JAWS Student Welcome Letter

NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY
JOINT FORCES STAFF COLLEGE
NORFOLK, VA 23511-1702

JFSC-JAWS

MEMORANDUM FOR Class 08-09, Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS)

SUBJECT: Students Welcome Letter

    On behalf of the Commandant, faculty and staff, welcome to the National Defense University’s Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC). Congratulations on your selection to attend the next JAWS class beginning on 21 July 2008. JAWS is a key component of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s vision for expansion and improvement of Joint Professional Military Education (JPME). JAWS is an eleven month, single-phase JPME (I and II), intermediate or senior-level school focused on educating expert joint campaign planners.

    While you are here, your education will focus on the knowledge required to perform the duties and responsibilities of a senior campaign planner and strategist on any joint, combined, or coalition staff. Our curriculum is developed from several sources. First, we provide course content that meets or exceeds the requirements of the Officer Professional Military Education Policy (OPMEP) and Special Areas of Emphasis (SAE) from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Second, we stay in close contact with the combatant commands, our interagency and international partners to understand their requirements for their officers and civilians operating in the joint, combined, and coalition staff arena. Third, our faculty contributes their own experiences as senior joint, combined, and coalition officers. Finally, we solicit inputs from class members in a collaborative seminar environment. In sum, our curriculum is built on the foundation of joint doctrine and evolving operational issues. The combined effect of these efforts keeps our program current, relevant and useful to you. Make no mistake, this is an advanced program, and the work is as rigorous as any graduate academic program. Upon graduation you should be eligible to fill key strategy or campaign planning billets on combatant commander, interagency, or coalition staffs as well as the Joint Staff or the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

    We look forward to seeing you in the next JAWS class and extend our best wishes for an enjoyable and successful assignment. Please register as soon as possible via our website at www.jfsc.ndu.edu. Additional JAWS links are available to provide useful reference and preparation information. Upon arrival, you will receive a student guide with additional details, to include information regarding JAWS Research Visits (TAD/TDY). If we can assist you in any way, do not hesitate to call the JFSC Registrar & Personnel Services office at DSN 646-6124/34; COMM (757) 443-6124/34 or via e-mail at registrar@jfsc.ndu.edu.