ҹɫСÊÓƵ

ҹɫСÊÓƵ’s annual Olmsted Field Study has become an intrinsic piece of participating students’ experiential education. Made possible by the George and Carol Olmsted Foundation, this year’s trip saw cadets travel to the Baltic states to learn about peace and security in Eastern Europe.

The group of ten cadets were accompanied by Dr. Travis Morris, director of the ҹɫСÊÓƵ Peace and War Center and professor of criminology and criminal justice. Their goal was to provide these future officers with intercultural competency-building opportunities in an immersive environment. The cadets spanned various branches and consisted of an Air Force cadet, four Army cadets, a Marine Corps officer candidate, two Navy midshipmen, a Space Force cadet, and a Republic of China (Taiwan) Army cadet.

Cadets are self-sufficient throughout the process and are involved in every step. The 11-person team scheduled meetings, made travel arrangements, and met with locals in preparation for the two-week long field study. This also included conducting extensive research on the history, culture, politics, economics, and current events of all three Baltic states.

Each day was thoroughly planned and coordinated by three cadets who contacted military officials, government agencies, and embassies. Additionally, they researched the history and background of the country to become familiar with the country they were assigned to, specifically understanding the conflict in the country and the differences represented in perspectives. Balancing the responsibilities of logistical planning and foreign area research provided the team the opportunity to plan and execute a multinational field study of peace and conflict to better prepare them for their future military careers.

Months of work led to their arrival in Tallinn, Estonia, on May 5. Throughout the next several days, the group traveled from Tallinn to Tartu, Estonia; then to Riga, Latvia; and finally to Vilnius, Lithuania.

The days were filled with meetings at all levels with several nationalities, which would total 21 throughout their 13 days in-country. These included institutions such as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Estonia and Latvia, as well as NATO’s Center of Excellence for Strategic Communications and Lithuania’s Financial Crimes Investigation Service. Students covered all instruments of national power and observed similarities and differences between each Baltic state’s perspective on transregional issues like Russian aggression in Ukraine, Russian hybrid warfare tactics projected on NATO members, and migrant instrumentalization in Eastern Europe.

The team noted the critical role that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania play — and could play — in the region. Some of the most important data points were:

• The Baltic States have smaller GDPs compared to other NATO members, yet they all rank among the top six in defense spending as a percentage of GDP.
   
• Russian-speaking minorities make up a significant portion of each Baltic state’s population, especially in large cities and eastern subregions, but never make up the national majority.
   
• Conscription is mandatory in Estonia and by lottery in Latvia and Lithuania.
   
• Following the events in Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, each Baltic state increased spending on civil defense initiatives to educate civilians on topics ranging from civil disobedience to organized resistance and basic survival in the first 72 hours of an invasion.
   
• Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian policymakers and military leaders are proactively pursuing closer partnerships with Western allies, especially the United States, despite geographic proximity to Russia and Belarus.

While the team was learning about difficulties in Eastern Europe, they were faced with their own challenges. Each member was given a role with the purpose of learning interpersonal skills necessary for working with a diverse and intellectually capable team. Struggles and unexpected problems arose, and the team learned how to take charge and lead when the situation required while showing their patience and understanding when it was time to follow; in a somewhat different realm, the group worked with an airline to recover a teammate’s luggage that was left in another country.

Reflecting on his lessons learned and knowledge gained, their team leader shares his reflection on the excursion.

c/MAJ David Inglee '26

Team Leader — Olmsted 2025

The Olmsted Trip to the Baltics was an experience that shaped my development not only as a leader and college student, but as a future Army officer. Traveling through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania deepened my understanding of regional stability and NATO’s strategic posture in Eastern Europe. My eyes were opened to the vital role these nations play in defending Eastern Europe: countering Russian influence and propaganda while maintaining peace in a complex security environment. I gained a firsthand appreciation for the constant attentiveness required to safeguard sovereignty in the face of stronger threats. Speaking with local leaders and citizens helped me connect abstract strategic concepts to real-world concerns and human experiences.

One of the most impactful lessons from the trip was the critical role of information warfare in the region. The Baltic states are constantly targeted by disinformation campaigns designed to erode public trust, manipulate historical memory, and diminish national identity. I witnessed how governments, independent media, and civil society collaborate to strengthen information resilience, an effort that proves just as vital as conventional military defense. This experience highlighted the growing importance of strategic communication and media literacy as essential tools in today’s security landscape.

As team leader, I was responsible for coordinating with other members to ensure our trip ran smoothly. This required a strong grasp of logistical planning, strategic communication, and team dynamics, all skills that are essential to military leadership. It also built my confidence in managing real-world challenges. Engaging with Baltic military leaders, diplomats, and civilians offered invaluable insights into hybrid warfare, deterrence, and alliance-building. I left the region with a renewed sense of purpose and a broadened global perspective. This experience enhanced my readiness to lead in diverse environments and reinforced the importance of empathy, adaptability, and international cooperation.