The Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land Reserve) (ICSC(LR)) is a 17-day career course delivered in 2 parts; there is a residential 2-day course primer followed 1 month later by a residential 15-day course. The course runs twice a year, once in Jun/Jul and once in Sep/Oct.
The course syllabus is delivered through a series of modules and includes Government Policy; Staff and Communication Skills: Land Warfare; Doctrine; Operational Planning; Broader Army and Royal Marines Business in the context of Defence, and Command, Leadership and Management (CLM).
It consists of central lectures, syndicate room activities and discussions (in classes of c.12 students), exercises (Map Exercises (MAPEXs), Model Exercises (MODELEXs) and Tactical Exercises without Troops (TEWTS)) and additional time dedicated to reflection and reading. The course is set at the Battle Group level within a Brigade context, with educational delivery aimed at the postgraduate masters level.
Having successfully completed the course, officers will be equipped with the professional knowledge, analytical and communications skills and motivation required to fill reserve OF3 staff and command appointments.
To apply, please select the relevant pre-weekend date from the 'planned dates' list on the right under 'key information'. Then enter the ‘register your interest’ page and select the relevant date to enrol. You will not need to self-enrol for the main course as ICSC Admin staff will automatically enrol you on receipt of your application. Please refer to 2017DIN01-186 for more details.
Application timelines:
*Career Management Operations (CM Ops), Army Personnel Centre (APC), will inform Reserve Captains who have been selected for promotion to Major and notify them of their expected attendance on the ICSC(LR)
*foreign military and civil servants expressions of interest need to be declared through their respective UK Defence Attaché
*any other party interested in joining the course should contact the Army Division SO1 Course Secretary for more information
Accreditation:
*Chartered Management Institute (CMI), Level 7 Diploma in Management & Leadership.
*Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), Level 7 Certificate in Management
The course will prepare reserve officers for promotion to OF3 and subsequently for employment in reserve grade 2 appointments and sub-unit command by providing focused opportunities to understand, experiment and develop staff and communication skills, professional knowledge and analytical and decision-making skills.
ICSC(LR) provides a unique opportunity for OF3 and senior OF2 reserve personnel to study strategy, higher management of defence, doctrine and operational planning alongside multi-national partners and be graded against a wider peer group. The course is supported by numerous guest speakers, up to OF6/1* level.
The course provides focused opportunities to understand, experiment and develop staff and communication skills, professional knowledge and understanding, and analytical and decision-making skills which will be of benefit for both military and civilian careers. The course report is used by boards to support consideration for employment in sub unit command and in staff appointments at OF3.
On completion of the course all students are enrolled onto the Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land) (ICSC(L)) Alumni page on the Defence Learning Environment. This website is designed to help alumni of ICSC(L) and ICSC(LR) by providing information and links to support professional development throughout their careers.
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| Internationals |
The course is principally designed and resourced to take the SOTR of military reservist personnel, plus up to 12 overseas military reservist personnel.
Overseas military or civil servants must have a very good command of English (NATO 3333) and be comfortable with learning in English at post-graduate level.
Foreign military personnel are to be nominated through their respective Defence Attaché and security checked by ITD(A). The course is delivered at official level only.
General
You will have to complete a small amount of work between the course primer weekend and the main residential phase. It will also be necessary for you to conduct research and undertake essential reading in the evenings, outside the scheduled daily programme.
The course programme runs from 0830-1730, 7-days a week, therefore you are advised to plan on being present at the Defence Academy for the entire period once you start the main residential phase.
Self-Study Phase
To assist learning, students will be provided with an electronic reading list and some tasks on the course primer weekend that should be completed before returning for the main residential phase.
International students will not be expected to attend the course primer weekend with the UK students; this will be replicated for them 2-days prior to the start of the main residential phase.
The course comprises both formative (course interaction) and summative (formal examination) assessments. There are 2 summative examinations, one for the command leadership and management (CLM) module and one for the doctrine module.
Formative assessment includes:
*professional knowledge
*written communication
*verbal communication
*emotional intelligence
*leadership
All students receive a course report. For UK students this takes for the form of an NSAR.