By Gregory Childress

gchildress@heraldsun.com; 918-1046

CHAPEL HILL -- Expect to see more men in uniform on the UNC campus.

On Thursday, the UNC system and the U.S. Army signed a formal agreement that allows soldiers to take advantage of the university's expertise in a number of areas.

Under the agreement, soldiers will make the 50-mile trek from Fort Bragg to UNC for enhanced medical training, to study languages, and learn the art of negotiation, management and leadership.

Specifically, the memorandum of agreement, as it is called, is between UNC and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) headquartered at Fort Bragg. Special Ops trains the Army's soldiers in elite units such as the Green Berets and Rangers.

UNC System President Erskine Bowles said the agreement is the first of what he hopes to be many more collaborative opportunities between the university system and the military.

"Thus far, we've only scratched the surface of what is possible," Bowles said during a ceremony that brought several high level Army officers and elected officials to Thursday's Board of Governors meeting.

Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland Jr., commander of Special Ops Command, stressed that soldiers already receive first-rate training, but said there is much the UNC system has to offer that will make them even better prepared as they conduct missions in dangerous parts of the world.

"That is part of our challenge to ourselves . . . to put the finest, most capable soldiers and informations on the battlefield to do what our country ask for us to do," he said. "And to not take advantage of these incredible centers of excellence and expertise here in the University of North Carolina system would just be wrong."

Several universities in the system already have ongoing relationships with the military.

Bowles said he is disappointed that so few soldiers take advantage of the UNC system's online degree programs. He said university officials must do a better job of getting the word out about them to attract more military personnel.

The agreement also encourages:

n The assessment of Special Ops capabilities gaps for material for possible solution by UNC research and development subject matter experts.

n Business school support for Special Ops' pre-command course.

n Degree completion opportunities for soldiers (including online programs).

n Degree opportunities and assistance for military spouses and family.

n A relationship with UNC-sponsored Fulbright Scholars to allow for mutually supporting cultural exchanges/awareness (and possible language exchange).

n Support to the Irregular Warfare Center.

n An Army senior service college fellowship program at UNC.

n Congressional liaison, coordination and support.