U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Fort Leavenworth, KS
"Ad bellum pace parati (Prepared in peace for war)"
The Verdict
The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College is the intellectual center of the Army. Established in 1881 by General William Tecumseh Sherman at Fort Leavenworth—the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi—CGSC has educated virtually every senior Army leader for over 140 years.
The college's alumni roster reads like a who's who of American military history: five five-star generals including Eisenhower, Marshall, Bradley, MacArthur, and Arnold; two U.S. Presidents; and legendary commanders like Patton, Powell, Schwarzkopf, and Petraeus. Over 8,000 international officers from 155 countries have attended, with 27 alumni becoming heads of state.
Campus & Cadet Life
About
The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) is the Army's senior tactical school, educating and developing leaders for unified land operations in joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational environments. Established in 1881 at Fort Leavenworth, it is the Army's first postgraduate school.
Admissions & Selectivity
Admissions Philosophy
highly selective
Key Requirements
- U.S. Army Major (O-4) or promotable Captain selected for ILE
- Sister service officers at equivalent grade (O-4)
- International military officers from allied nations
- Federal civilian employees at GS-12 to GS-14 level
- Bachelor's degree from accredited institution
- Security clearance appropriate for operational planning
Location
Campus & Facilities
Campus Size
Part of Fort Leavenworth (5,600 acres)
Housing
N/A
Enrollment
1,200
Student:Teacher
10:1
Campus Life
Daily Schedule
The ten-month Command and General Staff Officers Course (CGSOC) combines classroom instruction, seminar discussions, practical exercises, and staff rides to historic battlefields. The curriculum covers unified land operations, mission command, operational art, and joint warfighting. Students may pursue the Master of Military Art and Science (MMAS) or Master of Operational Studies (MOS) degree.
Discipline Model
Students are field-grade officers subject to UCMJ and Army regulations. Most reside in on-post family housing or off-post in the Leavenworth area. The Lewis and Clark Center, opened in 2007, serves as the main academic building with state-of-the-art classrooms, seminar rooms, and the Eisenhower Auditorium.
Academics & Outcomes
College Matriculation
N/A
Where Graduates Go
N/A - Professional Military Education institution
Hall of Fame
Dwight D. Eisenhower
34th President of the United States; Supreme Allied Commander in WWII (Class of 1926)
George C. Marshall
Army Chief of Staff in WWII; Secretary of State; Nobel Peace Prize recipient (Class of 1907)
George S. Patton
Commanding General, U.S. Third Army in WWII (Class of 1924)
Omar N. Bradley
First Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; last five-star general (Class of 1929)
Colin Powell
65th Secretary of State; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Class of 1968)
Norman Schwarzkopf
Commander, U.S. Central Command; led Operation Desert Storm (Class of 1970)
David Petraeus
CIA Director; Commander of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan; CGSC Commandant 2005-2007
Lee Hsien Loong
Prime Minister of Singapore since 2004 (Class of 1980)
Athletics & Physical Training
Mandatory PT
Physical fitness is maintained per Army standards. Students must pass the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). Fort Leavenworth provides comprehensive fitness facilities including Gruber Fitness Center.
Facilities
Fort Leavenworth Gruber Fitness Center, running trails along the Missouri River bluffs, intramural sports leagues, golf course. The historic post also features the Frontier Army Museum and the disciplinary barracks.
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