MissionIMSO (P Troop, 3-16 CAV), conducts RSOI for all International Military Students attending MCoE schools and training, to include all administrative, financial, and travel support. IMSO executes the MCCC IMSO-PC, and the Ranger RSOI program to ensure student success. IMSO implements DoD Field Studies Program on behalf of the Security Assistance Field Training Activity (SATFA) to IMS educational requirements. HistoryInternational Military Students (IMS) who graduate from the US Army Service Schools are awarded an appropriate badge from that school signifying their accomplishment. This badge may be worn on their official uniform. Students that graduate from a Maneuver Center of Excellence Course will receive the US Army Maneuver Center of Excellence Crest, emblazoned with “One Force One Fight", signifying their successful completion of training at the US Army Maneuver Center of Excellence. The Foreign Military badge has been presented to International Military Students for over sixty years and is proudly worn by many senior leaders in their countries today. The history of the International Military Student Office (IMSO) dates back to 1942 when the first officers from allied nations began Armor and Cavalry training with U.S. officers at Fort Knox. In 1950 Fort Knox established the International Military Student Office. The mission of the IMSO was to render academic and administrative assistance to the International military Students that were selected to attend courses at Fort Knox. The IMSO was to also conduct programs to acquaint the International Military Students with American military and civilian social and home life. Today the International Military Student Office has processed over 8500 International Military Students representing over 100 different countries and serves as the focal point at the Armor School for all matters pertaining to International Military Students and their families. This includes in/out processing, resolving issues and family member support. The International Military Student Office also implements the Department of Defense Field Studies Program. Educational activities are conducted to enhance a balanced understanding of U.S. society, ideas, institutions and commitment to internationally recognized human rights. In 2005 with the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission. The Armor Center and School are relocating to Fort Benning to merge with the Infantry Center and form the Maneuver Center of Excellence. On 11 May 2011, the International Student Training Detachment (ISTD), 199th Infantry BDE of Ft Benning and the International Military Student Office (IMSO), US Army Armor Center of Fort Knox were merge under P Trp 3rd SQD 16th CAV, 316th CAV BDE. Today International military students will continue to train in over 25 Armor and Infantry Courses throughout the Maneuver Center of Excellence, at Ft Benning GA. The History of International Student Training Detachment (ISTD) dates back to the years following World War I. Officers from allied nations began Infantry Training at Fort Benning with U.S. Officers in 1921. The needs of these allied officers and their families were taken care of by voluntary personnel within the Student Brigade. It wasn't until 1949 that Fort Benning established the Allied Liaison Section, led by a staff section chief of the Student Brigade. Later, the Allied Liaison Section came under the office of the Director of Instruction, U.S. Army Infantry School. The mission of the section was to render academic and administrative assistance to allied students selected to attend Courses of Instructions at Fort Benning and to conduct programs designed to acquaint the students with American military and civilian social and home life. The section also introduced allied soldiers to local business practices. Members of the Staff and Faculty were encouraged to take a personal interest in the welfare of the allied students and their families. The Allied Liaison Section annually processed 300 students representing 35 different nations for training at the Infantry School. The Allied Liaison Section evolved into this unit, which has been known as the International Student Training Detachment since 1988. Today, the detachment operates under the Department of Defense, Security Assistance Training Program. Every year the International Student Training Detachment processes 470-500 officers and Noncommissioned Officers, representing 110 nations, and is located here in building 399E, Olson Hall. The officers, NCOs, and soldiers of ISTD are tasked with the mission: To advise the United States Army Infantry School Command and Staff on all areas of the Security Assistance Training Program and Foreign Military Training. In-process and out-process International Military Students. Resolve their academic, administrative, logistical, and personal problems. Monitor training and coordinate their follow-on training. Conduct the Department of Defense Informational Program. 
Contacts
WelcomeCongratulations! You have been selected to attend military training at the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Ft Benning, Ga. Whether you are attending a three-week course or a four-month course, we want your visit to be successful. Everyone in the IMSO is dedicated to providing you with excellent training and assistance while you are here at Ft. Benning. General InformationFort Benning, Georgia is located just outside of Columbus, Georgia, a city with a population of 189,000 people. It is approximately 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, Georgia. Fort Benning is the Home of the Maneuver Center of Excellence for the United States Army.
