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Capstone Overview
Course Background
On 26 May 1982, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) directed the National Defense University (NDU) to establish a professional military education program for general and flag officer selectees. Two pilot programs were offered in 1983, and in February 1984, JCS approved a permanent annual CAPSTONE course of eight weeks in duration. In July 1986, the JCS reduced the course length to six weeks and increased the frequency to two courses per year. Beginning in 1987, four CAPSTONE courses a year were conducted to satisfy the statutory requirement of the DOD Reorganization Act of 1986--that all newly selected general/flag officers attend the CAPSTONE course.
CAPSTONE participants are referred to as "Fellows" because of the unique nature of the course and the special expertise and qualifications of those officers attending. The course differs from senior service schools in three major ways, other than the obvious rank of its participants, class size and course duration. First, the course focuses on the employment of U.S. forces in joint and combined operations to support national policy objectives. Second, it provides personal interaction with Combatant Commanders and other senior U.S. commanders. Third, retired four-star general and flag officers are attached to each class as Senior Fellows to provide advice and guidance.
Course Focus
Education at the general/flag officer level is inherently joint and unified in nature. Its focus is on the highest levels of strategy, integrating the elements of national power to achieve national security objectives. In particular, the CAPSTONE course reinforces new general/flag officer comprehension of joint matters and national security strategy needed for the remainder of an officer's career.
Course Mission
Ensure newly selected Generals and Flag officers understand the fundamentals of joint doctrine and the Joint Operational Art; how to integrate the elements of national power in order to accomplish national security and national military strategies and how joint, interagency, and multinational operations support national strategic goals and objectives.
Learning Objectives
The overall objectives of general/flag officer education are listed below.
- Analyze the national security policy process, to include the integration of the instruments of national power in support of the national security and national military strategies.
- Enhance the understanding of and coordination for Joint Doctrine and the Joint Operational Art.
- Comprehend Service, joint, interagency, and multinational capabilities and how these capabilities are best integrated to attain national security objectives.
- Comprehend how joint, service, and multinational battle space systems are integrated in support of theater strategies.
- Comprehend the impact of defense acquisition programs and policies and their implications for enhancing our joint military capabilities.
- Analyze the relationship between the military and cabinet-level departments, Congress, NSC, DOD agencies, and the public.
Course Methodology
The CAPSTONE course is presented in five general ways:
- Classroom seminars address the understanding of the U.S. defense community, key issues affecting national security and current problems facing today's senior leaders. These are provided through classroom presentations by current and former senior leaders, former Combatant Commanders, civilian leaders, military critics, student-led discussions, and a crisis decision exercise.
- Local area studies are conducted to achieve an understanding of principal national security agencies in the Washington area. Fellows visit the National Security Council, Department of State, Central Intelligence Agency, all Service headquarters (including the U.S. Coast Guard) and the Joint Staff.
- CONUS field studies are conducted to ensure Fellows understand the Unified Commands headquartered in the United States. This is done via discussions with the Combatant Commanders.
- Overseas field studies offer the opportunity to explore theater/regional security concerns, U.S. and allied/friendly nation capabilities and theater training and preparation for war. The class is divided into three groups for travel: Europe, the Pacific and the Western Hemisphere. Discussions with Combatant Commanders, ambassadors and other senior foreign military leaders on joint planning and operations, war fighting capabilities, and key issues facing the commands and regions highlight this phase of the course.
- Joint Operations Module (JOM) is a three-day course of instruction conducted as U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint War fighting Center (JWFC) Suffolk, VA. Its purpose is to enhance the Fellows comprehension of and appreciation for joint doctrine and the Joint Operational Art through a program of instruction that uses the life cycle of a Joint Task Force (forming, planning, deployment, employment, transition, and redeployment) as the training vehicle. The learning strategy is built around seminars and small group interactive practical exercises that emphasizes critical Joint Force Commander issues and lessons learned. Senior Mentors, observer/trainers, and various subject matter experts will support the Fellows in their efforts.
Course Context
The course requires intensive personal involvement on the part of each CAPSTONE Fellow through participation in or leadership of seminars, field trips, discussions, and the current issues exercise. There are many opportunities for each Fellow to share expertise and experiences with other participants. The CAPSTONE course does not include formal writing or research assignments. Readings are modest in scope and are offered to illuminate the issues under discussion. Fellows do present a group overview of their overseas field studies.
Senior Fellows
Senior Fellows are retired four-star general and flag officers who participate in the CAPSTONE program and provide a unique dimension to the course. Their breadth of experience, gained in both peace and war and in a variety of military and politically sensitive positions, qualifies them to serve as role models, to interpret events and issues, and to provide insights not readily available from other sources. Senior Fellows are a valuable teaching resource and occasionally lecture. Their principal contribution to the course, however, lies in their day-to-day contact with CAPSTONE participants.
Policies
Non Attribution Policy
Presentations by guest speakers, seminar leaders and panelists, including renowned public officials and scholars, constitute an important part of the curricula of the National Defense University. To allow the guests (as well as faculty and other University officials) the latitude to speak candidly, the University offers its assurance that their presentations will be held in strict confidence. This assurance derives from a policy of non attribution which is morally binding on all who attend. Without the expressed permission of the speaker, nothing he or she says will be attributed to him or her directly or indirectly in the presence of anyone who was not authorized to attend the presentation. This policy is not to inhibit students and faculty within the academic environment from discussing the opinions and views expressed by speakers. However, the non attribution policy precludes citing the views and opinions of one guest (even if he is not identified by name) when questioning subsequent speakers. It also precludes individuals from taping lectures.
Excusal Policy
The DOD Reorganization Act of 1986 requires that all active duty general and flag officers attend CAPSTONE. The Secretary of Defense may waive attendance for:
- An officer whose immediately previous assignment was a joint duty assignment
- When necessary for the good of the Service
- An officer whose selection for promotion is based primarily upon scientific and technical qualifications for which joint requirements do not exist
- Medical, dental, veterinary, medical service, and biomedical science officers, nurses and chaplains
Waivers must be requested by the Service headquarters to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Requests for short individual absences during the course are subject to approval by the President, National Defense University.
Security Clearance Policy
All Fellows and Senior Fellows participating in CAPSTONE must have appropriate U.S., NATO, and SCI security clearances. Although much of the course's written material and discussion will be of an unclassified nature, there will be frequent occasions when discussion will involve sensitive areas. All are reminded of their responsibility to properly safeguard classified material and not to discuss classified information, particularly SCI, in other than appropriately cleared facilities. Classified notes and readings will be kept in storage facilities in the CAPSTONE area. (See Section C, paragraph 2 for further information on security clearances.)
Building Security Policy
All entrances to university buildings are equipped with electronic security devices and are monitored by closed circuit television. Each CAPSTONE Fellow will be issued a security badge/electronic entry card during in-processing on day one of the course.
Smoking Policy
As stipulated in DOD Instruction 6015.8, 18 August 1977, smoking will not be allowed in classroom sessions in Washington nor during field visits.
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