FOUNDATION NEWS, No. 2/Fall 2007 (October 2007)
CGSC Today
Today’s CGSC mission is to educate and develop leaders for
full-spectrum joint, interagency, and multinational operations; act as
lead agent for the Army’s leader development programs; and advance the
art and science of the profession of arms in support of Army
operational requirements. CGSC is now comprised of five schools:
CGSS (Command and General Staff School). Out of old habits many
still refer to this course as CGSC). All Army Majors with a small
contingent of officers from the other service branches and some
international officers attend CGSS. Along with DDE, the mission of CGSS
is to educate and train officers for their next assignment and for the
next 10 years of their career in Army, joint, interagency and
multinational environments.
DDE (Department of Distance Education). DDE expands the schools
reach and ability to provide “Intermediate Level Education” (ILE) to
100 percent of eligible officers. About 8,000 students each year,
primarily Guard and Reserve, take their ILE via the Internet.
SAMS (School of Advanced Military Studies). SAMS is a 10-month
resident course taught in Eisenhower Hall on Fort Leavenworth. The SAMS
mission is to educate the Army’s Division and Corps level planners.
Select officers attend SAMS after completing CGSS.
SCP (School for Command Preparation). SCP is a three-week
course taught at Fort Leavenworth that provides education and
preparation for Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels selected for Battalion
and Brigade levels of command.
AMSC (Army Management Staff College). AMSC is taught at Fort Belvoir, Va. Its mission is to educate and prepare Army Civilians for leadership and management roles.
CGSC is a fully accredited college by the Higher Learning Commission of
the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. CGSC provides
graduate level instruction and offers a master’s degree program through
the CGSS and the SAMS courses to officers who elect to enroll in the
program of study. As with any graduate program the requirements for a
Masters in Military Arts and Sciences are demanding.
CGSC is led by the classic military chain of command, but also includes
a collegiate structure under the Dean of Academics. The CGSC Chief of
Staff reports to the CGSC Deputy Commandant, a Brigadier General, who
is responsible for the day-to-day operations of CGSC. The deputy
reports to the commandant, a Lieutenant General, who is also the
commander of Fort Leavenworth.
