Jack Eustis ’23, originally from East Greenwich, RI, is a freshman in the International Studies and Diplomacy (ISD) Program with double majors in International Studies and Arabic. Jack is also a proud member of the Army ROTC, which made him eligible for a Project Global Officer Scholarship — Project GO for short.

An initiative of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office, Project GO is designed to equip future military officers with valuable language and intercultural skills through intensive study abroad programs. These skills are incredibly valuable in the national security and defense sectors, and Jack — as an ISD student — was the perfect candidate for the program.

Unfortunately, the program has been cancelled due to travel concerns associated with COVID-19, but the Office of National Fellowships and Academic Opportunities would like to continue to recognize this year’s award recipients, and to properly celebrate them.

Jack’s program was to take place at the Noor Majan Arabic Institute in Muscat, Oman. While there, participants enroll in eight-weeks of high-intensity classes. They receive twenty-five formal hours of instruction per week, and take part in weekly conversation sessions with local speakers, as well. Coursework covers foundational knowledge and skills in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) in addition to media literacy.

Jack began Arabic just this past fall, and says it quickly became his favorite class. His ultimate goal is to commission into the U.S. Army upon graduation, and he fully recognizes the value of cross-cultural competency in a military role. As only a first-year student, there are ample opportunities yet to come. He is already a strong candidate, and we cannot wait to see what he does next.