Staff colleges (also
command and staff colleges or
war colleges) train military officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of their profession. It is usual for such training to occur at several levels in a career. For example, an officer may be sent to various staff courses: as a captain they may be sent to a single service command and staff school to prepare for company command and equivalent staff posts; as a major to a single or joint service college to prepare for battalion command and equivalent staff posts; and as a colonel or brigadier to a higher staff college to prepare for brigade and division command and equivalent postings.
The success of Staff Colleges spawned, in the mid-twentieth century, a civilian imitation in what are called administrative staff colleges. These institutions apply some of the principles of the education of the military colleges to the executive development of managers from both the public and private sectors of the economy. The first and best-known administrative staff college was established in Britain at
GreenlandsGreenlands is a country house situated by the River Thames in Buckinghamshire, just outside Henley-on-Thames. Built in the nineteenth century, it now forms the core of Greenlands Campus of the University of Reading, and is used by their Henley Business School as the base for its MBA and corporate...
near
HenleyHenley-on-Thames is a town on the north side of the River Thames in south Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
, Oxfordshire and is now re-named Henley Management College.
History
The first modern staff college was that of Prussia. Prussian advanced officer education began under the reign of Fredrick the Great. The Seven Years War demonstrated the inadequacy of generals' education, but it was not until 1801 that staff training in a modern sense began when Gerhard von Scharnhorst became director of the
Militarakademie. The Prussian defeats at the hand of
Napoleon INapoleon Bonaparte later known as Napoleon I, and previously Napoleone di Buonaparte, was a military and political leader of France whose actions shaped European politics in the early 19th century.Born in Corsica and trained as an artillery officer in mainland France, Bonaparte rose to prominence...
led to the creation of the
Allgemeine Kriegsschule (General War Academy) with a nine month programme covering mathematics, tactics, strategy, staff work, weapons science, military geography, languages, physics, chemistry and administration. The German staff courses have been used as a basic templates for other staff courses around the world.
Staff Course Formats
Nations have taken a wide variety of approaches to staff colleges' form, curriculum and status, but have much in common with the Prussian courses of the early 19th Century. Some courses act as filters for promotion or entry into a specialist staff corps. Course lengths vary widely between 3 months and 3 years, with some having entrance and/or exit examinations. The more senior the course, the more likely that it will include strategic, political and joint aspects, with junior courses often focussing on single service and tactical military aspects of warfare.
Staff colleges
Australia
The
Australian Defence CollegeThe Australian Defence College comprises three tri-service educational organisations operated by the Australian Defence Force, in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory:* the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies ,...
(ADC) was officially opened in 1999 in
CanberraCanberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth largest Australian city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory, south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. It is a Joint organisation, and comprises:
- the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS), Weston Creek
Weston is a suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. On Census night 2006, Weston had a population of 3,176 people....
,
- the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC), Weston Creek, and
- the Australian Defence Force Academy
The Australian Defence Force Academy is a tri-service military Academy that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Defence Force in the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Regular Army and Royal Australian Air Force .ADFA also provides post-graduate...
(ADFA).
Prior to the establishment of the Australian Command and Staff College, middle management officer Command and Staff training was conducted at separate single Service staff colleges:
- the Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
Command and Staff Course was conducted at the Army Command and Staff College at Fort QueenscliffFort Queenscliff, in Victoria, Australia, dates from 1860 when an open battery was constructed on Shortland's Bluff to defend the entrance to Port Phillip Bay. The Fort, which underwent major redevelopment in the late 1870s and 1880s, became the headquarters for an extensive chain of forts around...
in VictoriaVictoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales to the north, South Australia to the west, and Tasmania to the south, across the Bass Strait. Victoria is the most densely populated state, with over 70% of...
;
- the RAAF
The Royal Australian Air Force is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF began in March 1912 as the Australian Flying Corps making it the second oldest air force in the world...
