of the trip, students and their families explored The Alamo, a significant historical site from the 1836 Texas Revolution. The self-guided tour provided insight into Texas's struggle for independence from Mexico. Polgár and his wife, Edit Polgár, completed the tour; Edit for her first time, and her husband for his second. Polgár brought home a small sculpture of The Alamo 26 years ago from his first visit to the United States. Edit told the story of her cleaning the tiny Alamo souvenir for the past 26 years and revealed, “It is just wonderful to see it is a real place. This town is amazing, if I close my eyes, it is as if I am in a dream.”
The FSP provides international students and their families with a unique opportunity to experience the values and history that shaped the United States. This trip aimed to provide a deeper understanding of American culture, government and military education through visits to key historical and institutional sites. It also helps to strengthen international military partnerships by fostering cross-cultural understanding and mutual respect that continues outside of the classroom environment.