MG
Morgan Greaves
  • international affairs - European concentration
  • Class of 2019
  • Roswell, GA

Morgan Greaves to study at Polish Military Academy of Land Forces

2017 Feb 17

Two cadets from the University of North Georgia (UNG) will enroll at the General Tadeusz Kosciuszko Military Academy of Land Forces (MALF) in Poland this spring while two Polish cadets are enrolled at UNG and participating in the Corps of Cadets as the first cadets exchanged under a new agreement between the two institutions.

The agreement, signed in 2016 at the military academy in Wroclaw, Poland, marks the first time MALF has collaborated with a U.S. university to offer professional military education through direct enrollment. The military academy cooperates with more than 30 foreign institutions, as well as universities in Turkey, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus.

Military exchanges allow UNG cadets to elevate their level of global and military knowledge, according to Tony Fritchle, associate director for the Center for Global Engagement at UNG.

"As a senior military college and the Military College of Georgia, we seek to partner with military academies that support UNG and Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies strategic plans," Fritchle said. "Our primary objectives are to foster reciprocal agreements in the exchange and development of cadet global competencies, language and cultural immersion, and professional military education."

Morgan Greaves and Taylor Hardin leave for Poland at the end of February. Greaves and Hardin, both pursuing majors in international affairs, will enroll in MALF courses.

Greaves, from Roswell, Georgia, has studied abroad previously, but looks forward to the challenge of a new environment.

"As a leader you never know what situation you'll have to adapt to, and by consistently pushing yourself past what you're comfortable with, you grow," Greaves said. "I'm excited to better understand how European militaries work together and I hope the experience will positively impact my capabilities as a leader."

For Hardin, from Sandy Springs, the exchange marks the first time studying abroad.

"What I'm hoping to learn from the experience is a better understanding of an international culture and to develop my education," Hardin said.

Artur Chrusciel and Wiktor Zapart, both fourth-year management majors at MALF, will become officers in the Polish army upon completion of their studies.

"We are happy to be here and we just want to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve as much as we can," Zapart said. "If you do this right, you get benefits for yourself, and for your country, of course."

Polish army officials have similar goals for their future officers who find themselves increasingly in multinational situations, according to Maj. Marcin Bielewicz, vice dean for military affairs of MALF's Faculty of Management and a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

"The platoon leader right now is a diplomat. It's not only a commander taking care of the purely combat military tasks, but it's a kind of diplomat or negotiator," said Bielewicz, who visited UNG in October 2016 with other MALF representatives. "The officer, who actually is representing the country, also needs to possess certain skills that are not purely military, such as social, psychological and interpersonal skills."

UNG offers global opportunities for students, faculty and staff through a variety of international partnerships, exchanges and study abroad programs. Specialized global opportunities for students in the Corps of Cadets at UNG include federally funded programs such as Project Global Officer, Chinese Language Flagship and the university's Language Training Center.