JSOU offers special operations warfighters new certificate course Published March 9, 2007 By Capt. Joseph Coslett 1st SOW Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The Joint Special Operations University offers a new joint warfighter certificate program focusing on preparing mid-career noncommissioned and commissioned special operations officers for assignment to a joint special operations forces headquarters. A fiscal year 2005 educational requirements analysis found neither U.S. Special Operations Command nor Service joint professional military education institutions were sufficiently preparing mid-level SOF leaders. "Senior stakeholders indicated much of our curriculum was viewed as higher-level training as opposed to education and, although courses were interesting and valuable, they lacked academic rigor," said Dr. Joseph Stuart, JSOU dean of academics. Historically, JSOU courses filled gaps left by traditional training and educational processes but they tend to be narrowly focused, Dr. Stuart said. With leaders concerned JSOU was not yet moving to achieve the long-term educational goals as envisioned by the JSOU charter, the USSOCOM commander issued a challenge. "The special operations leader for the next decade will have to develop the intellectual agility to conceptualize creative, useful solutions to ambiguous problems and provide coherent options to joint force commanders," wrote Gen. Doug Brown, USSOCOM commander. "These leaders will train for discrete skill development and employment but will necessarily have to receive educational and experience opportunities for multiple knowledge application, analysis, evaluation and creation at the operational and strategic levels of this global war." The Joint Special Operations Warfighter Certificate targets the commander's challenge and with an "aim not to get people to know more things," Dr. Stuart said. "Rather, we are trying to build capacity to apply what they do in joint and irregular environments and outside of the usual comfort zone of tactical situations." The certificate program is geared for SOF personnel preparing for, enroute to or assigned to their first joint SOF headquarters at a theater in special operations command, the USSOCOM Center for Special Operations or a component or joint force headquarters. The intended audience is special operations senior noncommissioned warrant and commissioned officers. The new certificate courses include Module 1, the Joint SOF Application and Strategy Course; Module 2, the Theory of Irregular Warfare Course, June 14-15, 2007; Module 3, the Joint Special Operations Collaborative Planning Course, Aug. 13-24, 2007. Each module is independent and non-sequential. JSOU will offer a full schedule in FY08 and distance learning opportunities. For more information or to register, visit https://www.hurlburt.af.mil/jsou/.