Curriculum Overview

The Joint and Combined Warfighting School (JCWS) offers an intensive Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase II curriculum that integrates the latest in Joint Warfighting Doctrine, operational concepts, and policy. Annually, JCWS hosts four Resident and Satellite courses and three Hybrid sessions, engaging over 1,000 U.S. and international students. In both classroom and field-study settings, students share their warfighting and staff experiences to deepen their understanding of joint operations and foster a graduate-level collaborative learning environment. The seminar format and adult learning model encourages discussions that will prepare students to effectively utilize the military instrument of national power in support of national interests.

Practical Application and Real-World Simulation

In seminars, students work as members of the USINDOPACOM planning staff to explore strategic and operational environments, applying their knowledge to realistic assignments and tasks while executing typical Combatant Command or military staff duties. This hands-on approach provides students with practical experience in operational planning and staff activities, ideally before their first joint duty assignment. The curriculum sequence and activities mirror real-world strategic and operational demands found within a Combatant Command, Joint Task Force, or the Joint Staff, ensuring relevance and readiness.

 Courses and Educational Structure

To complete JPME Phase II, JCWS offers five courses, following guidance from Outcomes Based Military Education (OBME) per CJCSM 1810.01. Students engage with experts and guest lecturers covering essential joint warfare topics, structured into the following courses:

 1. Joint Force Fundamentals (JFF)

2. Strategy and Campaign Design (SCD)

3. Integrated Contingency Planning (ICP)

4. CAPSTONE - Crisis Planning (CAP)

5. Focused Study Seminars (FSS)

These courses are grounded in the four core JPME Phase II topics: National Security Strategy, Theater Strategy and Campaigning, Joint Planning Processes and Systems, and Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Capabilities. Additionally, the curriculum incorporates research topics aligned with Secretary of Defense and Chairman’s Special Areas of Emphasis, culminating in a multi-service Joint Research Paper.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, JCWS our graduates possess the capabilities to:

Employ joint planning collaboratively to support national objectives across all conflict spectrums.

Evaluate strategic guidance within the operational security environment and adapt to the evolving nature of warfare.

Integrate strategic direction and warfare theory within the operational setting to address U.S. national interests.

Formulate clear, persuasive communication in both written and oral forms, tailored to audience and context.

Demonstrate the value of diverse perspectives and capabilities within the joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational framework.

The JCWS curriculum is designed to equip students with the critical skills and insights necessary to excel in joint warfighting and contribute effectively to national security initiatives.