To prepare military personnel for an upcoming deployment to Africa, The Ohio State University has partnered with the U.S. Army Reserve’s 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne).
Ohio State’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) and the Center for African Studies (CAS) are collaborating with the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion to present the CAS-CIBER Africa Seminar.
Held at the Fisher College of Business this winter and spring, the seminar focuses on conflict resolution, peacebuilding and the political, economic and social landscapes of various African nations where service members will be stationed.
“We value very much all the partnerships with different institutions across the state,” said Kaya Ṣahin, Ohio State’s vice provost for global strategies and international affairs and a professor of history. “This is a great example of one of our study centers helping our state, helping people who work for our state to receive training that could not be received elsewhere.”
The seminar matches Ohio State scholars’ expertise with service members’ technical know-how, Ṣahin said.
“We have these specialist scholars who are among the best people that we have in the nation who study Africa, and we have these people from the Ohio National Guard going to Africa,” he said. “We want to make sure that they’re prepared to do the best job while there.”
The seminar is designed to assist military personnel in gaining a deeper understanding of the environments in which they will operate, said CAS Director Ousman Murzik Kobo. Kobo led the seminar along with CAS Assistant Director Jacien Carr.
“This seminar is, in part, the fulfillment of what we promise to do, our major mission in terms of serving the country, serving the state of Ohio, being a land-grant university,” said Kobo, an associate professor of history. “It’s also a way of demonstrating our relevance.”
Capt. Patrick MacMullen with the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion said the seminar aligns with the battalion’s role in strengthening service members’ global understanding and mission readiness.
“I work hand in hand with the rest of our staff to coordinate, to make sure that these types of events are facilitated and that they are confirmed on the schedule for our battle assemblies,” he said. The seminar helps the battalion members “obtain the knowledge that they need in preparation for upcoming missions this year and next year.”
By attending the seminar, the battalion members are gaining a broader perspective on complex geopolitical issues that affect their work, said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Rayan.
“I think exposure to such information and to actually interview and receive lessons from people on the ground is the best way to learn about the culture, the political environment and everything else that’s going on in Africa right now,” he said. “I think it’s an excellent program.”
Maj. Quang Nguyen said learning about the people and customs of the region where he will be deployed is equipping him with the resources to best carry out his duties.
“For me personally, just understanding cultural and social norms and understanding how we should comport ourselves” has been helpful, he said. “Understanding the history that led to the current conditions … and getting it from the academic perspective has been extremely beneficial.”
Written by Chris Bournea, Ohio State, U.S. Army Reserve partner on training program was originally published by Ohio State News on March 31, 2025.