Five cadets study in Taiwan this spring
The University of North Georgia (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) continues to partner with military academies around the world to bring opportunities to Â鶹ÊÓƵ and international cadets.
This spring, five Â鶹ÊÓƵ cadets are studying in Taiwan.
"Taiwan has been one of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's oldest international partners and currently has three international cadets attending Â鶹ÊÓƵ for four years," retired Sgt. Maj. Terry Baumann, Â鶹ÊÓƵ assistant director of global military programs, said. "Last semester Â鶹ÊÓƵ hosted several cadets from Taiwan, and now they are hosting classmates from Â鶹ÊÓƵ at their respective institutions. It truly is a small world."
Â鶹ÊÓƵ cadets Brandon Clark and Jaden Davidson, freshmen from Dallas, Georgia, who are both pursuing degrees in cybersecurity, are attending the Management College of the National Defense University, which is located in the capital city of Taipei. Clark and Davidson are both minoring in Chinese.
"I have never been outside of the United States until now, so this is a totally new experience for me. Besides the architecture of the buildings, everything here is almost completely different," Clark said. "Talking to the locals also presents its own set of challenges as my Chinese speaking ability is not the best. However, the people here are very kind, accommodating, and patient when I try to speak with them."
Last semester Â鶹ÊÓƵ hosted several cadets from Taiwan, and now they are hosting classmates from Â鶹ÊÓƵ at their respective institutions. It truly is a small world.
Retired Sgt. Maj. Terry Baumann
Â鶹ÊÓƵ assistant director of global military programs
Their experience has highlighted many cultural differences apart from the initial communication barrier, as well.
Davidson said she experienced firsthand nuanced forms of respect: giving another individual an item with two hands as opposed to one, and the famed friendliness of the Taiwanese population.
"One cab driver even went as far as to not charge me and another exchange cadet for a short cab ride," she said.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ cadets Eve Harris and Cassidy Hofer are attending Fu Hsing Kang College, also located in the capital city of Taipei. Harris, a sophomore pursuing a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Chinese language and literature, was born in China and adopted at the age of 10 by her mom. She hopes to use this excursion to prepare her for her future success.
"I want to go into military intelligence and hopefully put my language skills to use," Harris said. "As for after the military, I have always had aspirations to work with the FBI in their language department."
In addition to the aforementioned cadets, Maren Cooper is attending the Republic of China Military Academy located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Two semesters prior, she studied at Fu Hsing Kang College.
The Taiwanese cadets studying at Â鶹ÊÓƵ for four years are exploring vastly different fields. Li Hung Chang is a junior pursuing a degree in criminal justice, while Yung Han Chou is a sophomore pursuing a degree in information systems and Chin-Chih Yuan is a freshman pursuing a degree in history.
Smith is nation's top Army ROTC cadet
Â鶹ÊÓƵ has both the No. 1 overall Army ROTC cadet out of 5,538 graduating nationally and the No. 1 National Guard commissioning cadet out of 1,491 for the 2025-26 academic year.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ helped Jarrard lead at all levels
Retired Lt. Gen. Jamie Jarrard credits his many leadership opportunities in the Army to the foundation he received as part of America's Corps at Â鶹ÊÓƵ.
Thomasson named commandant of cadets
Training leaders of character is nothing new for retired Lt. Col. James Thomasson. His selection as Â鶹ÊÓƵ's 44th commandant of cadets allows him to live out this passion.
Wilson leads Georgia National Guard
Maj. Gen. Dwayne Wilson, adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard, said his time in Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Corps of Cadets equipped him with the foundational leadership skills that guide him today.