Staff Course at the RAAF Staff College at RAAF Base Fairbairn in CanberraCanberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth largest Australian city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory, south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
; and
- the RAN
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following federation of the Australian Colonies in 1901, the former colonial navies merged to become the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
Staff Course at the RAN Staff College at HMAS PenguinThe current HMAS Penguin is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy located at Balmoral on the shore of Sydney Harbour in the suburb of Mosman, New South Wales...
in SydneySydney is the largest city in Australia, and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney has a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million and an area of approximately 12,000 square kilometres. Its inhabitants are called Sydneysiders, and Sydney is often called "the Harbour City"...
.
Canada
- Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College
The Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College is a school for officers of the Canadian Forces, specializing in staff and operations courses...
- Canadian Forces College
The Canadian Forces College is a military school for officers of the Canadian Forces. The college provides military education courses meant to enable officers to effectively provide leadership within the Canadian Forces.-History:...
France
- Collège interarmées de défense
The Collège interarmées de défense is a French institution for military higher education. It succeeds the former four Écoles supérieures de guerre of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Gendarmerie, and the Cours supérieur interarmées since 1 September 1993. It is located in the École Militaire, and is...
("Defense Joint College"). Created in 1993 by the fusion of the four Écoles supérieures de guerre ("War Higher Schools").
- Centre des hautes études militaires ("Center of Advanced Military Studies"). Created in 1952. The students must have completed the Collège interarmées de défense.
- Institut des hautes études de la défense nationale ("Institute of Advanced Defense Studies"). Created in 1936. The students are civilians, both civil servants and high-profile executives, but the students of the Centre des hautes études militaires also attend the Institut.
- Centre des hautes études de l'armemement ("Center of Advanced Ordnance Studies"). The students are military officers and civil servants of the Délégation générale pour l'armement
The Délégation générale pour l’armement, in English the “General Delegation for Ordnance”, or DGA, is the French government agency that conducts development and evaluation programs for weapon systems for the French military....
and executives of the arms industryThe arms industry is a global industry and business which manufactures and sells weapons and military technology and equipment. Arms producing companies, also referred to as defence companies or military industry, produce arms mainly for the armed forces of states. Products include guns,...
.
Germany
- Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr
The Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr is the highest military academy of the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr. Established in 1957, and since 1958 located in Hamburg, it is the successor of the Prussian Military Academy that was established in 1810.The academy offer two main courses: The Lehrgang...
, Armed Forces Staff and Command College
- Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik
Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik , German for Federal College For Security Studies, is a German think tank....
, Federal Academy for Security Policy
India
Defence Services Staff College, Wellington
Japan
- Naval War College (Japan)
The was the staff college of the Imperial Japanese Navy, responsible for training officers for command positions either on warships, or in staff roles....
Lebanon
- Fouad Shehab Command and Staff College
The Fouad Shehab Command and Staff College is a Lebanese Armed Forces facility that functions as a graduate school for the Lebanese Army in addition to other Arab armies . It was originally established in 1974 as the Center of Higher Military Education...
NATO
- NATO Defence College
The NATO Defense College was established in 1951. Since 1999 it has been at Cecchignola, near Rome, Italy, having previously been at Viale della Civilta del Lavoro, Rome, Italy 1966-1999, and the École Militaire, Champ de Mars, Paris, France 1951-1966....
New Zealand
- New Zealand Defence College
The New Zealand Defence College is the premier educational institute for the New Zealand Defence Force and is located at Trentham Military Camp, Upper Hutt . The New Zealand Defence College provides professional military education to New Zealand Defence Force Officers...
Pakistan
- Command and Staff College
The Command and Staff College was established in 1907 at Quetta, Balochistan, India, now in Pakistan, and is the oldest and the most prestigious institution of the Pakistan Army. It was established in 1905 in Deolali and moved to its present location at Quetta in 1907 under the name of Quetta Cadet...
established by Lord Kitchener in Quetta in 1907.
- National Defence University, Islamabad
National Defence University is a Pakistani military institution whose origin goes back to the year 1963, when the 1st Army War Course started at the Command and Staff College, Quetta. Subsequently, in 1971, a dedicated National Defence College was established at the old building of the National...
