Cultural Immersion in China for West Point Cadets
The Friendship Fund, administered by West Point, encourages productive dialogue and international friendships by sending cadets to China. The fund was established by retired Major General Bernard ‘Burn’ Loeffke, recipient of the 2007 Distinguished West Point Graduate Award and a highly decorated combat veteran. General Loeffke was the first Army General to serve as Defense Attache to China.
Through the Friendship Fund, cadets spend three weeks studying at a university in China and participating in a community service project. They are often hosted by their peers- Chinese military cadets. They see the culture on a community level and Chinese people get to know ‘real’ Americans. Cadets say that their Friendship Fund experience has been one of the most powerful of their lives.
The Friendship Fund will develop a generation of military leaders who will be more sensitive to cultural differences and be able to work more effectively with their international counterparts. This legacy of friendship will be a step toward preventing future wars and making the world a safer place.
Please help
Major General (ret) Bernard “Burn” Loeffke
founder of the Friendship Fund
You can help!
Make a Donation!
- To send a cadet overseas for a life-changing experience
- To build an endowment to fund the program in perpetuity
- Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law