The Foreign Service Journal, September 2022

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2022 39 OLDBOOKS IMAGES/ALAMY An artistic depiction of Henry Morton Stanley’s detachable steamship on the Congo River in the late 1870s. large will benefit fromMs. Safalani’s talent, passion and energy. As a future leader, she has the advantage of a top-tier education founded on strong democratic principles and a network of com- mitted American friends and partners. Such stories of promise and success from U.S. exchange programs have been repeated time and again throughout American history. Since the end of World War II, the U.S. Department of State, Department of Defense and Agency for International Development have employed a collection of education exchange platforms. Run through the State Depart- ment’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Fulbright Scholar Program now boasts a network of more than 400,000 foreign alumni since its inception in 1946. This flagship program continues to bring 4,000 international students to study in the United States annually. The Fulbright program’s impact in Africa is substantial. For example, in Ghana, Fulbright alumni account for former presidents, prime ministers, academics and other prominent citizens. The State Department’s efforts in shorter education exchanges include such programs as the Young African Leaders Initiative. A highly successful effort started under the Obama administration, the program features the Mandela Washington Fellowship, a six-week course of study in the United States for aspiring African youth. Today, the program claims more than 700 alumni and a network of members connected to regional centers in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and South Africa. State Depart- ment programs foster people-to-people connections that create networks among current and future global leaders, who above all else understand democratic values and society. In other instances, the State Department works in close concert with the Department of Defense in Africa. Funded through State’s peacekeeping operations account, the Africa Military Education program works to professionalize African military forces through faculty and curriculum development at various African military education institutions. The U.S. Department of Defense is a unique partner in the area of higher education. Defense education strategy is devel- oped through the Defense Language and National Security Education Office, which also oversees various related initiatives for U.S. and foreign military members. Foremost of these is DOD’s International Military Education and Training program. Since its establishment in 1976, IMET has funded members of foreign-allied and friendly militaries pursuing courses of study in the United States. The program plays a vital role in forming the connective tissue between American military forces and foreign military powers. However, some of the great potential of IMET is diminished because of a lack of post-education engagement and networking on the part of the United States government. Foreign military exchange students receive minimal contact following their studies, and this leads to missed opportunities for this network to further American democratic values, such as a civilian-run military.