Branko Versalovic, the current Chilean Officer invited to participate as IF in the REP. I was born in Copiapo city, in the northern region of Chile. I’m married, and together we have a 7-year-old boy. Both of them are now living the Carlisle experience with me. I joined the Army in 1998, at a very young age. I was just 15, which at the present is not allowed anymore, because the Chilean Military Academy education structure changed just after I could enlist myself. Being young (15 YO), I always knew that being Military was what I wanted to do with my life. I have spent 24 years on active duty. I am an armored cavalry officer, so for that reason, I have been involved in tanks and exploration units as also in different educative stages. I enjoy doing any outdoor activity, I’m a bit of a gym and sports addict. Being on the move keeps me going as fuel.
Episode Transcript: Hispanic Heritage Month – Branko Versalovic
Stephanie Crider (Host)
(Prerecorded Hispanic Heritage Month intro) The US Army War College celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. This year, to observe the occasion, the US Army War College Press recorded a series of interviews showcasing war college leadership, faculty, staff, and students. Listen in to hear their insights, anecdotes, and more.
The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the podcast guests and are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army, US Army War College, or any other agency of the US government.
This episode’s guest is US Army War College international fellow Branko Versalovic. Born in Copiapó City in the northern region of Chile, Versalovic joined the army in 1998, at just 15 years old, which is no longer permitted. He’s been on active duty 24 years as an armored cavalry officer.
Thank you for being a part of the war college Hispanic Heritage Month observance.
(Versalovic)
Thank you, Stephanie.
Host
Let’s start with talking about your background. How has your background prepared you for the collaboration with our diverse student body and faculty?
(Versalovic)
In Chile, I have been in different military positions. I’ve been working along with different people from the military but, also, from the civilian world. Additionally, I have been assigned to several cities in my country every few years. And, also, I have, working, different experiences with other military from abroad. I’ve been in Europe, in other South American countries, and with other services also in my country. So I think that maybe I have been exposed to different new scenarios and, also, people every time. And, in a way, this helped me to be prepared for change and newness.
On other hand, as I was born in South America, I think that should be useful for the student body and faculty. Because maybe, through, uh, me, they can understand a different reality, have another perspective of really American things or maybe some different issues in the world. So maybe not just me as Chilean, but, also, other guys from other countries—South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, everywhere—they can give you specific perspective about the world.
Host
That’s one of my favorite things about the war college. You learn as much from everybody here . . .
(Versalovic)
Yes, it’s awesome.
Host
As you do from the courses. What’s your biggest professional accomplishment to date?
(Versalovic)
Well, I’ve had different professional accomplishments. But now, the last one was getting my graduation from the Chilean (Army) War College. I’m a graduate in my country, so that allowed me to have a commanding position that I’m really proud of. And, after that, after my graduation, everything has been advancing in such a way that allowed me to be here today in this really prestigious institution.
During my career, I had different professional accomplishments in different stages and ranks. The last one that I will like to highlight is about my graduation from the Chilean (Army) War College with a commanding function after that because it’s my last experience as senior officers—and, also, because this last thing allowed me to come here to this prestigious institution what is letting me grow more and more as senior officer, as I told you before.
So I’m really happy and proud about my professional accomplishment. And I just hope to finish and to leave this (US) Army War College experience to be a better officer for my country and for my army.
Host
Would you be willing to share a pivotal moment in your life and how it changed your life or your career for the better?
(Versalovic)
It was the moment I became a father because it was the greatest but the scariest event that I had in my life. And when I say scariest, it’s in the best possible way that I can describe. It’s not a negative thing; it’s the best thing I have ever lived in my life. Being a father changes you as a man. You start seeing things from a different perspective, and you have a great and a different motivation, trying to do things better, because you look to the future from a different prism—your son’s or your daughter’s prism. So you become more responsible about not just your life, but, also, about your son’s life, trying to improve the environment in which he or she’s going to be involved in the future.
Host
What are you currently working on that you’re excited about?
(Versalovic)
I’m really excited about being here in the US Army War College, learning about many different topics and perspectives. But my main concern right now has been related to improving my English as a second language. It’s such a crazy experience when you’re fully immersed in a world, fully in English, learning also about idioms and acronyms and many different things that you are not accustomed to. So the idea or what I would like to live is that moment in which I will start to dream in English. And it’s not just about the language. It’s because the language is gonna be the tool that’s going to allow me to learn more about you, more about other countries’ mates, and to understand everything. Because this is a huge chance to increase not just my knowledge, but, also, my experience. And, also, it’s gonna be the tool to find different links and networks—friendship, professional networks. So I think it’s very important for the moment, and I’m trying to do it well.
Host
I think you’re doing a great job. I’m curious: How much English did you know when you came here? Zero or a little bit?
(Versalovic)
I knew English. But it’s different when you are deployed to accomplish a professional function, working in an office, like link officer or something like that because the most you have to do is to go to a meeting, to talk to someone, to write something. But when you’re in an academic environment, it’s different.
Host
Got it.
(Versalovic)
You have to listen carefully because the language . . . and it’s not about the language. It’s about the idiom is different.
Host
Yes.
(Versalovic)
And, also, it’s difficult because you have too many acronyms. So maybe that’s another barrier. And, finally, the most difficult thing is to write in English because it’s not about the grade. Here, it’s about to make you understand to your faculties, to your classmates, even to that people that is going to take your paper, maybe one or two more years is going to read something that you were thinking about maybe two years before.
So that’s my main challenge right now. And I’m trying to manage and to balance everything here because it’s not just about studying. When you talk to us about the Carlisle experience, it’s real. This is more than an institute. This is a community in which everyone are involved in. So you have the residents course. You have the faculties. But you also have other organizations—a really important one, for example—your Strategic Studies Institute. You have here Morale, Welfare and Recreation unit that is behind the scenes, but it’s also important. You have many, many people here, and you start to create and to strengthen some really nice links with many different people here. My concern about the language is maybe to be able to live a really complete life here.
Host
And I agree. I think this is one of the best communities ever.
(Versalovic)
I don’t know if you realize how important is—could be—this community—not just here, but everywhere. Because once you’ve been here, you know that you are war college graduate. So I was talking about this with my sponsor one month ago: that maybe it’s a future task—not for you, but maybe for international fellows—to try to cultivate this community abroad to be available for you . . .
Host
Yes.
(Versalovic)
When you try to communicate, for example, with the Chilean military. I mean, former war college students or professors: You are able to get them and maybe to share with them different things you need or maybe different things we need. But I think that’s a commitment which you have to take when you’re here because it’s a huge experience.
So, Stephanie, I want to thank you. And I feel really proud to be here and representing different countries here, not just my country. So I hope to have done it good.
Host
You did a fabulous job.
(Versalovic)
Hopefully!
The US Army War College celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. This year, to observe the occasion, the US Army War College Press recorded a series of interviews showcasing War College leadership, faculty, staff, and students. Listen in to hear their insights, anecdotes, and more. The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the podcast guests and are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army, US Army War College, or any other agency of the US Government.