Welcome to the Command and General Staff College!
The International Programs Assistant with the International Military Student Division (IMSD) will communicate detailed guidance to the Security Cooperation Offices to assist in preparing their officers to attend the Command and General Staff Officer Course.
Security Cooperation Officers and inbound International Military Students are encouraged to contact IMSD directly via the link at the bottom of this page. You may also call us at the following phone numbers:
Desk: (+001) 913-684-7318 / DSN 552-7318
Fax: (+001) 913-684-7333 / DSN 552-7333
Official IMSD E-mail (FOR SAO/EMBASSY/ATTACHÉ USE ONLY): usarmy.leavenworth.tradoc.mbx.cgsc-imsd@mail.mil
"Information Booklet for International Military Student" is provided in your welcome packet upon your arrival and can also be accessed here.
Organization of the International Military Student - Student Body
The IMS cohort will have an internal organization consisting of a Chief of Staff who is "among equals", and a number of group leaders and committee members sufficient to accomplish the goals of the group. Elective credit is granted to some positions at the determination of the Director, IMSD.
- The Chief of Staff orchestrates the flow of information to the IMS Student Body. This position allows for 0-54 credit hours to be awarded for Advanced Application Program credits.
- Two or three Group Leaders each represent 1/2 or 1/3 of the IMS Student Body. They provide accountability assistance during group travel to Field Studies Program activities.
- The following committee positions are also available:
- IMS Class Treasurer, IMS Class Secretary, Yearbook Committee, Fund-Raising Committee, Class Gift Committee
Hall of Fame
Fall of 1971, LTC John H. Haack, Deputy Director of Allied Personnel, and COL William P. Pipkin, Director of Allied Personnel, decided to come up with one idea a month for the College's suggestion program. During one session, the idea was developed that Fort Leavenworth needed to recognize its Allied (International) graduates and a Hall of Fame would be a good way to do this.
They researched Army regulations and called the Chief of the Foreign Military Training Branch (FMT) of DCSOPS, DA for guidance. He called his counterpart at the Department of State and then informed COL Pipkin that Fort Leavenworth could establish an Allied (International) Officers Hall of Fame (IHOF) as long as we "did not memorialize any of the Allied (International) Officers." Memorandums for Record (MFR's) were made up and down the line and with this authority COL Pipkin and LTC Haack proceeded with the project. DOD approved the project with only minor changes in procedures for the routing of nominations.
In September 1971, a DF was circulated to all college agencies outlining the concept for their concurrence and was submitted to the Commandant for approval. The criteria for induction into AHOF (IHOF) were established.
Due to great number of known Allied (International) graduates who qualified for induction, the estimated cost of the project was beyond the resources of the Allied Personnel section and CGSC. General Hennessey had COL Pipkin to contact the President of the Henry Leavenworth Chapter of AUSA to get that organization blessing for this project to be separate from the Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame. Following this approval by AUSA, LTC Haack and COL Pipkin met with the Executive council of the Kansas City Chapter of MOWW and outlined the project. COL (USAR) Tallman and other members of the council accepted the idea with the provision that the initial induction ceremony would be held in August 1973 when the National Convention of the Military Order of World Wars (MOWW) would be held in Kansas City, Missouri. COL Earl D. Clark, Jr., a Kansas City architect and a member of the MOWW council, offered his services to design the layout for the Hall of Fame and to supervise the construction.
By January 1972 letters had been sent to the Chief of MAAG, Mission, or Attaches in each country from which CGSC had allied (international) graduates. By March the nominations had started to arrive and naturally the Hall of Fame idea was enthusiastically accepted.
The Dedication Ceremony was held on 7 August 1973 with CGSC Commandant Major General John J. Hennessey and Colonel Frank Brockus, Commander of the Kansas City Chapter of MOWW presiding. There were 77 Allied (international) military students inducted into the Hall of Fame that day. Since that day the number has grown to 241 from 67 countries and increases yearly (view the IHOF statistical count - alphabetical by country).
NOTE: With the influx of new democratic countries, the word "allied" was changed to "international."
Current criteria for induction and nominative process.
Stained Glass Windows in the International Hallway Eisenhower Hall
International Military Student Preparatory Course (IMSPC)
P910 & the Field Studies Program (FSP)
The International Military Student Preparatory Course (IMSPC) is 3 weeks long. Phase I of the IMSPC covers an overview of American society which concentrates on the fundamental skills needed to function in the CGSOC. During Phase II of the IMSPC the first overnight Field Studies Program (FSP) trip will take place. IMSPC Phase II also includes a National Flag Ceremony rehearsal. Additional overnight trips will occur during CGSOC. Since FSP trips are mandatory and are overnight stays, it is requested that IMS family members do not plan to arrive from their country during scheduled trip dates. Details on FSP trips will be provided during the preparatory course. Instruction in the IMSPC assumes that each student has already mastered basic fluency in the English language due to the requirement to have a test score of 80 percent on the English Comprehension Level (ECL) examination.
Reading Material
CGSOC Preparatory Course
P930 Information
The Command and General Staff Officer Preparatory Course (CGSOPC) is 2 weeks in length. This course involves participation by the international military students, U.S. Army Chaplain, Judge Advocate General, Medical Services officers, and officers from other U.S. military services. Instruction includes U.S. military terminology, organization, tactics, logistics, and command and control.