CHAPTER 107—PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION
2152.
Joint professional military education: general requirements.
2153.
Capstone course: newly selected general and flag officers.
2154.
Joint professional military education: three-phase approach.
2155.
Joint professional military education Phase II program of instruction.
2156.
Joint Forces Staff College: duration of principal course of instruction.
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior chapter 107 was renumbered chapter 106A of this title.
Amendments
2017—Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, §1051(a)(10)(B), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1561, struck out item 2157 "Annual report to Congress".
2006—Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, §1071(a)(12), (13), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2399, substituted "Joint professional" for "Professional" in item 2152 and "Phase" for "phase" in item 2155.
§2151. Definitions
(a) Joint Professional Military Education.—Joint professional military education consists of the rigorous and thorough instruction and examination of officers of the armed forces in an environment designed to promote a theoretical and practical in-depth understanding of joint matters and, specifically, of the subject matter covered. The subject matter to be covered by joint professional military education shall include at least the following:
(1) National Military Strategy.
(2) Joint planning at all levels of war.
(3) Joint doctrine.
(4) Joint command and control.
(5) Joint force and joint requirements development.
(6) Operational contract support.
(b) Other Definitions.—In this chapter:
(1) The term "senior level service school" means any of the following:
(A) The Army War College.
(B) The College of Naval Warfare.
(C) The Air War College.
(D) The Marine Corps War College.
(2) The term "intermediate level service school" means any of the following:
(A) The United States Army Command and General Staff College.
(B) The College of Naval Command and Staff.
(C) The Air Command and Staff College.
(D) The Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
(3) The term "joint intermediate level school" includes the National Defense Intelligence College.
(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §532(a)(2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1897; amended Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, §552(a)(2), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1412; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VIII, §845(c), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1848.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2013—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 112–239 added par. (6).
2011—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 112–81 added par. (3).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Professional Military Education: Report; Definition
Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title V, §559D, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1743, provided that:
"(a) Report.—
"(1) In general.—Not later than July 1, 2022, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report setting forth the results of a review and assessment of the definition of professional military education in the Department of Defense and the military departments as specified in subsection (c).
"(2) Elements.—The report under this subsection shall include the following elements:
"(A) A consolidated summary of all definitions of the term 'professional military education' used in the Department of Defense and the military departments.
"(B) A description of how such term is used in the Department of Defense in educational institutions, associated schools, programs, think tanks, research centers, and support activities.
"(C) An analysis of how such term—
"(i) applies to tactical, operational, and strategic settings; and
"(ii) is linked to mission requirements.
"(D) An analysis of how professional military education has been applied and linked through all levels of Department of Defense education and training.
"(E) The applicability of professional military education to the domains of warfare, including land, air, sea, space, and cyber.
"(F) With regards to online and virtual learning in professional military education—
"(i) an analysis of the use of such learning; and
"(ii) student satisfaction in comparison to traditional classroom learning.
"(b) Definition.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2021], the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretaries of the military departments, using the report under subsection (a), shall standardize the definition of 'professional military education' across the military departments and the Department of Defense."
Executive Documents
Change of Name
National Defense Intelligence College changed to National Intelligence University by Department of Defense Instruction 3305.01 on Feb. 9, 2011.
§2152. Joint professional military education: general requirements
(a) In General.—The Secretary of Defense shall implement a comprehensive framework for the joint professional military education of officers, including officers nominated under section 661 of this title for the joint specialty.
(b) Joint Military Education Schools.—The Secretary of Defense, with the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall periodically review and revise the curriculum of each school of the National Defense University (and of any other joint professional military education school) to enhance the education and training of officers in joint matters. The Secretary shall require such schools to maintain rigorous standards for the military education of officers with the joint specialty.
(c) Other Professional Military Education Schools.—The Secretary of Defense shall require that each Department of Defense school concerned with professional military education periodically review and revise its curriculum for senior and intermediate grade officers in order to strengthen the focus on—
(1) joint matters; and
(2) preparing officers for joint duty assignments.
(Added and amended Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §532(a)(2), (b), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1897, 1900.)
Editorial Notes
Codification
Subsecs. (b) and (c) of section 663 of this title, which were transferred to this section by Pub. L. 108–375, §532(b), were based on Pub. L. 99–433, title IV, §401(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1027.
Amendments
2004—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 108–375, §532(b), transferred subsecs. (b) and (c) of section 663 of this title to end of this section. See Codification note above.
§2153. Capstone course: newly selected general and flag officers
(a) Requirement.—Each officer selected for promotion to the grade of brigadier general or, in the case of the Navy or the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, rear admiral (lower half) shall be required, after such selection, to attend a military education course designed specifically to prepare new general and flag officers to work with the other uniformed services.
(b) Waiver Authority.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Commerce, as applicable, may waive subsection (a)—
(A) in the case of an officer whose immediately previous assignment was in a joint duty assignment and who is thoroughly familiar with joint matters;
(B) when necessary for the good of the service;
(C) in the case of an officer whose proposed selection for promotion is based primarily upon scientific and technical qualifications for which joint requirements do not exist (as determined under regulations prescribed under section 619(e)(4) 1 of this title); and
(D) in the case of a medical officer, dental officer, veterinary officer, medical service officer, nurse, biomedical science officer, or chaplain.
(2) The authority of the Secretary of Defense to grant a waiver under paragraph (1) may only be delegated to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, an Under Secretary of Defense, or an Assistant Secretary of Defense. Such a waiver may be granted only on a case-by-case basis in the case of an individual officer.
(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §532(a)(2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1897; amended Pub. L. 116–259, title II, §205(b)(3), Dec. 23, 2020, 134 Stat. 1167.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 619(e)(4) of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(C), was repealed by Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, §931(b), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1734. See section 619a(f) of this title.