Student Arrival/Departure
Billeting
There are no cooking facilities provided for international students. All IMSO students are authorized to use post-dining facilities. The Follow Me Dining Facility is designated to meet the needs of the international students. Students are advised that the dining facility is not equipped to accommodate special requests for national dishes. Officers are required to pay for their own meals. The Dining Facility charges $1.50 for breakfast and $3.00 for both lunch and dinner. There are also numerous fast-food establishments located on Fort Benning. The Fort Benning Officer’s Club, and the NCO Club also offer individual menus at reasonable prices plus special buffets on holidays. Unless specified in orders, no meal cards will be issued to students. Shuttle bus and commercial taxi are available on Fort Benning. Students will not be provided transportation to any training area on Main Post. All areas are considered within walking distance of the billets (less than 3km). Military Sponsors will assist students in their transportation needs. Regularly scheduled city buses provide limited service between Fort Benning and Columbus. (METRA Bus Map and Schedule) Students are permitted to purchase a vehicle while attending a course. The price of vehicles range from $1,500 and up. Typically a student who purchases an automobile in the price range of $1,500 - $2,500 are able to sell their automobiles at nearly the same price for which they purchased them 5 months previously. As mentioned earlier, city busses do operate at a limited capacity and automobile transportation is the primary mode of transportation for the people who live on Ft. Benning and Columbus. All automobiles operated on Fort Benning must be registered with the Military Police Vehicle Registration Division (Building 315). The IMSO will assist international students in this registration. The student must have in his possession: (1) A valid driver’s license. The state of Georgia will honor an International Driver’s License and most free-world country civilian driver licenses. Students are urged to bring their home country’s license with them or obtain an International Driver’s License prior to their departure. (2) A current certificate of ownership and state registration. A student operating a vehicle that is owned by someone other than himself (i.e., an embassy automobile) must have a notarized letter of authority from the owner. (3) Proof of insurance. Insurance may be purchased locally from various civilian companies at a cost of approximately $800 for a 12-month period. IMSO will assist you in obtaining the necessary insurance coverage. International students will be provided with information about Georgia State traffic laws and Fort Benning traffic regulations at IMSO. Violations of regulations may cause the individual to be prosecuted by appropriate courts and if guilty, subjected to penalties such as monetary fines or the loss of driving privileges. Georgia state law requires that a student’s driver’s license from his home nation be surrendered to the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles when getting a Georgia state driver’s license. All International students and some dependents may obtain limited emergency medical and dental treatment and hospitalization at the Martin Army Community Hospital on Post. During orientation briefings, a detailed explanation of all medical and dental facilities is presented by IMSO. Your ITO has to state that dependents are authorized and that the foreign country authorizes payment of the bill. The US Government has made Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with each individual country that sends an International Military Student to attend a Ft. Benning School. Therefore, the details about medical and dental treatment and payment vary from nation to nation. If you have questions about these details and would like them answered prior to your arrival please contact us.
The duty uniform is the Army Combat Uniform (ACU)/fatigues for 90-100% of the time. The country’s equivalent of US Army Service Uniform (Dress Blues) required for all Maneuver Captains Career Course and Armor/Infantry Officer Basic Course students for all social activities and graduation. It is recommended that all students bring both dress and service uniforms to attend social functions. The ACUs are issued to students for the Ranger course only. Students attending other courses must bring the country’s equivalent to the ACU and/or funds to purchase needed items for the course (PT uniform must be purchased at the US Army Maneuver Center of Excellence at a cost of $165.00/ T-shirt, shorts, winter sweat-top, winter sweat-bottoms, road-guard vest, gloves, black watch cap and athletic running shoes. These items are dependent upon the time of year the student is here). Uniform requirements are listed under the prerequisites in course descriptions. Students must bring the appropriate rank and other insignia used by their country, as these are not obtainable in the area. During the student’s in processing, IMSO will provide the student with in-depth instruction that covers how to wear the uniform and rank.
