Class of 2019 opens with International Flag Ceremony

(ArmyU Public Affairs) The Command and General Staff College opened Academic Year 2019 with the International Flag Ceremony for Command and General Staff Officer’s Course 2019 on Aug. 13. The ceremony features posting of the national colors of 87 nations that make up this year’s International Military Student cohort.

Major Travis Owen, class president, posts the flag of the United States of America to begin posting of the colors during the Command and General Staff Officer’s Course 2019. 110 officers from 87 countries make up this year’s International Military Officer cohort for the class. (photos by Dan Neal/ArmyU Public Affairs)

“Together they will study alongside our officers, build relationships that will last longer than this brief time together, and advance together our shared interests,” said Brig. Gen. Scott Efflandt in remarks beginning the ceremony. “Our responsibility to our nations has never been greater than it is today,” said Efflandt. “And it is partly through the relationships forged this year that we will contribute to a shared responsibility. A responsibility to create an environment in which our citizenry can pursue a peaceful life they desire and deserve. This is our duty and we will not fail in it.”

Efflandt also thanked the sponsors of the international students saying, “Over the past 60 years, Fort Leavenworth and our partners in the Leavenworth, Lansing and greater Kansas City metropolitan area have shown the world the very best of America through their committed friendship and service. The impact of their efforts is real and lasting and this is understood and greatly appreciated by all.”

Brig. Gen. Scott Efflandt, deputy commandant of the Command and General Staff College, opens the Class 2019 International Flag Ceremony.

This year’s 110 International Military Students includes the first officer from Timor-Leste to attend the course. Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, is on the eastern half of the island of Timor north of Australia. The country is bordered by Indonesia in west and the Savu Sea in north. It is about half the size of Belgium and slightly larger than the Bahamas. The nation has a population of 1.2 million people (in 2015). Dili is the capital and largest city.

International military education at Fort Leavenworth began in 1894. Since then, more than 8,000 International Military Students from 165 countries have attended classes alongside their United States counterparts. CGSC’s international graduates have been extremely successful in their military careers. Nearly half achieve general officer rank. The college’s International Hall of Fame includes 277 International graduates from 73 countries who, through military merit, have achieved the position of Chief of their nation’s Army or higher. Twenty-seven of these graduates became heads of state.

The Class of 2019 International Military Students join nearly 1,000 United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard officers for the 10-month class that graduates in June 2018. In addition, 26 senior civilian employees from Army commands and other U.S. government agencies will attend the class.

The Army Command and General Staff Officers Course is a rigorous 10-month program of masters-level study that educates mid-career officers to be agile, innovative, and adaptive leaders within increasingly complex and uncertain environments. The Command and General Staff College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to award a master’s degree.

The 87 Flags representing the 110 International Military Students in the Command and General Staff Officer’s course are displayed at the conclusion of the International Flag Ceremony marking the beginning of the school year.

The 87 Flags representing the 110 International Military Students in the Class of 2019 Command and General Staff Officer’s course are displayed at the conclusion of the International Flag Ceremony marking the beginning of the school year.