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Higher Command and Staff Course - HCSC

Joint Services Command and Staff College
Command
17 weeks - residential
Shrivenham

More information

Key information

Level

Postgraduate

Planned dates

Please contact us for information
on planned dates for this course.

Keywords

About this course

A post-graduate level course featuring a combination of lectures, staff led discussions, exercises and visits to a range of government departments and military headquarters. It culminates with a ‘staff ride’ which uses the setting of the battlefields of northern France and Belgium to bring together and evaluate the course themes and learning objectives.

This course is open to nominated personnel only.

What you will learn

You will learn/develop:
  • an understanding of the Defence contribution to national strategy
  • to study and demonstrate effective military decision making and operational design in crisis situations
  • to evaluate the enduring characteristics of high command and leadership in current and future context

How will this course help my career?

This course will enable you to gain a higher rank within your organisation.

Security and restrictions

Nominated personnel only.

International personnel must be cleared to at least NATO secret, UK personnel must have DV clearance.

International personnel are normally drawn from NATO or “5-eyes” partner nations. Invitations are determined at the annual MOD run Forward Allocation Baseline meeting.

Before you attend

A broad range of pre-reading material will be sent prior to the start of the course.

Can I attend this course?

This course is suitable for the following type(s) of applicant.
  • Internationals
  • Military
  • MOD Civil Servants
  • Other government departments (OGDs)
Military, MOD civil servants and other government departments will be nominated personnel only.

How will I learn?

Classroom, Blended Learning

How will you be assessed?

There are 3 formal assessments:
  • a 1,200 word monograph on a subject related to contemporary doctrine
  • group analysis and presentation on a range of historical case studies with contemporary relevance
  • a 5,000 word paper on a selected topic with historical resonance to identify implications for the successful conduct of contemporary operations