CURRICULUM
The Industrial Collage of the Armed Forces is the nationís only
educational institution that emphasizes the management of national resources to support
national security strategy. The ICAF curriculum provides a broad education in national
security strategy and national military strategy with the major emphasis on resources
management. The ICAFís academic program is specifically designed for a student body
already highly experienced and successful in military and civilian professions devoted to
the design and resourcing the different facets of national security. All ICAF students
have achieved the ranks of Colonel/Captain, Lieutenant Colonel/Commander or the civilian
equivalent in the Department of State, other federal agencies and the private sector.
The College's approach to education focuses on broad-based national
security decision making for senior policy makers in a dynamic world environment. The
academic program emphasizes postgraduate, executive-level education rather than training,
and enduring principles and concepts rather than transient contemporary events. ICAF
focuses on enhancing the ability of its students to think strategicallyóto have strategic
vision, develop strategic plans, lead at strategic levels, take critical advantage of the
information revolution, and create
environments that put the highest value on consideration of others and ethical behavior.
Intrinsic to this is the internalization of a joint, interagency perspective and a broad
education that places national security decisions in the context of historical, political,
social, economic, and military trends. During the first half of their studies, the
students study grand strategy and development of a national security strategy. The second
half of the yearís program builds upon this foundation by studying the resource component
of national security strategyóthe issues, players, policies, and processes in the public
and private sectors and the linkages between the two. Underlying all of the core studies
throughout the year are the themes of ethics, consideration of others, information
dominance, and writing. The Commandant has instituted a program that explicitly brings
these threads to the forefront as well as intrinsically weaves them in appropriate core
lesson objectives.
The curriculum consists of interrelated courses presented in a balanced
mix of seminars, lectures and field studies. Structured to emphasize active learning, the
curriculum employs the case-study method, complemented by extensive student reading,
written and oral presentations, classroom analysis, lectures by faculty members and
prominent outside authorities, and a field study program. This integrated program of
activities provides intellectual rigor.
An integral part of the learning process is assessment and feedback.
During the course of the year, faculty advisors and instructors evaluate each provide
feedback on performance and potential across a full spectrum of academic activities.
The student body is composed of a balance of military operators (30
percent), military resource managers and technical personnel (45 percent), as well as
civilians (25 percent). They receive full coverage of the joint professional military
education requirements and satisfy the legislative education requirement for Joint
Specialty Officers upon graduation. Thus, the Collegeís graduates are unique among senior
officials in that they are knowledgeable in both strategic planning and resource
management.
ICAF strives to provide an environment that reflects NDU and ICAF
values, encourages multidisciplinary thought and discussion, promotes presentation of
subject matter, enhances cooperation between academic disciplines, encourages free
discussion among students, faculty, and staff, and creates a climate of contribution and
mutual assistance. The ICAF continues to influence, upgrade, and expand, through research,
publication, and outreach, that body of knowledge affecting national security strategy,
national military strategy, and national resource strategy as required by the ICAF
mission.