Philippines
Singapore
- Singapore Command and Staff College
The Singapore Command and Staff College is one of five officer schools of the SAFTI Military Institute of the Singapore Armed Forces . The inaugural Command and Staff Course commenced in 1969 and the College was officially opened in February 1970 by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew,...
Sri Lanka
- General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University located at Kandawala, Ratmalana, Colombo, is a joint services academy where cadets of the three wings Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force are trained before they go for their pre-commission training to their academies...
- Defence Services Command and Staff College
The Defence Services Command and Staff College is situated at Batalanda, Makola 12 Kilometers away from Colombo and its aim to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of experienced officers of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy & the Sri Lanka Air Force to prepare them for the ranks...
United Kingdom
- Defence Academy of the United Kingdom (Shrivenham)
- Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College is a British military academic establishment providing training and education to experienced officers of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence Civil Service, and serving officers of other states.JSCSC combined the single service...
for officers (OF2 to OF6) and Warrant Officers (Shrivenham)
- Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.The RCDS Mission is:...
for officers (OF6 to OF7) and civilians (London)
- Defunct British establishments include:
- Joint Service Defence College
The Joint Service Defence College was a training academy for British military personnel in the period from 1983 to 1997. It has now been amalgamated into the Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Prior history:...
- Staff College, Camberley
-Origins:In 1799 Colonel John Gaspard Le Marchant, 7th Hussars, submitted a proposal to the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army for a Royal Military College in three departments...
United States of America
- Air University at Maxwell AFB, Alabama
- Air Command and Staff College
The Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school...
- Air War College
The United States Air Force Air War College is a part of the Air University, and is a component of the United States Air Force's Air Education and Training Command, headquartered at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama.- History :...
- Air Force Institute of Technology
The Air Force Institute of Technology is a graduate school and provider of professional and continuing education that is part of the United States Air Force. It is located on Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Considered a component of Air University, AFIT has been offering degrees since 1956 and was...
(Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio)
- Army
The United States Army is the branch of the United States Military responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military and is one of seven uniformed services...
Command and General Staff CollegeThe U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a United States Army facility that functions as a graduate school for United States Armed Forces and foreign military leaders...
in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
- School of Advanced Military Studies
- U.S. Army War College
The United States Army War College is a United States Army school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500 acre campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks, a military post dating back to the 1770s. It caters to high-level military personnel and civilians and prepares them for strategic...
(Carlisle, Pennsylvania)
- Naval War College
The 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 in Newport, Rhode Island...
in Newport, Rhode Island
- College of Naval Command and Staff
- College of Naval Warfare
- Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants both master's degrees and doctoral degrees. The school also offers research fellowship opportunities at the postdoctoral level through the .The NPS...
(Monterey, California)
- 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...
- Marine Corps Command and Staff College
- Joint Forces Staff College
The Joint Forces Staff College located in Norfolk, Virginia, was established as the Armed Forces Staff College in 1946 and incorporated into the National Defense University in August 1981. It educates and acculturates joint and multinational warfighters to plan and lead at the operational level...
in Norfolk, Virginia,
- Defense Acquisition University
-History:The Defense Acquisition University is a United States military training establishment which trains and enables the 126,000 military and civilian Department of Defense personnel in the fields of Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; including Leadership and Program Management.The mission...
- five campuses - HQ at Fort Belvoir, Virginia
- National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Adm. Ann...
in Washington D.C.
- National War College
The 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...
- Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...
See also
- Staff (military)
- Military Academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the Army, the Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard or provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three types of...
- United States military academies
The United States Service academies, also known as the United States Military Academies, are federal academies for the undergraduate education and training of commissioned officers for the United States armed forces.-United States Service academies:...
- List of defunct United States military academies
- Higher Command and Staff Course
The Higher Command and Staff Course is a staff course for senior military officers of the United Kingdom armed forces and allies. It is taught at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom....
(UK)