First Lithuanian cadets spend semester at ̨Íåswag
Article By: Denise Ray
Two Lithuanian cadets are attending the University of North Georgia (̨Íåswag) for the fall 2023 semester as members of the Corps of Cadets for the first time in ̨Íåswag history.
Juozas Barkauskas and Martynas Stravinskas arrived at the Dahlonega Campus in August and began the fall semester along with 184 new cadets.
Both are pursuing a four-year degree in international relations at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania.
"In our academy, third-year cadets go to the international exchange program. Most cadets compete for places, and the United States is the best place by Lithuanian standards," Barkauskas said. "The general appoints cadets on a rating system to determine who goes where. I was one of the top five cadets."
After completion of their degree requirements, both are obligated to serve at least five years in the Lithuanian military. Barkauskas hopes to branch infantry, artillery or armor.
"My passion is armored warfare, but Lithuania doesn't have tanks yet, but they've ordered them," Barkauskas said. "I'm looking forward to them."
Barkauskas said the English language isn't a hurdle as he has studied it since the second grade. It is the use of the imperial measurement system rather than the metric system that is his biggest challenge.
We are honored to host these talented cadets and appreciate the international insight they bring to our university and Corps of Cadets.
Wesley Pirkle
̨Íåswag Director of Global Military Programs
"This is the first country I've been to that uses it," he said.
It was the weather that challenged Stravinskas.
"In the beginning, it was very hard to adapt to really hot weather and humidity. We're now preparing to go to the Spartan Ranger Challenge competition, and we physically train a lot harder, but I enjoy the hardships I face," Stravinskas said.
Barkauskas said he hopes to share Lithuanian culture and experience more American culture while in the U.S.
"Baseball is an interesting sport. It's different from any European sport," Barkauskas said of attending ̨Íåswag Night at the Braves. "The crowd was really involved in the game."
Three additional cadets are also attending ̨Íåswag for a semester as part of the Military Semester Exchange Program this fall including Wu Sheng Yi, Liu Chih-Wen and Huang Ching-Te Huang.
For the second consecutive year, ̨Íåswag has four full-time Taiwanese cadets enrolled and seeking an undergraduate degree as full-time members of the Corps of Cadets.
Yung-Han Chou is a senior pursuing a degree in information systems and a minor in computer science. He graduated from a military high school and was interested in ̨Íåswag because he would be able to focus on his studies. Chen-Chih Yuan, a junior, is pursuing a degree in mathematics, and sophomore Pei-Yun Tsai is the first four-year Taiwanese female cadet at ̨Íåswag and is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies. Freshman Yang Yung-Cheng is pursuing a degree in criminal justice.
The first Taiwanese cadet to earn a degree from ̨Íåswag was Li-Hung Chang, '23, who earned a degree in criminal justice with a forensics concentration and has begun his required 14 years of service in the Taiwanese army.
"Our international exchange cadets are great student but are also incredible ambassadors for their countries," Wesley Pirkle, ’93, director of Global Military Programs, said. "We are honored to host these talented cadets and appreciate the international insight they bring to our university and Corps of Cadets."
Education abroad supports students' career goals
̨Íåswag's education abroad program had students in Belize and Peru this summer, providing language skills to further their career aspirations. 
Sniffen earns study abroad grant
University of North Georgia senior Autumn Sniffen was awarded the Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant.
15 cadets studied abroad this spring
Fifteen ̨Íåswag cadets studied abroad this spring, and for the first time, two studied at the Hellenic Army Academy in Athens, Greece.