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As the senior institution in the Army educational system, the US Army College is charged with the responsibility of preparing carefully selected students from all military services and branches of government for senior positions within the military and national government. The most fundamental purpose of the College is to produce graduates who understand how to operate in a strategic environment 1!. We are constantly striving to encourage the students to think at the strategic level, to recognize the strategic ramifications of a given issue, to make sound, well-reasoned decisions, and to render advice on the military implications associated with a particular national Policy. As part of this effort, the US Army War College has been investigating the theory and practice of leadership at the strategic level.
The concept of "Strategic leadership", that has emerged over the last few years, is still evolving. The identification of its key elements and its application to the development of future strategic leaders is of primary interest to the College. This article presents some of the ideas and experiences that have influenced us as we introduced the study of strategic leadership into the College's curriculum, proposes some primary components of strategic leadership, and discusses some implications and issues associated with the development of strategic leaders.
THE US AMY WAR COLLEGE
MISSION
The War College represents a culmination of the formal military education for most military officers. Its specific mission is to prepare selected officers and civilians for senior leadership responsibilities in a strategic environment during peace and war and to study the role of land power, as part of a joint or combined force, in support of the US national military strategy 1!. To accomplish its mission the US Army War College gives students an opportunity to explore, to enquire and to appraise, so that later they can act deliberately. It provides a place where mature officers of all services and their civilian counterparts can come to grips with the problems which face the United States.
STUDENTS
The resident class consists of 288 students. Each student has had a highly successful career to date and is selected because of his or her future potential contribution.
The class is carefully chosen to represent a wide variety of specialities and experience. A...