Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering. Israel AIAD. Two iterations of USMA cadets, along with cadets and midshipmen from sister service academies, visited Israel this summer to tour and study historical, cultural, and religious sites that included Jerusalem, the Negev Desert, and the Dead Sea basin. In addition, the groups observed training exercises, received briefings, and participated in staff rides with officers from the Israeli Defense Force while visiting various military installations and border outposts. Cadets completed special readings and attended lectures by representatives from Hebrew University, the Israeli Defense Force, and the U.S. Embassy in order to gain insight to relevant social, economic, and cultural issues. These complex issues were presented in strategic and diplomatic contexts as the drivers of geo-political concerns affecting security in the region.
G.I. Film Festival AIAD. From August 3-7, Cadets Sarah Gold and Mackenzie Riford served as interns under the tutelage of USMA alumnus Laura Law-Millet (’94) at the G.I. Film Festival (GIFF) Headquarters in Arlington, VA. According to Law-Millet, one of the primary goals of the GIFF is to highlight diverse film portrayals of American service members, rather than ones that stereotypically represent Soldiers as universally afflicted with PTSD. Cadets Gold and Riford as well as Ive Velez and Zachary Hout previously assisted organizers with the daily operations and red carpet events from May 19-25 in the Washington, D.C. area during the first half of the AIAD. Last week, Gold and Riford traveled back to Arlington where they conducted marketing research for next year’s event, searched for venues for Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band, wrote blogs and developed social media products for community and press engagement, and attended a meeting with former USMA graduates from the D.C. area who provided the group insights on marketing strategies and approaches to funding major events. Law-Millet hosted a similar internship last summer for Cadets and indicated she looks forward to continuing the relationship with USMA Cadets in the future.