Return to Pointer View home page June 24,  2005

Afghan national ready to begin West Point experience 

Story and photo by Eric S. Bartelt
Senior Staff Writer

When Afghan national Shoaib Yosoufzai gets in line with the other new cadets Monday, he will become the first Afghanistan native to attend the U.S. Military Academy.

Oppressive governments, foreign invasions and a history of war have left a distinct impression on Afghanistan. For decades Afghans have survived the torments of inside -- and outside -- influences.

Beginning Monday, future generations of Afghan people will see the stepping-stone of their fortunes realized as Shoa

ib Yosoufzai becomes the first Afghan native to attend the U.S. Military Academy.

Yosoufzai, one of 21 international cadets accepted here as a member of the Class of 2009, comes from Laghman providence in Eastern Afghanistan.

The new wave of Afghan democracy, which was once a haven for terrorists, will be cemented by the success of Yousoufzai at America’s birthplace of military democracy.

Yosoufzai spent two years at Kabul University learning civil engineering. Continuing in the engineering field and gaining a strong military background are two of the reasons he wanted to come to West Point.

“I wanted a military career and the U.S. Military Academy has a very good educational system that helps with your leadership skills,” Yosoufzai said. “They have a good engineering program and I would like to help my people in every field that I major in here.”

He started the process about a year-and-a-half ago as one of more than 60 people applying from universities and high schools throughout Afghanistan.

His father, Hamdullah Yosoufzai, who is dean of academics at the National Military Academy Afghanistan, convinced him that coming to West Point would be the best thing for him and his country.

“My father told me everything about the military academy and told me it was my decision,” Yosoufzai explained. “[He said] If I study at the U.S. Military Academy it would be tough, but I would have a really good future and help my country and people.”

Yosoufzai studied some English grammar at Kabul University, which helped him with his SAT exam and for the past four months has built his English language skills at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

He said his generation now has the right to make their own decisions, unlike a few years ago under Taliban rule, and he is happy for all the help from the U.S. and the international community. Also, his time in Nebraska changed some of his views of Americans as well.

“Before coming to the U.S., I was thinking the people would be too busy here and no one would like to help me out,” Yosoufzai said. “But, when I got here, I knew it was different and everyone was friendly and interested in knowing about Afghanistan and helping the Afghan people.”

Yosoufzai feels he’s lucky to have this chance to make a difference in so many peoples’ lives and wants to help build a military and government that lasts in Afghanistan.

“I want to help my country build a professional military and stable government,” Yosoufzai said. “I will do everything that my government tells me to do and, as an officer, I can say that it will be my duty to fight against injustice and work for the military.”

He is appreciative of Col. James Wilhite, Office of Military Cooperation Afghanistan academy team chief and Capt. Robert Romans, Jr., USMA admissions international cadets section, for their help in making his arrival here as painless as possible.

Romans goes through the tedious process of evaluating all international cadets files, with the help of the English, math and admissions committee, to select the best candidates.

Romans believes Yosoufzai has a golden opportunity to help his country, much like West Point graduates have been benefiting America for more than 200 years.

“It’s the desire and drive to help rebuild his own country that will carry him through the next four years at West Point,” Romans said.