JAWS educates selected O-5s and O-6s, rank equivalent interagency civilians, and selected international officers in the art and science of joint, interagency, and multinational planning and warfighting at the strategic to operational levels of war. JAWS awards Senior Level College (War College) credit as well as Joint Professional Military Education (JPME II). JAWS graduates earn a fully accredited Masters of Science degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy.
Currently, three JAWS seminars are organized with up to fourteen students in each seminar. Each seminar nominally consists of a balanced mix of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, Coast Guard, interagency civilians, and international military students. Students are assigned to seminars with an intent to provide an optimum mix of Service, grade, experience, and occupational specialty. Each seminar is conducted in a collaborative learning environment with current information technology tools available at student desktops in the classrooms.
In addition to many other written, oral, and practical assignments, each student is required to complete an individual graduate level thesis of 35 - 45 pages. Students also participate in several staff rides and research visits throughout the busy academic year.
The faculty of the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) consists of senior officers with joint experience from all Services and civilian professors. In addition to this highly qualified staff, students have multiple occasions to meet and discuss issues with active and retired flag/general officers and ambassadors. These Senior Fellows are an integral part of the faculty and are a key component of the learning experience within the collaborative seminar. Additionally, the school employs several distinguished academics and a variety of subject matter experts throughout the academic year as guest speakers.