The Olmsted Scholar Program is a fully funded, two-and-a-half to three-year leader development program for active duty military officers, who study at foreign universities and in foreign languages. Olmsted Scholars have been assigned in every corner of the world: from Buenos Aires to Berlin, and from Tunis to Tokyo. Normally, the Foundation does not assign two or more Scholars to the same city at the same time.
To view current locations not open to the next Olmsted class, click here.
The program is as much a cultural experience as it is academic. Scholars travel extensively through the Foundation’s generous annual grants, learning about the many different attitudes, behaviors, and customs around them. They explore countries and cultures at a depth that can’t be achieved by any other means. The Olmsted Experience enables Scholars to better understand both our allies and our adversaries, sharpening their awareness of the world and enabling them to more effectively advance American interests around the globe as senior leaders in their military Services.
Scholars have described the program and its cultural immersion as the greatest adventure of their lives, filled with challenges and surprises, an experience that shapes them for a career of leadership and responsibility.
Scholars have immersed themselves in cultures all over the world, having studied at 229 different foreign universities and in 44 different languages. Take a look below to see where our Scholars have been.