Amendments
2020—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–259, §205(b)(3)(A), inserted "or the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration" after "in the case of the Navy" and substituted "other uniformed services" for "other armed forces".
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–259, §205(b)(3)(B), inserted "or the Secretary of Commerce, as applicable," after "the Secretary of Defense" in introductory provisions.
§2154. Joint professional military education: three-phase approach
(a) Three-Phase Approach.—The Secretary of Defense shall implement a three-phase approach to joint professional military education, as follows:
(1) There shall be a course of instruction, designated and certified by the Secretary of Defense with the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Phase I instruction, consisting of all the elements of a joint professional military education (as specified in section 2151(a) of this title), in addition to the principal curriculum taught to all officers at an intermediate level service school or at a joint intermediate level school.
(2) There shall be a course of instruction, designated and certified by the Secretary of Defense with the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Phase II instruction, consisting of—
(A) a joint professional military education curriculum taught in residence at, or offered through, the Joint Forces Staff College or a senior level service school that has been designated and certified by the Secretary of Defense as a joint professional military education institution; or
(B) a senior level service course of at least ten months that has been designated and certified by the Secretary of Defense as a joint professional military education course.
(3) There shall be a course of instruction, designated and certified by the Secretary of Defense with the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the Capstone course, for officers selected for promotion to the grade of brigadier general or, in the case of the Navy, rear admiral (lower half) and offered in accordance with section 2153 of this title.
(b) Sequenced Approach.—The Secretary shall require the sequencing of joint professional military education so that the standard sequence of assignments for such education requires an officer to complete Phase I instruction before proceeding to Phase II instruction, as provided in section 2155(a) of this title.
(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §532(a)(2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1898; amended Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, §552(a)(1), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1412; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title V, §506, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3356; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title V, §554, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 824.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2015—Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 114–92 inserted ", or offered through," after "taught in residence at".
2014—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted "consisting of—" for "consisting of a joint professional military education curriculum taught in residence at—" in introductory provisions, added subpars. (A) and (B), and struck out former subpars. (A) and (B) which read as follows:
"(A) the Joint Forces Staff College; or
"(B) a senior level service school that has been designated and certified by the Secretary of Defense as a joint professional military education institution."
2011—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 112–81 inserted "or at a joint intermediate level school" before period at end.
§2155. Joint professional military education Phase II program of instruction
(a) Prerequisite of Completion of Joint Professional Military Education Phase I Program of Instruction.—(1) After September 30, 2009, an officer of the armed forces may not be accepted for, or assigned to, a program of instruction designated by the Secretary of Defense as joint professional military education Phase II unless the officer has successfully completed a program of instruction designated by the Secretary of Defense as joint professional military education Phase I.
(2) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may grant exceptions to the requirement under paragraph (1). Such an exception may be granted only on a case-by-case basis under exceptional circumstances, as determined by the Chairman. An officer selected to receive such an exception shall have knowledge of joint matters and other aspects of the Phase I curriculum that, to the satisfaction of the Chairman, qualifies the officer to meet the minimum requirements established for entry into Phase II instruction without first completing Phase I instruction. The number of officers selected to attend an offering of the principal course of instruction at the Joint Forces Staff College or a senior level service school designated by the Secretary of Defense as a joint professional military education institution who have not completed Phase I instruction should comprise no more than 10 percent of the total number of officers selected.
(b) Phase II Requirements.—The Secretary shall require that the curriculum for Phase II joint professional military education at any school—
(1) focus on developing joint operational expertise and perspectives and honing joint warfighting skills; and
(2) be structured—
(A) so as to adequately prepare students to perform effectively in an assignment to a joint, multiservice organization; and
(B) so that students progress from a basic knowledge of joint matters learned in Phase I instruction to the level of expertise necessary for successful performance in the joint arena.
(c) Curriculum Content.—In addition to the subjects specified in section 2151(a) of this title, the curriculum for Phase II joint professional military education shall include the following:
(1) National security strategy.
(2) Theater strategy and campaigning.
(3) Joint planning processes and systems.
(4) Joint, interagency, and multinational capabilities and the integration of those capabilities.
(d) Student Ratio; Faculty Ratio.—Not later than September 30, 2009, for courses of instruction in a Phase II program of instruction that is offered at senior level service school that has been designated by the Secretary of Defense as a joint professional military education institution—
(1) the percentage of students enrolled in any such course who are officers of the armed force that administers the school may not exceed 60 percent, with the remaining services proportionally represented; and
(2) of the faculty at the school who are active-duty officers who provide instruction in such courses, the percentage who are officers of the armed force that administers the school may not exceed 60 percent, with the remaining services proportionally represented.
(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §532(a)(2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1898; amended Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, §1071(a)(13), (14), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2399.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2006—Pub. L. 109–364, §1071(a)(13), substituted "Phase" for "phase" in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–364, §1071(a)(14), inserted "Phase" after "Education" in heading.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Pilot Program on JPME Phase II on Other Than In-Residence Basis
Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, §552(b), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1412, authorized the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of offering a program of instruction under this section on an other than in-residence basis and provided that the authority for the program would expire five years after Dec. 31, 2011.
§2156. Joint Forces Staff College: duration of principal course of instruction
(a) Duration.—The duration of the principal course of instruction offered at the Joint Forces Staff College may not be less than 10 weeks of resident instruction.
(b) Definition.—In this section, the term "principal course of instruction" means any course of instruction offered at the Joint Forces Staff College as Phase II joint professional military education.
(Added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §532(a)(2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1900.)
Section, added Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §532(a)(2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1900; amended Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title X, §1071(a)(15), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2399, required annual reports to Congress regarding joint professional military education.