Marine Corps War College
Encyclopedia
The Marine Corps War College (MCWAR), is the senior school of the Marine Corps University
, providing Joint Professional Military Education
(JPME) to selected United States military officers, civilian Government officials, and international military officers. The College prepares officers for future senior command and staff responsibilities requiring exceptional operational competence, sound military judgment, and strategic thinking. The college is located within the Marine Corps University
aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico
, Virginia
.
, instituted the Art of War Studies program under the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. General Gray’s vision was to establish a “world-class educational institution for the study of war and the profession of arms.” The original seminar was attended by six lieutenant colonels and was ten-month’s long. Following General Gray’s vision and charter, the course of study matured into the current College and was patterned after other United States military senior-level service colleges. By 1999, the college became an accredited JPME Phase-I institution, enrolling 16 students from all five branches of the Armed Forces and various government agencies. In 2002, the college received full accreditation from both the United States Department of Education
and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
to confer a Master of Strategic Studies degree. In 2006, the college received JPME Phase-II accreditation. In 2009, the college expanded its student population and opened enrollment to include international military officers. The maximum enrollment per academic year is 30 students. In 2011, the College published the inaugural edition of the "MCWAR Papers" in cooperation with the Marine Corps University Press. The MCWAR papers is compilation of select, analytical papers by the College's students on strategic-level issues of national importance.
MCWAR is located in Dunlap Hall aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Dunlap Hall is named in honor of Brigadier General Robert H. Dunlap
, USMC. BGen Dunlap served during the Spanish-American War
, Philippine-American War
, and World War I
. He died on May 19, 1931 in Cinc-Mars la Pile, France while attempting to save a French woman from a landslide.
Vision: Graduates assume senior leadership positions of increasing complexity through the study of national military strategy, theater strategy and plans, and military support to those strategies within the context of national security policies, decision-making, objectives, and resources.
s such as United States Central Command
(USCENTCOM) as well as international trips to allies in Europe and Latin America.
The curriculum is administered through a ten-month resident program consisting of 42 credit hours in the following core courses:
In addition to the curriculum, extracurricular educational activities are offered through the auspices of The Marine Corps University
, Library of the Marine Corps (Alfred M. Gray Research Center), National Museum of the Marine Corps
, Marine Corps University Foundation, and Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
Graduates are awarded a Master of Strategic Studies degree and JPME Phase-II certification by the President of the Marine Corps University. The degree is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
.
U.S. Military Officers:
Government Officials:
International Military Officers have attended from:
Invitation, nomination, and admission to the College vary by student type: U.S. military officers are admitted through their services’ selection/assignment processes; Federal Government civilian employees are admitted through an invitational nomination and approval process; International military officers are selected through the Department of State.
As of 1995, the number of graduates promoted to O-6 was 93% which exceeds the Marine Corps average. Also, 96% have been selected for command.
Marine Corps University
The Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...
, providing Joint Professional Military Education
Joint Professional Military Education
Joint Professional Military Education is a form of Professional Military Education in the United States that emphasizes a multiservice approach. Joint Professional Military Education was established following greater awareness during World War II of a need for effective cooperation between the...
(JPME) to selected United States military officers, civilian Government officials, and international military officers. The College prepares officers for future senior command and staff responsibilities requiring exceptional operational competence, sound military judgment, and strategic thinking. The college is located within the Marine Corps University
Marine Corps University
The Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...
aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico, sometimes abbreviated MCB Quantico, is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly in southern Prince William County, northern Stafford County, and southeastern Fauquier County...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
History
On 1 August, 1990, the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Alfred M. Gray, Jr.Alfred M. Gray, Jr.
Alfred M. Gray, Jr. , is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the twenty-ninth Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1987-91. He retired from the Corps in 1991 after 41 years of service.-Personal:Alfred M. Gray, Jr...
, instituted the Art of War Studies program under the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. General Gray’s vision was to establish a “world-class educational institution for the study of war and the profession of arms.” The original seminar was attended by six lieutenant colonels and was ten-month’s long. Following General Gray’s vision and charter, the course of study matured into the current College and was patterned after other United States military senior-level service colleges. By 1999, the college became an accredited JPME Phase-I institution, enrolling 16 students from all five branches of the Armed Forces and various government agencies. In 2002, the college received full accreditation from both the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
to confer a Master of Strategic Studies degree. In 2006, the college received JPME Phase-II accreditation. In 2009, the college expanded its student population and opened enrollment to include international military officers. The maximum enrollment per academic year is 30 students. In 2011, the College published the inaugural edition of the "MCWAR Papers" in cooperation with the Marine Corps University Press. The MCWAR papers is compilation of select, analytical papers by the College's students on strategic-level issues of national importance.
