National Defense University expands joint curriculum.

A growing demand for military officers who are proficient in inter-service issues and joint battle planning has prompted the launch of new educational programs at the National Defense University.

Among them is a "Joint Military Education 101" course, designed for junior officers. Learning the basics of joint operations is important for young officers, who likely will be taking over leadership positions during the next five to 10 years, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael M. Dunn, president of NDU.

"This sets the foundation" for how Joint Task Forces will operate in the future, Dunn told National Defense.

Only five months into the job, Dunn said he quickly is becoming aware of the long-lasting implications that NDU programs have in the development of military leaders. The university is the Defense Department's primary venue for joint professional military education, reporting directly to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

While NDU's main campos--including the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the National War College--is located at Fort Lesley J. McNair, in Washington, D.C., the primary center of joint education so far has been at NDU's Joint Forces Staff College, in Norfolk, Va.

JFSC students typically are majors, lieutenant colonels, commanders or lieutenant commanders. Dunn said those programs are being expanded to accommodate reservists and non-commissioned officers.

Reservists will be able to complete the program online. The new distance-learning classes were scheduled to begin in September, Dunn said. "It would duplicate the instruction at JFSC in Norfolk."

NDU already conducted a twice-a-year course for nearly 200 reservists. But the recent surge in deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan has made it nearly impossible for reservists to attend schoolhouses. Hence the distance learning program, Dunn explained.

The "Joint Military Education 101" program, expected to be up and running next year, is designed for Army, Air Force and Marine Corps captains or Navy lieutenants who are assigned to a Joint Task Force and lack any previous experience in joint military operations. The online course would take about 25 hours to complete. The content could be described as an "introduction to the joint planning system," said James M. Keagle, vice president for academic affairs at NDU.

"The services asked us to develop this course and make it available," said Dunn. "My guess is that there are stone people that are well schooled in this. Others may need a bit more education."

NDU also is creating a joint course for senior enlisted service members.

Improvements in joint education, however, should not be limited just to junior personnel, Dunn stressed.

"We drafted a proposal to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a three-star course," to supplement NDU's mandatory capstone course for one-star generals and admirals, he said.

"The idea is that education doesn't just occur in two or three major chunks through out one's career. ... It's a continuing education process."

A growing emphasis on "jointness" at the Defense Department has been "infused into the force," he said. "That doesn't mean that we should relax our guard and not teach it. But I think it's better understood now than ever."

At the Joint Forces Staff College this year, "we have one of the largest classes in history," said Dunn. "I see a higher demand for joint education. We are fighting a joint war, so people need to learn."

About 1,000 students go through NDU each year. Most are U.S. military officers, 40-45 years old, with approximately 20 years of service. A small percentage of students are civilian government officials and foreign military officers from allied countries. The university also encourages the attendance of "industry fellows," from the private sector.

Eight corporate fellows attend NDU each year. "They bring ideas from industry to the Defense Department," Dunn said.

NDU's budget in fiscal year 2002 was $102.5 million--$71.4 million in appropriated funds and $31.1 million from contract work, such as studies and war games, for government agencies. The budget is expected to reach $108 million in fiscal year 2003. The university has about 150 full-time employees and 200 contractors.

An NDU degree costs about $50,000 a year per student, according to Keagle. That mostly is attributed to the low faculty-to-student ratio.

"We are required by law to have a 3.5 to 1 student to faculty ratio," he said. That compares to 12-15 students per faculty member at major universities.

"The expectation is that faculty are available to students and play roles beyond just an educator in a classroom," Keagle explained. "They are available all the time, not with restricted office hours. They engage with students as professional role models." NDU does not employ teaching assistants.

The cost also includes substantial travel expenses, so students can visit Joint Task Force headquarters in places like Afghanistan, Kuwait or South Korea.

It was only 15 years ago that Dunn was a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Now back as the school's 11th president, he says he is surprised by how many programs NDU has, despite being relatively small. Dunn's previous job was as vice director for strategic plans and policy for the Joint Staff.

NDU's top officers represent every service. The ICAF commandant is a Marine, Maj. Gen. Frances Wilson. In charge of the National War College is Navy Rear Adm. Richard Jascot. At the helm of the Joint Forces Staff College is Army Maj. Gen. Kenneth J. Quinlan.

In addition to ICAF, the National War College and the Joint Forces Staff College, NDU also runs the Information Resources Management College. About 3,500 students a year attend the IRMC, which offers a Chief Information Officer certification program.

"A huge number of students take courses at IRMC on information assurance," said Dunn.

NDU officials, meanwhile, are engaged in discussions with the Department of Homeland Security about the possible creation of an educational institution focused on homeland security.

"We have the facilities here," said Dunn, in addition to the basic infrastructure and logistics support needed to operate a university.

Depending on the course levels, the research projects and the level of expertise required, he said, a Homeland Security College degree program would cost between $10 million and $15 million a year.