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The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for a few good men. And women — or families.
Operation International is a program from the Chamber that matches up international officers who are stationed at Fort Leavenworth to attend the Command and General Staff College with individuals and families from around the Leavenworth area.
According to Diane Ungvarsky, a member of the Operation International committee, sponsoring an international officer can be a very rewarding experience.
“They’re very warm and very appreciative,” said Maxine Hunter, another sponsor and committee member. “They almost always invite you to their countries.”
Hunter said she has even taken some of the officers up on the offer.
“The stated goal is to show them the American way of life, but it works both ways,” she said.
Because officers can be from a number of different countries, from Armenia to Uganda, and can be either single or married with children, Hunter said each sponsor’s experience tends to be different.
Though they have a pool of sponsors who are always willing to help, Operation International is looking for sponsors for the incoming class at the CGSC. Ungvarsky said the international officers arrive before the American officers, usually between Jan. 2 and Jan. 4.
This year, sponsors are especially needed. Ungvarsky said the new Lewis and Clark Center on the fort has allowed for larger CGSC classes.
As a result, the number of international officers for the two yearlong CGSC classes has increased about 25 percent, to between 110 and 125 officers. Out of that number, 55 officers will be arriving in January.
Hunter said the committee is close to their goal, but still needs about 18 sponsors by the end of November.
Ungvarsky said Operation International encourages sponsors to meet their officers at the airport, and then direct them to where they will be staying. From there, sponsors help the officers find housing, get a driver’s license and sign up for utilities and other services.
“Then it becomes almost purely social,” Ungvarsky said.
Additional participation is optional, but most sponsors choose to do other things like eat and take sightseeing trips with their officers.
There are a number of events organized by Fort Leavenworth for the sponsors and their officers to participate in as well, like the Parade of Nations Fashion Show in May and a Thanksgiving dinner in November.
To become a sponsor, Ungvarsky said an individual or family must fill out an application, which are available at the Chamber office, 518 Shawnee St. in Leavenworth.
The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for a few good men. And women — or families.
Operation International is a program from the Chamber that matches up international officers who are stationed at Fort Leavenworth to attend the Command and General Staff College with individuals and families from around the Leavenworth area.
According to Diane Ungvarsky, a member of the Operation International committee, sponsoring an international officer can be a very rewarding experience.
“They’re very warm and very appreciative,” said Maxine Hunter, another sponsor and committee member. “They almost always invite you to their countries.”
Hunter said she has even taken some of the officers up on the offer.
“The stated goal is to show them the American way of life, but it works both ways,” she said.
Because officers can be from a number of different countries, from Armenia to Uganda, and can be either single or married with children, Hunter said each sponsor’s experience tends to be different.
Though they have a pool of sponsors who are always willing to help, Operation International is looking for sponsors for the incoming class at the CGSC. Ungvarsky said the international officers arrive before the American officers, usually between Jan. 2 and Jan. 4.
This year, sponsors are especially needed. Ungvarsky said the new Lewis and Clark Center on the fort has allowed for larger CGSC classes.
As a result, the number of international officers for the two yearlong CGSC classes has increased about 25 percent, to between 110 and 125 officers. Out of that number, 55 officers will be arriving in January.
Hunter said the committee is close to their goal, but still needs about 18 sponsors by the end of November.
Ungvarsky said Operation International encourages sponsors to meet their officers at the airport, and then direct them to where they will be staying. From there, sponsors help the officers find housing, get a driver’s license and sign up for utilities and other services.
“Then it becomes almost purely social,” Ungvarsky said.
Additional participation is optional, but most sponsors choose to do other things like eat and take sightseeing trips with their officers.
There are a number of events organized by Fort Leavenworth for the sponsors and their officers to participate in as well, like the Parade of Nations Fashion Show in May and a Thanksgiving dinner in November.
To become a sponsor, Ungvarsky said an individual or family must fill out an application, which are available at the Chamber office, 518 Shawnee St. in Leavenworth.
Sponsors can be any age, and Hunter said sponsors can specify preferences for what nations the officers are from and whether the officer is single or married. She said some sponsors like to choose a different country each time they sponsor someone.
Sponsors get a guide to their officer’s country before they arrive. In addition, sponsors attend orientation meetings to meet other hosts and know what to expect during their sponsorship. There is a sponsor briefing scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Riverfront Community Center.
If sponsors need help, Hunter said the other volunteers are willing to give advice and support.
Hunter said she and her husband have been sponsors since 1999. Ungvarsky and her husband have hosted an officer since 1997. But she said there are some people who have sponsored a different officer each year for 40 years.
Hunter said that she is still in touch with the officer she has sponsored in past years.
“We feel, when we sponsor, we’ve made lifelong friends,” she said.