MCWAR is located in Dunlap Hall aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Dunlap Hall is named in honor of Brigadier General Robert H. Dunlap
Robert H. Dunlap
Robert Henry Dunlap was a general in the United States Marine Corps.Born in Washington, D.C., Dunlap was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps August 8, 1898...
, USMC. BGen Dunlap served during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
, and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He died on May 19, 1931 in Cinc-Mars la Pile, France while attempting to save a French woman from a landslide.
Mission and Vision
Mission: To educate selected senior officers and civilians for decision-making across the range of military operations in a joint, inter-agency, and multinational environment.Vision: Graduates assume senior leadership positions of increasing complexity through the study of national military strategy, theater strategy and plans, and military support to those strategies within the context of national security policies, decision-making, objectives, and resources.
Curriculum
The curriculum is designed to ensure officers "develop intellectual and technical approaches to warfighting and strategic thinking, hone military judgment, evaluate methodologies, expand academic expertise, and sharpen teaching skills through reading, research, writing, and participation in seminars." In order to achieve this, the curriculum partners military competence with political, economic, social, and informational studies which converge to form a complete national strategy. Collaborative efforts with various organizations provides a diverse educational experience on complex topics. Students routinely interact with policy makers such as the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Homeland Defense, the Director of the FBI, the National Security Advisor, and members of congress. Non-government agencies such as JP Morgan, the Council on Foreign Relations, the New York Stock Exchange, and J Walter Thompson are also engaged to supplement the College's coursework. Domestic and international travel opportunities are integrated with the curriculum to provide a global perspective These travel opportunities have included trips to Unified Combatant CommandUnified Combatant Command
A Unified Combatant Command is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of...
s such as United States Central Command
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
(USCENTCOM) as well as international trips to allies in Europe and Latin America.
The curriculum is administered through a ten-month resident program consisting of 42 credit hours in the following core courses:
- Leadership and Ethics
- Economics and National Power
- War, Policy, and Strategy
- National Security and Joint Warfare
- Regional Studies
- Independent Research Project
In addition to the curriculum, extracurricular educational activities are offered through the auspices of The Marine Corps University
Marine Corps University
The Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...
, Library of the Marine Corps (Alfred M. Gray Research Center), National Museum of the Marine Corps
National Museum of the Marine Corps
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is the historical museum of the United States Marine Corps. It is located in Quantico, Virginia and is open to the public with free admission. The museum had its grand opening on November 10, 2006 and is now the number one tourist attraction in Virginia,...
, Marine Corps University Foundation, and Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
Graduates are awarded a Master of Strategic Studies degree and JPME Phase-II certification by the President of the Marine Corps University. The degree is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
.
Notable Speakers
Throughout the academic year numerous distinguished guests visit the College to lead small group seminars, and give lectures:- The Honorable Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense
- General (Ret) Peter PacePeter PacePeter Pace is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first Marine appointed to the United States' highest-ranking military office. Appointed by President George W. Bush, Pace succeeded U.S. Air Force General Richard Myers on...
USMC, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - Dr.David KilcullenDavid KilcullenDavid John Kilcullen F.R.G.S is an Australian author and consultant who is a leading theorist on counterinsurgency and counterterrorism. In 2007 he served as the Senior Counterinsurgency Adviser to the Commander of the Multi-National Force - Iraq responsible for planning and executing the Joint...
, Special Advisor for Counterinsurgency to the Secretary of State - General James T. ConwayJames T. ConwayJames Terry Conway is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who was the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps...
, Commandant of the Marine Corps - Admiral Thad W. AllenThad W. AllenThad William Allen is a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the 23rd Commandant of the Coast Guard. Allen is best known for his widely-praised performance directing the federal response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast region from September 2005 to January 2006....
, Commandant of the Coast Guard - Lieutenant General Robert Schmidle USMC
- Ambassador Ronald Schleicher
- General Norton A. SchwartzNorton A. SchwartzNorton Allan Schwartz is a United States Air Force general who is serving as the 19th Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He previously served as Commander, United States Transportation Command from September 2005 to August 2008...
, Chief of Staff of the Air Force - Ambassador Charles S. ShapiroCharles S. ShapiroCharles Samuel Shapiro is an American diplomat and a former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela. He went on to become Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the State Department from 2007 to 2009, and now heads its free trade agreement task force.Some supporters of president Hugo Chávez accuse Shapiro...
- Ambassador Donald YamamotoDonald YamamotoDonald Yamamoto is the former U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia . He was appointed by President George W. Bush in November, 2006, and presented his credentials to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa on December 6, 2006....
- General David PetraeusDavid PetraeusDavid Howell Petraeus is the current Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, sworn in on September 6, 2011. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus was a four-star general serving over 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander...
USA, Commanding General, Central Command - Lieutenant General (Ret) Paul Van Riper USMC
- General George W. Casey Jr., Chief of Staff of the Army
- Ambassador Robert O. Blake Jr.
