Project Global Officer—Project GO

Project Global Officer

Navy & Army ROTC Students Secure Foreign Language Scholarships

Cadet DesRosie will spend the summer learning Russian & Midshipman Jones will spend the summer Chinese through a government language program Navy ROTC Midshipman Luke Jones intended to learn Chinese in Taiwan, but the future U.S. Marine adapted to changed plans. Jones, who had scheduled a trip overseas, will take part in an on-line program. Bill Smith of the Martin Institute, which works closely with U of I ROTC to place its cadets and midshipmen in Project GO, said having two students accepted into the prestigious language program is an anomaly. “It is a highly competitive scholarship program,” Smith said. “It’s a big deal that we have two students chosen from the University of Idaho.”

Jones, who grew up in southern California, became interested in leadership as a high school student and opted to join ROTC at the University of Idaho because of the outdoor opportunities around Moscow. “I like to hunt and fish and there are a lot of places to do that around here,” Jones said. He joined the Martin Institute because he wanted to study abroad and learn Chinese. When his plans to study in Taiwan fell through because of travel restrictions, he embraced the idea of an intensive online summer course through Project GO.

“When I’m through with the course, I should be proficient,” he said. Jones, who is in his second year studying Chinese at U of I, wants to earn his commission as a second lieutenant, be an infantry platoon leader and hone management and leadership skills that could lead to owning a business after the military. He is among U of I students chosen as a “sophomore of the year.” “I think Marines make the best leaders,” he said.

Project Global Officer

As an arm of the government’s Defense Language and National Security Education Office, Project Go provides scholarships to improve language skills, regional expertise and intercultural communication skills of future military officers. Over the past decade Project GO has provided more than 5,600 scholarships to help officer candidates travel abroad.

Smith said foreign study opportunities and international programs at the Martin Institute help future officers overcome cultural barriers.

“Our program dovetails nicely with ROTC training,” Smith said. “The cultural context that international studies provides, along with studies in international relations, mirrors how military officers operate in foreign postings.” In addition, the institute emphasizes practical ways to solve problems abroad at local, regional and global levels. “It’s akin to what is taught at the War Colleges,” he said. The intense undergraduate language and cultural training of Project Go mirrors the State Department’s Critical Language Scholarship and the Boren Scholars programs, Smith said.

“Both Luke and Milana strive for the excellence Project GO requires,” Smith said. “Participation in the program is a feather in their caps.”

For more information on Project Go visit https://www.rotcprojectgo.org/