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West Point cadets visit Jersey City mosque

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — As part of a semester-long class called ``Winning the Peace,’’ some West Point cadets traveled to Jersey City to better understand cultures they are likely to encounter during their tours of duty.

The future Army lieutenants spent three days in the diverse city just across the Hudson River from New York, waking up to morning prayers in mosques and talking with imams.

The elective class has been offered since 2003 at the United States Military Academy in New York, about 50 miles north of New York City.

It is part of an effort by the U.S. military to introduce soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to cultures and religions they may not understand. In turn, the military hopes that will help stationed soldiers win the trust of local people.

The cadets also regularly e-mail with recent alumni serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as a requirement for the class.

For some students, like Zack Frisbie, a cadet from Houston who will be commissioned next month as an infantry officer, the trip offered a first visit to a mosque.

“I wish every cadet could spend time in a mosque to find out what it’s like, instead of learning in theater,’’ he told The Star-Ledger of Newark.

In addition to their time at a mosque, the students visited a Hindu temple and an African-American church. They also met with community leaders and young people from several of Jersey City’s ethnic populations, including Indians, Pakistanis and Egyptian Coptic Christians.