In late June, 80 students from Europe and the United States competed for a prestigious prize at the international finals of the annual Aliante competition. Held at the U.K. Army Base in Rheindahlen, Germany, the top 14 two-man teams will participate in a dynamic week-long educational experience including visits with dignitaries and to a number of US military installations including NAS Oceana in Norfolk, Virginia and NORAD in Colorado Springs.
The Aliante competition originated five years ago in the Czech Republic with 300 high school students participating that first year. In 2007, more than 4,000 students represented 11 countries in the competition. The purpose of the competitions is to promote greater understanding of international security issues and strengthen transatlantic cooperation amongst NATO members.
This was the first time the U.S. has participated in the event. San Diego-based U.S. Tactical, Inc., working with the program originator, has brought the program to U.S. students. As the sponsor, U.S. Tactical helped organize U.S. participation, and inform potential candidate schools. "I believe that our students will benefit from greater exposure to our European allies -- especially in these turbulent times," said Mark Divine, CEO of U.S. Tactical.
With great teamwork and focus, Servite Academy (Anaheim, CA) freshmen Scott Zimmerman and Joey Hennings II successfully passed through two knowledge-based rounds answering 50 questions centered on international security policy, North-Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), geography, and history. Out of 16 two-member US teams, their second round work was chosen by the political scientists from the International Institute of Political Science of Masaryk University in the Czech Republic, ensuring them a spot in the Finals.
At the finals in Germany the Servite students were paired with a Slovakian team and had to prove their skills in international cooperation and strategic policy under difficult physical and psychological conditions. "The idea of the project is not to have states competing against each other but rather to strengthen cooperation in a competitive way" said Zbynek Pavlacik, Chairman of the Jagello 2000 Association, the organizer of the Aliante project.
During the two day competition in Germany, Scott, Joey and their Slovak team mates Michal and Kristian proved themselves worthy opponents. More than 20 experiential disciplines, carefully prepared and supervised by the military instructors of the U.K. Army, tested them on teamwork, integrity, leadership, cooperation, and mutual confidence.
"It was the most physically grueling and intense competition that I have ever been in and I must be crazy but I enjoyed every second of it! It really gave us a sense to know that, as a team, we could overcome anything they threw at us," said Scott. His team mate Joey added: "We each had our strong and weak points but together, as a team, we persevered."
The U.S./Slovak team finished in the winner's circle at 5th place.
The Aliante project is made possible thanks to a generous support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the Slovak Ministry of Defence, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, the United States Department of Defence, the NATO Public Diplomacy Division, the Office of the Governor of California, and U.S. Tactical, inc.
Please, visit the Aliante project website for more information: http://www.project-aliante.org
U.S. Tactical is a veteran owned small business which provides performance training and products to individuals and organizations worldwide. U.S. Tactical also owns and operates the international defense news site http://www.worlddefensereview.com as well as the SEAL training community of http://www.navyseals.com For corporate info see http://www.ustactical.com