The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, assessed the REP in September 2009 for certification to award JPME Phase II. The REP was accredited two years later (Sep 2009), the second level of the Process for Accreditation of Joint Education (PAJE). The DEP was assessed for reaffirmation to award JPME Phase I at the same time. Reaffirmation is granted for 6 years when programs are judged satisfactory overall and have no significant weaknesses.
The USAWC is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215) 662-5606. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Professional Military Education (PME)
The focus of senior level PME is to prepare students for positions of strategic leadership. Senior education focuses on strategy, theater campaign planning, the art and science of developing, and integrating and applying the instruments of national power (diplomatic, informational, military, and economic) during peace and war. Studies emphasize analysis, foster critical examination, encourage creativity, and provide a progressively broader educational experience. Within the PME continuum, JPME instills joint core competencies by exposure to a Service mix of faculty, students, and concepts. This mix is designed to provide a broad scope of the future joint force including interagency and multinational cultures and capabilities. Service Senior Level Colleges (SLC) address theater- and national-level strategies and processes. The curriculum focus is on how the unified commanders, Joint Staff, and DOD use the instruments of national power to develop and carry out national military strategy, develop joint operational expertise and perspectives, and hone joint warfighting skills.
Although each Service SLC mission is unique, a fundamental objective of each is to prepare future military and civilian leaders for high-level policy, command and staff responsibilities requiring joint and Service operational expertise and warfighting skills by educating them in the diplomatic, informational, military and economic dimensions of the strategic security environment and the effect of those dimensions on strategy formulation, implementation, and campaigning. SLC subject matter is inherently joint. JPME at this level focuses on the immersion of students in a joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational environment and completes educational requirements for Joint Qualified Officer (JQO) nomination.
The USAWC is accredited by the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, as a program for joint education, Phase I Senior Level for the DEP and Phase II Senior Level for the REP.
JPME Phase I - Senior Level, as outlined in the current version of the Officer Professional Military Education Policy (OPMEP CJCSI 1800.01D), focuses on preparing future military and civilian leaders for high-level policy, command and staff responsibilities by educating students in the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic dimensions of the strategic security environment and the effect of those dimensions on strategy formulation, implementation, and campaigning.
JPME Phase II - Senior Level, as outlined in the current version of the Officer Professional Military Education Policy (OPMEP CJCSI 1800.01D), consists of 6 JPME Learning Areas and 26 Supporting Learning Objectives focused on preparing future military and civilian leaders for high-level policy, command and staff responsibilities requiring joint and Service operational expertise and warfighting skills by educating students in the diplomatic, informational, military and economic dimensions of the strategic security environment and the effect of those dimensions on policy and strategy formulation, implementation, and campaigning. The USAWC incorporates all aspects of these Learning Areas and Objectives into the curricula of both the Resident and Distance Education Programs. Both the Resident and Distance Education Programs have already incorporated the new requirements outlined in this document into their curricula.
The quality of teaching and instruction, academic rigor, and educational effectiveness of courses and programs is maintained through faculty initiative and similar material, and in evaluation and assessment procedures. The sharing of teaching and coordination among faculty accomplishes the comparability among courses and electives.
Successful completion of the USAWC curriculum results in the awarding of a USAWC diploma and MSS degree. Also as a result of successful fulfillment of the complete program of instruction, Army officers have satisfied all requirements expected for a DOD Senior Service College graduate.