Each year approximately 12 IMS students are returned to their home nation because they failed the U.S. Army Physical Fitness Test on the first day of their training course. Nearly all training schools here at Ft. Benning require the IMS to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). Furthermore, ALL training schools at Ft. Benning conduct Physical Training daily. It is always in the best interest of the Student if he arrives in top physical condition. If you have any questions concerning the APFT please CONTACT US and we will be more than willing to assist you on this matter. If you have questions about the Army Physical Fitness Test Click Here The International Military Student Host Family Sponsor Program is a hospitality program designed to provide IMS at Fort Benning and, in some cases, their spouses and children, an opportunity to become acquainted with American family life. The Sponsor Program consists of a Military Sponsor Program and a Civilian Sponsor Program. Volunteers who agree to act as sponsors take a genuine interest in the students and help him to know and understand the American people. And reciprocally, the sponsor gets a better understanding and appreciation for the country each student represents as they learn from each other. Ideally, the sponsor endeavors to show the student all aspects of our country by affording him the opportunity to participate in home and community activities and permit the student to come to his own conclusions about the American way of life. Through simple hospitality, mutual tolerance, understanding and respect, students and sponsors share their cultural background and national origins as they mold lasting friendships. Contact us if you know you are coming to Ft. Benning as an International Student and would like to meet your sponsor through email before you arrive. All International Military Students (IMS) are provided an in-class sponsor whose role it is to aid the IMS in their smooth assimilation into and understanding of the US Military training environment. Academically, the military sponsor helps to clarify some of the nuances of military acronyms and phraseology while they work together to master the leadership and military training presented to them within the classroom/field environment. Socially, the military sponsor seeks to incorporate the IMS in the spirit of camaraderie which complements the structured training and its accompanying responsibilities. This includes a look at the off duty activities in which the military sponsor may engage; i.e., education, sports, family life, et cetera. This page is dedicated to assist the Security Cooperation Officers serving in Embassies around the world in preparing the International Soldiers for training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. In the past, because of the demanding and unique physical and medical requirements of the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, many International Military Students (IMS) have arrived ill-prepared physically for their courses or arrived without the proper documents to prepare for training. This has resulted in thousands of wasted dollars to both the United States government and to the sending nations. Frequently encountered problems: IMS arrives out of shape and does not meet the physical pre-requisites to enter the school. Each year approximately 12 IMS students are returned to their home nation because they failed the Army Physical Fitness Test on the first day of their training course. Nearly all training schools here at Ft. Benning require the IMS to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The APFT is separate and distinct from the medical exam, and is often confused with the medical exam by those SCO’s who are not familiar with the Army Physical Fitness System. The APFT is used to determine if the soldier has a MINIMUM level of physical fitness required to complete a course. If a soldier fails to pass ANY portion of the APFT he will not be allowed to enter the training school. The APFT consists of 3 components: It is strongly recommended that all IMS students be administered a diagnostic APFT in their nation prior to arriving to Ft. Benning for training. To administer the APFT, it is recommended you consult any Army Soldier or Officer and ask their assistance in this matter. If an IMS soldier cannot pass the APFT, or has difficulty meeting the bare minimum requirements to pass the APFT, DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER sending the IMS to Ft. Benning. Upon arriving to our office the IMS will be given an APFT. If he fails to pass it, we will return him to his host nation on the next available flight. Furthermore, we will be required to contact SATFA concerning this issue. If you have any questions concerning the APFT please CONTACT US and we will be more than willing to assist you on this matter. For more information on how to conduct the Army Physical Fitness Test (click here). Problem 2. IMS Soldier arrives without proper medical documents. Several schools at Ft. Benning require a medical exam be completed prior to arrival into a school. More often than not an IMS soldier arrives without the properly completed paperwork. Please refer to the medical exams page for more information concerning medical exams (click here).
Armor Basic Officer Leader Course
Airborne School
Army Basic Instructor Course
Cavalry Scout Advanced Leader Course
MCCC IMSO Preparation Course |
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