Posted on 06/24/2005 6:11:33 PM PDT by SandRat
WEST POINT, N.Y. (Army News Service, June 24. 2005) -- The first Afghan native to attend the U.S. Military Academy is scheduled to report for duty at West Point June 27.
Shoaib Yosoufzai, one of 21 international cadets accepted as a member of the Class of 2009, comes from Laghman providence in Eastern Afghanistan.
Yosoufzai spent two years at Kabul University learning civil engineering. Continuing in the engineering field and gaining a strong military background are two of the reasons he wanted to come to West Point.
“I wanted a military career and the U.S. Military Academy has a very good educational system that helps with your leadership skills,” Yosoufzai said. “They have a good engineering program and I would like to help my people in every field that I major in here.”
He started the process about a year-and-a-half ago as one of more than 60 people applying from universities and high schools throughout Afghanistan.
His father, Hamdullah Yosoufzai, who is dean of academics at the National Military Academy Afghanistan, convinced him that coming to West Point would be the best thing for him and his country.
“My father told me everything about the military academy and told me it was my decision,” Yosoufzai explained. “[He said] If I study at the U.S. Military Academy it would be tough, but I would have a really good future and help my country and people.”
Yosoufzai studied some English grammar at Kabul University, which helped him with his SAT exam and for the past four months has built his English language skills at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
He said his generation now has the right to make their own decisions, unlike a few years ago under Taliban rule, and he is happy for all the help from the U.S. and the international community. Also, his time in Nebraska changed some of his views of Americans as well.
“Before coming to the U.S., I was thinking the people would be too busy here and no one would like to help me out,” Yosoufzai said. “But, when I got here, I knew it was different and everyone was friendly and interested in knowing about Afghanistan and helping the Afghan people.”
Yosoufzai said he feels lucky to have this chance to make a difference in so many peoples’ lives and wants to help build a military and government that lasts in Afghanistan.
“I want to help my country build a professional military and stable government,” Yosoufzai said. “I will do everything that my government tells me to do and, as an officer, I can say that it will be my duty to fight against injustice and work for the military.”
He is appreciative of Col. James Wilhite, Office of Military Cooperation Afghanistan academy team chief and Capt. Robert Romans Jr., USMA admissions international cadets section, for their help in making his arrival here as painless as possible.
Romans goes through the tedious process of evaluating all international cadets files, with the help of the English, math and admissions committee, to select the best candidates.
Romans believes Yosoufzai has a golden opportunity to help his country, much like West Point graduates have been benefiting America for more than 200 years.
“It’s the desire and drive to help rebuild his own country that will carry him through the next four years at West Point,” Romans said.
Ping for good news
Bump for later read.
I hope we aren't training Mullah Omar's next chief of staff.
"He said his generation now has the right to make their own decisions, unlike a few years ago under Taliban rule, and he is happy for all the help from the U.S. and the international community. Also, his time in Nebraska changed some of his views of Americans as well. "
Great Post! Thanks!
I guess this is part of what explains why we can't train up an army in a few weeks and withdraw.
1800 x 1200 pixels - 465.3kB - JPEG
Glad to see we're exporting freedom fighters.
Let's hope this guy is a good one and that he can make a differnce.
the Yusufzai are a powerful Pashtun tribe. They got on the team fairly early and as you can see are still hanging in. For a father to send his son to the US for school is a major vote of confidence in the direction of Afghanistan. I wonder which number son he is -- if he's the first, it's a monumentally large thing.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Bless his heart, and all the luck in the world to him.
You must be vey proud. Good luck to your son.
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