Faculty & Department

Faculty

The Academic Faculty is headed by the Director of Studies of the rank of Brig Gen who doubles as the Director of Coordination. The Faculty comprises of 2 departments

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER MILITARY STUDIES AND INTER-AGENCY RELATIONS

The Department of Higher Military Studies and Inter-Agency Relations (HMSIAR) is headed by a Brig Gen and has 4 directing staff of the rank of Brig Gens. It is responsible for the National Security and Organisation of Defence Module. It is responsible for the Foundation Module, PSO Module and the Inter-Agency Cooperation and Coordination in Military Operations Modules.

DEPARTMENT OF WAR AND STRATEGY

The Department of War and Strategy (DWS) is headed by a Brig Gen with 4 directing staff of the rank of Brig Gens and 2 civilian Phd holders. It is responsible for the Theory of War and Strategy Module, the Operational Art/Campaigning Module, Leadership Module and the Military History Module

 

COURSE OUTLINE

The War Course covers 33 weeks organized into 8 modules of 3 terms.

  • Module 1 – Foundation.
  • Module 2 –  National Security and Organisation of Defence.
  • Module 3 – Inter-Agency Cooperation and Coordination in Military Operations.
  • Module 4 – Theories of War and Strategy.
  • Module 5 – Leadership.
  • Module 6 – Military History.
  • Module 7 – Operational Art/Campaign.
  • Module 8 – Peace Support Operations.

COURSE OBJECTIVE

The objective of the AWCN Course is to develop the capacities of participants in basic military strategic thinking skills as well as operational planning and management for effective application of land power. To achieve this, the participants are educated in the art of preserving peace, responding appropriately to acts of aggression and ensure a successful outcome of war, if it becomes inevitable. Participants would be enmeshed in the study as well as proffer solutions to complex problems of national defence through effective command and staff functions

INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES

To accomplish its mission and course objective, the curriculum is designed with the following Institutional Learning Objectives (LO).

  • 1.   Developing cognitive and communication competencies required by military strategic leaders with emphasis of strategic thinking.
  • 2.   Enabling participants appraise the constituents of National Security Strategy as well as interest, while also analyzing military capabilities to achieve national defence objectives.
  • 3.   Developing the capacity of participants to relate and function effectively in a multi-agency, multi-dimensional and joint environments in the use of national power to safeguard national interests and security.
  • 4.   Building and synthesizing the critical elements of the theory of war and strategy through the application of strategic thinking skills.
  • 5.   Analyzing and distinguishing the uniqueness of military strategic level leadership and apply competencies required of strategic leaders.
  • 6.   Applying strategic insights from military history to the contemporary environment by synthesizing critical elements, enablers and processes.
  • 7.   Developing theatre strategies and campaign plans for the employment of military power in a joint, multi-agency, multi-dimensional and multi-national environment.
  • 8.  Developing the capacity of participants to effectively function at the strategic and operational levels in sub-regional, regional and global Peace Support Operations (PSO).
  • The details of Enabling Objectives and related Key Learning Points are contained in the various modules outline in Enclosures 1 – 8.

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

The AWCN educational practice is based on an inquiry-driven model of graduate study. The curriculum centres on the examination of theory, concepts, and systems as applied to national security, strategy, decision-making and conflict analysis. The core curriculum offers a foundation of knowledge upon which exercises and seminars build and emphasize the application of critical thinking skills to course content. The intent is to broaden how one thinks. Complex, difficult issues that are not given to school one-directional solutions are discussed. The College does not seek to achieve consensus but encourages debate and exploration of opposing positions during syndicate room discussions. The central academic focus is on Military Strategic Leadership, Operational Art and Campaign Planning. Participants are expected to understand the linkages between strategy and the other elements of power at the national level as well as the planning and conduct of warfare at the theatre level.

PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME)

The Nigerian Army (NA) places a high premium on the training and education of the officers’ corps. Officers are expected to engage in professional development relying on a blend of institutional training and education, operational assignments, and self-development to be effective leaders. The AWCN is the NA’s premier institution for PME, thus attendance to the AWCN represents the culmination of formal educational foundation focusing on military strategic thinking and operation art as the core courses. In order to achieve the training objectives enabling courses such as military leadership, theory of war and strategy and military history are offered in the College. At the end of the course, participants are expected to be well trained, educated and inspired operational level commanders.

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION

The language of instruction in the College is English. The mission and objectives of the College are pursued through lectures, seminars, syndicate discussions, discussion in plenary and presentations. Additionally, participants are to conduct exercises, case studies and write papers on key strategic issues. There are also tours within Nigeria and to other countries to expose participants to the geo-strategic environment. 

LECTURES AND SYNDICATION

The methods of instruction are mostly through lectures by subject matter experts in different fields. This will be conducted through seminars, case studies, individual and group work. Lectures will take place at the College Auditorium and other lecture rooms highlighted in the weekly training programmes. Copies of the lectures and other instructional materials needed for the Course are available to each participant on the College Website and in some cases dropped in each participant’s mailbox. Participants are divided into syndicates for group discussions, assignments and exercises. They are expected to make valid contributions in their various syndicates to ensure exchange of knowledge. Each syndicate has at least one member of DS. The DS coordinates the discussions and activities of the syndicate.

VISITS

The following visits are conducted during the Course

  • Tour of military establishments within Abuja.
  • Internal Security Study Tour of any state of the Federation.
  • Geo-strategic Tour to a selected neighboring Country.
  • Operational Theatre Visit to any on-going operation in the Country.

EXERCISES

There is at least one exercise in each module which would culminate in a 5-day final exercise at the end of the Course. There are also at least 3 academic papers to test participants on different aspects of the course curriculum.

FELLOWSHIP AWARD

Successful completion of the War Course leads to the award of the qualification: Fellow of the War College (fwc). Directing Staff who have taught for 2 terms during his tour of duty, as well as academic directors are eligible for the Award of Distinguished Fellow of the War College. (fwc(+))

 

 

 

The AWCN is the premier NA educational institution concentrating on operational art, military leadership, strategy, and inter-agency cooperation.

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