- General (Ret) Anthony ZinniAnthony ZinniAnthony Charles Zinni is a retired four-star General in the United States Marine Corps and a former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command...
USMC - General (Ret) Michael Hayden USAF, Former Director of the CIA
- Admiral Michael MullenMichael MullenMichael Glenn "Mike" Mullen is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral, who served as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2011. Mullen previously served as the Navy's 28th Chief of Naval Operations from July 22, 2005 to September 29, 2007...
USN, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - Justice Antonin ScaliaAntonin ScaliaAntonin Gregory Scalia is an American jurist who serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. As the longest-serving justice on the Court, Scalia is the Senior Associate Justice...
, United States Supreme Court - Admiral Gary RougheadGary RougheadGary Roughead is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who last served as the 29th Chief of Naval Operations from September 29, 2007 to September 22, 2011. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, from May 17, 2007, to September 29, 2007. Prior to that he served as...
, Chief of Naval Operations - Charles Robb, Former Senator from Virginia
- Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr.Robert J. Papp, Jr.Robert J. Papp. Jr. is a United States Coast Guard admiral and the 24th and current Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. He leads the largest component of the United States Department of Homeland Security, with 42,000 active duty, 8,200 Reserve, 8,000 civilian, and 31,000...
, Commandant of the Coast Guard
Students & Admissions
Admission to the College is based on allocations granted by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and are solicited each academic year through a Marine Administrative Message. The admissions policy supports the mission and purpose of the College and reflects the needs of the United States Marine Corps and the educational criteria of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s Officer Professional Military Education Policy. The student body is composed from three distinct populations:U.S. Military Officers:
- United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
- United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
- United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
- United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
- United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast GuardThe United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
Government Officials:
- Central Intelligence AgencyCentral Intelligence AgencyThe Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
- Defense Intelligence AgencyDefense Intelligence AgencyThe Defense Intelligence Agency is a member of the Intelligence Community of the United States, and is the central producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense, employing over 16,500 U.S. military and civilian employees worldwide...
- Department of State
- Federal Bureau of InvestigationFederal Bureau of InvestigationThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
International Military Officers have attended from:
- Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- Islamic Republic of Pakistan
- Republic of the Philippines
Invitation, nomination, and admission to the College vary by student type: U.S. military officers are admitted through their services’ selection/assignment processes; Federal Government civilian employees are admitted through an invitational nomination and approval process; International military officers are selected through the Department of State.
As of 1995, the number of graduates promoted to O-6 was 93% which exceeds the Marine Corps average. Also, 96% have been selected for command.
Notable U.S. Graduates
- Lieutenant General John F. GoodmanJohn F. GoodmanLieutenant General John Floyd Goodman is a retired United States Marine Corps general. He is currently Director of the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance , United States Pacific Command having assumed the directorship on October 17, 2008.-Early life:John...
, USMC, Class of 1991 - Lieutenant General Richard Kramlich, USMC, Class of 1992
- Lieutenant General Howard Bromberg, USA, Class of 1998
- Lieutenant General Robert Schmidle, USMC, Class of 1996
- Major General Richard Comer, USAF, Class of 1993
- Major General Timothy Donovan, USMC, Class of 1994
- Major General Thomas Conant, USMC, Class of 1995
- Major General Paul E. LefebvrePaul E. LefebvreMajor General Paul E. Lefebvre is a Marine Corps officer and the third Commanding General of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command .-Early life and education:...
, USMC, Class of 1999 - Major General David Reist, USMC Class of 2000
- Major General Charles Hudson, USMC, Class of 2001
- Brigadier General Christopher Owens, USMC, Class of 2003
- Brigadier General Francis Kelley, USMC Class of 2004
- Brigadier General David Smith, USA Class of 2004
- Brigadier General George W. Smith, USMC Class of 2004
- Brigadier General Scott Miller, USA Class of 2005
- Rear Admiral Bruce Baffer, USCG Class of 2005
Notable International Graduates
- Major General Muhammad Abid Nazir, Pakistan Army, Class of 2010
- Brigadier General Rafique Abid, Pakistan Army, Class of 2011
See Also
- National War CollegeNational War CollegeThe National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
- Naval War CollegeNaval War CollegeThe Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
- Army War College
- Air War CollegeAir War CollegeThe Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
- Marine Corps UniversityMarine Corps UniversityThe Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...
- United States Marine Corps Training and Education CommandUnited States Marine Corps Training and Education CommandThe Marine Corps Training and Education Command is the primary training command of the United States Marine CorpsIt develops, coordinate, resource, execute, and evaluate training and education concepts, policies, plans, and programs for Marines to meet the challenges of operational...
- Marine Corps Combat Development CommandMarine Corps Combat Development CommandMarine Corps Combat Development Command, located in at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, has the mission of developing Marine Corps warfighting abilities to enable the Corps to field combat-ready forces...