40 US Military Cadets and Officers Tour Israel

A group of 40 U.S. military cadets and their officers have just returned to the United States after spending a two-week strategic tour of Poland and Israel organized by Our Soldiers Speak (OSS), an American-based nonprofit dedicated to educating students and academics from around the world about Israel and its security realities.

The delegation received high-level briefings from current and former policymakers and commentators from across the political spectrum in the security, strategy, international relations, law, politics, media, religion, and technology arenas.

The cadets met with Maj.-Gen. Noam Tibon (res.), former commander of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Northern Formation; Judge Daphne Barak-Erez of the Israeli Supreme Court; Amb. Arthur Kroll, deputy director general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry; and Maj.-Gen. Gershon HaCohen (ret.), former commander of the IDF Staff & Command College.

The servicemembers hailed from the West Point Military Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Virginia Military Institute. They took part in the fourth annual tour of I-SAP — a rigorous, safe, and highly educational onsite experience for U.S. cadets in Israel, America’s most indispensable ally in the Middle East.

By interfacing with members of the IDF, the American cadets and officers deepened their relationships with servicemembers who they will likely cross paths with repeatedly over the course of their military careers.

“This unparalleled experience enables American cadets to learn about hot-button issues and matters of utmost strategic importance in the Middle East firsthand,” said OSS Founder and Director Benjamin Anthony. “By forging bonds between the cadets and Israeli military officers, we are laying the groundwork for future understanding and productive interactions.”