Newport, R.I. – The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) will begin accepting applications 1 April for new and returning students in the Fleet Seminar Program for the new academic year beginning in September 2024. The application window runs through May 31.
Consisting of the three courses of the College of Naval Command and Staff offered through the College of Distance Education, the Fleet Seminar Program provides Joint Intermediate-Level Professional Military Education (JPME-I), in a seminar format, at 15 naval and joint bases around the country to foster a deliberate and flexible learning environment.
“The Fleet Seminar Program is focused, historically informed, and forward-thinking, anticipating future operational and strategic challenges while developing and assessing strategic and operational concepts to overcome those challenges,” said Professor Ron Oard, manager, Fleet Seminar Program.
Oard added that the program allows students to develop an appreciation for the political uses of military power and to explore the roles of military and political leaders in policy formulation, military planning, and the conduct of war.
Each course runs from September through May, meeting one evening a week for three hours. The seminars are conducted at the graduate level and require appropriate initiative, research work, writing, and class participation from each student.
After successfully completing their first course, students may then apply for acceptance into the Naval War College’s Graduate Degree Program. This program enables students to earn a Master of Arts degree in Defense and Strategic studies by adding approved elective coursework to that completed in the Fleet Seminar Program.
Nearly 900 students are currently enrolled, and more than 900 have earned a master’s degree through the program in the past five years.
Enrollment is open to eligible active and reserve officers in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in the grade of O-3 and above. Active and reserve officers in other military services must be in the grade of O-4 and above to be eligible. Federal civilian employees in the grade of GS-11 and equivalent or above are also eligible.
Selected staff members located in Washington, D.C. in the federal executive, legislative, and judiciary branches are also eligible through an agreement with the Chief of Naval Operations. All applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree.
For more information on course locations and application procedures, please visit the FSP web page.