Joint Services Command and Staff College

Joint Services Command and Staff College
Former names
Motto"Unity is Strength"
TypeStaff college
Established1997
Parent institution
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
CommandantMajor General Peter Rowell
Location
Watchfield
,
Oxfordshire
,
United Kingdom

51°36′28.60″N 1°38′1.05″W / 51.6079444°N 1.6336250°W / 51.6079444; -1.6336250
CampusRural
AffiliationsIAMP
Websitewww.da.mod.uk/study-with-us/colleges-and-schools/joint-services-command-and-staff-college
An interior shot of the Joint Services Command and Staff College

Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC) 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.

History

JSCSC combined the single service provision of the British Armed Forces: Royal Naval College, Greenwich, Staff College, Camberley, RAF Staff College, Bracknell, and the Joint Service Defence College, Greenwich. Initially formed at Bracknell in January 1997, the college procured new buildings at Watchfield in Oxfordshire under a Private Finance Initiative contract in June 1998. The new buildings were designed by HLM Architects,[1] built by John Laing Construction at a cost of £100 million,[2] and were officially opened in August 2000. The facilities were subsequently managed by Serco.[3]

Command, control and organisation

JSCSC is a component of the Defence Academy and the commandant is a full member of the DA Management Board, reporting to the director of the Defence Academy. The commandant is a two-star appointment (rear admiral, major general or air vice marshal) and can be filled by candidates from each of the three services. Within JSCSC itself, each service is represented by a one-star assistant commandant, each with responsibility for both single service issues and delivery of training. The dean of academic studies leads King's College London's Defence Studies Department, which provides theoretical and conceptual academic education in partnership with the military directing staff.[4]

Courses

As of 2016, the JSCSC provides the following courses, amongst others:

  • Higher Command and Staff Course: aimed at OF-6 rank (Commodores, Brigadiers & Air Commodores) or OF-5 (Captains RN, Colonels & Group Captains)
  • Advanced Command and Staff Course: aimed at OF-4 rank (Commanders, Lieutenant Colonels & Wing Commanders)
  • Intermediate Command and Staff Course: aimed at OF-3 rank (Lieutenant Commanders, Majors & Squadron Leaders)

Royal Naval Division

  • Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Maritime): Aimed at Lieutenant Commanders, Lieutenants and civil servants
    • Elements:
      • Command, Leadership, Management, Ethos and Ethics
      • Staff and Communication Skills, including Defence Writing
      • Strategic Studies: The International Environment and UK Defence Management
      • Maritime Studies: Strategy, Environment, Capabilities, and the Royal Navy
      • Joint Studies: Capabilities, Environment, and Joint and Combined Operations[5]
  • Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Maritime Reserve)[6]
  • Advanced Amphibious Warfare Course[7]

Army Division

  • Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land): Aimed at Army and Royal Marine Majors, and civil servants
    • Elements:
      • Staff and Communication Skills
      • Command Leadership and Management
      • Global Effects on Defence
      • Higher Management of Defence and the Army
      • Equipment and Capability
      • Land Warfare – including Formation Level Planning and Military Assistance to stabilisation and Development[8]
  • Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land Reserve)[9]

RAF Division

  • Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Air): Aimed at Squadron Leaders and civil servants
    • Elements
      • Introduction
      • Air and space power
      • Strategic context
      • Warfighting and planning
      • Command, Leadership and Management[10]

Badge

The college badge features an anchor, crossed swords and an eagle, representing each of the three Armed Services. Previously, a cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) was used as the symbol of the Joint Service Defence College; Britain's largest seabird flies, swims on the sea surface and catches its fish underwater, yet builds its nest on dry land (either on cliffs or in riverside trees). The alumni association of the college, open to graduates of the Higher Command and Staff Course, the Advanced Command and Staff Course, and staff of the college, is named the Cormorant Club.[11]

Commandants

The following have commanded the college:[12][13]

References

  1. ^ "Joint Services Command and Staff College". HLM Architects. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  2. ^ "MoD college deal 'will save £55m'". Oxford Mail. 16 June 1998. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  3. ^ Ministry of Defence: The Joint Services Command and Staff College Archived 2011-08-05 at the Wayback Machine National Audit Office Report 2002
  4. ^ The Defence Studies Department :Defence Studies Department :King's College London
  5. ^ "Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Maritime) - Course Details". www.da.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  6. ^ "Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Maritime Reserve) - Course Details". www.da.mod.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  7. ^ "Advanced Amphibious Warfare Course - Course Details". www.da.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  8. ^ "Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land) - Course Details". www.da.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  9. ^ "Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land Reserve) - Course Details". www.da.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  10. ^ "Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Air) - Course Details". www.da.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
  11. ^ "The Cormorant Club, Defence Academy website". Archived from the original on 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
  12. ^ Heads of colleges on RAF web Archived 2002-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Senior tri-service and Ministry of Defence posts" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  14. ^ "New Commandant takes command of the Defence Academy". www.da.mod.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-26.