8 December 2021
Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) Commandant, Commodore Peter Leavy and Superintendent United States Naval Academy (USNA) Vice Admiral Sean Buck have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to begin an exchange program for midshipmen.
The exchange program will involve six-month semester exchanges between the military academies in Canberra and Annapolis, Maryland.
Vice Admiral Buck emphasised the importance of the program in strengthening ties between the US and Australian militaries and developing cultural competence as a core enabler to future operational capability.
“The men and women of our militaries are going to serve together, and this agreement will allow them to develop the professional and personal relationships they will use throughout their career,” Vice Admiral Buck said.
Commodore Leavy echoed his sentiments highlighting the importance of the exchanges in contributing to the foundational education that ADFA delivers for its trainee officers.
“We have 15 countries represented within ADFA and opportunities such as this are valuable in developing an international joint cohort amongst our midshipmen and officer cadets,” Commodore Leavy said.
It is anticipated the exchange program will commence with the first four USNA midshipmen arriving in Australia to undertake six months of study at ADFA in July 2022. The first ADFA trainees are expected to travel to the US in January 2023.
“This signing is an important milestone in the academy’s history. It will provide our members with an opportunity to forge personal and professional relationships at the very start of their careers,” Commodore Leavy said.
“We look forward to receiving the first US midshipmen in July next year.”
