KU News Release

Media advisory: Fort Leavenworth officers, KU students to conduct planning exercise

LAWRENCE — A delegation of officers from Fort Leavenworth will join political science students at the University of Kansas in a joint exercise on information operations. The media are invited to attend.

The event is part of an ongoing partnership between KU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Command at Fort Leavenworth to strengthen both institutions’ abilities to train future military and civilian leaders, particularly in international relations and national security.

The meeting counts as part of 27 hours of instruction in cultural aptitude that KU is providing for the Information Operations course. While on campus, the officers will also participate in two discussions led by KU faculty. Garth Myers, associate professor of geography and African and African-American studies, will lead a discussion on tribalism and Yan Bing Zhang, assistant professor of communication studies, will lead a discussion on intercultural communication.

WHO: Officers in the Information Operations qualifying course at Fort Leavenworth and KU students enrolled in class called International Conflict.

WHAT: Military officers and students will participate in an exercise directed by Paul D’Anieri, associate professor of political science, on information operations.

WHEN: 8-9:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 13

WHERE: Kansas Union, Jayhawk Room

BACKGROUND: For the past three years, KU has provided coursework in cultural aptitude for officers in the FA-30 (Information Operations) training course at Fort Leavenworth. The program is part of a collaboration that has accelerated since the two institutions signed a memorandum of agreement in 2004.

PARKING: Visitor spaces are available in the Mississippi Street parking garage directly north of the Kansas Union.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.