U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadet 1st Class Michelle Cabonce spent spring break 2023 at the Indonesian Air Force Academy. Her Indonesian counterpart and former roommate, Cadet Major Salma El Mutafaqqiha Putri, received the same opportunity when she visited the U.S. Air Force Academy for International Week 2024. Putri was one of 52 ally and partner cadets who spent International Week at the Academy Sept. 9-13.
“My foreign academy visit to Indonesia was an incredible opportunity to gain insight into the workings of their academy,” Cabonce said. She is a Civil Engineering major who is slated to attend pilot training after graduation.
“Beyond that, experiencing their rich culture and daily life was truly eye-opening. Most importantly, I forged lifelong friendships with Indonesian cadets who I believe will be the Indonesian Air Force’s future leaders.”
Foreign Academy Visit Program
The reciprocal program to International Week is the Foreign Academy Visit Program. This program offers competitively selected cadets the opportunity to spend their spring break at foreign academies. During Academic Year 2023-24, foreign academy visits included Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Romania, South Korea, Spain and Thailand.
“Visiting other academies contributes to achieving the Foreign Academy Visit Program objectives of fostering a deeper understanding of foreign cultures, including cultural norms and sensitivities that may affect military operations,” said International Programs Director Lt. Col. Meridee Trimble. “Secondly, the program promotes professional development that will serve the U.S., our allies and partners, and enhances faculty and staff professional development.”
Mentoring opportunities
The visits are also an opportunity for faculty and staff serving as troop commanders, who may be familiar with the country, to mentor Academy cadets before and during the journey, Trimble said. Troop commanders are selected from across the institution. They offer a value-added perspective to the experience, including country knowledge, language expertise and spending time with cadets to discuss the many international and career opportunities awaiting them after commissioning.
“In my role as a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command foreign area officer and Language Enabled Airman Program Scholar specializing in Indonesia, serving as a troop commander was an opportunity to inspire and motivate the three cadets I took to Indonesia in March 2023 about career opportunities and to help cadets become culturally competent before their arrival to the host academy.”
Valuable experience
Putri says that participating in this experience was highly valuable.
“International Week 2024 had many activities, such as discussions, visiting various laboratories, touring a tourist attraction and participating in cadet activities,” Putri said. “What I gained from the experience is that diversity is very beautiful. There are a lot of differences, and they can coexist harmoniously with mutual respect and understanding. Differences are not a problem nor a threat; instead, they are a strength that can make something more solid and difficult to break.”
Immersion in another culture broadens perspective
During her spring break at the Indonesian Air Force Academy, Cabonce experienced and deepened her understanding of the Indonesian culture. This in turn has broadened her perspective. For example, she observed cadets playing traditional instruments such as drums or rampak gendang. She then learned how to play the instruments.
“I previously believed that learning about Indonesian culture in the classroom and staying informed on current events had given me a solid understanding,” she said. “But I learned that no amount of study could fully prepare you for the reality of immersing yourself in another culture. The firsthand experiences and interactions provided a depth of insight that cannot be replicated through academic learning alone.”