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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 17, 2008 No. 08-079 INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS VISIT TOPEKA ON JULY 18 Sixty-five military officers from 62 nations will visit Topeka Friday,
July 18, to learn about state government and the state judicial system.
The international officers are enrolled in a year-long course of study
at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. “It’s always a privilege to visit with these officers while
they’re here,” said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant general.
“They’re bright, motivated and enthusiastic about learning.
Someday, they will hold key leadership positions in their own nations
and this is our opportunity to show them how we do things here and to
start building long-lasting relationships with them.” They will arrive at the Memorial Hall Building, 120 SW 10th, at approximately
8 a.m. Brig. Gen. Deborah Rose, director of Joint Forces Headquarters
Kansas, Kansas National Guard, will give the officers an overview of the
Kansas National Guard’s history and current structure at approximately
8:25 a.m. Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh will speak to the officers at
approximately 8:45 a.m. on Kansas government. The officers will then walk
to the Kansas Statehouse, where they will have a photo taken with Lt.
Gov. Mark Parkinson. A media availability session will be held from 9:35
to approximately 9:50 a.m. in the second floor rotunda. Following a tour of the Statehouse, the officers will walk to the Judicial
Building to hear a presentation on the Kansas court system by the Honorable
Lawton R. Nuss, justice of the Kansas Supreme Court. The officers will travel to the Kansas Museum of History at approximately
12 p.m., where they will be served lunch and see a presentation on Native
Americans, followed by a tour of the museum. This year marks the 48th annual visit to Topeka and the 114th year that international officers have been attending the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Since 1894, more than 7,032 officers from 153 different countries have come for training. These students represent the finest from each of their countries. Over the years many of these students have gone on to key positions in their countries. Twenty-six have become heads of state, including three currently serving in Bahrain, Indonesia and Singapore. More than 600 have become ministers, ambassadors, representatives or chief of staff for their military and nearly 50 percent have become general officers in the armies of the world. -30- |
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