Ninety-five international military
students from 76 countries visited Cessna as part of the United
States Army Command and General Staff Officer Course (CGSOC) at
Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Wednesday.
"From the information received during the program, they return
to their countries with the skills required to help defend and
preserve their own national security interests, which support U.S.
foreign policy objectives," said Michael Brettman, field studies
program manager for the international military student division for
the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
"Cessna is a first-rate representation of a multinational
company in America. With an increasingly international mix of
sales, Cessna needs people who are culturally aware of the business
practices in other countries. At the same time, many of the
businesses in other countries trying to market to the United States
face similar challenges as to how they relate to American
businesses. Having the students visit Cessna provides an
educational information exchange."
Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Penteado of Brazil said visiting
Cessna allowed him to compare the way U.S. business operates to
Brazilian industry.
"I have been to other aircraft manufacturer's facilities and
there are many similarities between how the airplane manufacturing
takes place," Penteado said. "However, there are many differences
in the ways business is conducted. For example, the Brazilian
government is very involved with their home-based general aviation
manufacturer and other industries in our country. In America, this
is not typically the case. There are good and bad aspects to each
side, so it is interesting to see how Cessna functions in its free
market environment."
Cessna is the only corporate business the group will visit as
part of the course's field study program. Through the field studies
portion, students visit and view examples of U.S. economic and
business interests, judicial systems, local, state and federal
government systems, and educational systems.
"Cessna is a powerful example of how a small company
founded nearly 80 years ago in America's heartland can grow to
become a global company with airplanes in nearly every country in
the world," said Roger Whyte, senior vice president of sales and
marketing at Cessna. "We are proud to host these international
officers and hope their time at Cessna will impact how they view
and ultimately support U.S. foreign policy objectives."
Cessna has hosted the U.S. Army Command and General Staff
College for 10 years.
"In the decade Cessna has hosted this group, about 900 students
have come through and learned about Cessna," Brettman said. "Nearly
half of everyone in our program goes on to be a general officer in
their country's military, and, at any one time, 10 to 20 of our
graduates are chiefs of staff in armies around the world. We are
grateful for Cessna's participation as it helps educate these
future leaders about business practices in American companies."