Shrivenham 2015

The Garrison Station
Joint Services Command and Staff College
Background
Following studies in 1994, the United Kingdom Ministry
of Defence announced a number of major tri-Service
initiatives. The first to take effect was the establishment
of the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) at
Northwood in North London in April 1996 to plan
and execute UK led joint, combined and multinational
operations. The second was the formation of the
Joint Rapid Development Force in August 1996 (since
renamed the Joint Rapid Reaction Force) as a joint force
of up to reinforced brigade size, drawn from assigned
units, capable of rapid and global intervention across a
wide spectrum of conflict. The third was the creation of
the Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC)
in January 1997. In the case of JSCSC the Chiefs of Staff
wished to:
• Maximise the opportunities for the common
understanding of the approach to warfare and defence
as a whole, consistent with the increasing importance
of the joint, combined, multinational and inter-agency
nature of future operations.
• Provide the potential for future development of the
Staff College on a combined and inter-agency basis.
The formation of the JSCSC involved the closure of the
four former Staff Colleges in the United Kingdom – the
Joint Services Defence College and the Royal Naval
Staff College at Greenwich, the Army Command and
Staff College at Camberley and the Royal Air Force Staff
College at Bracknell. The JSCSC was based at Bracknell
from 1997 to 2000 on the site of the former Royal
Air Force Staff College, and moved to the new site at
Shrivenham in August 2000. The three Component
Divisions – Royal Navy Division (RND), Army Division
(AD) and Royal Air Force Division (RAFD) also moved to
the new JSCSC at Shrivenham in August 2000, enabling
all military command and staff training to be delivered
from one site.
The JSCSC trains future commanders and staff officers
from all of the UK Armed Services and the Civil Service
as well as military officers from many countries around
the world.
Its mission is: to provide world class Command and Staff
education and training, in order to enhance operational
capability, thereby advancing the Defence and Security
interests of the United Kingdom.
Its principle courses include:
• The Higher Command and Staff Course (HCSC) – an
annual, 16 week course for approximately 33 one
star and Colonel or Service equivalent level officers
from all three Services, NATO nations and some
Government departments.
• The Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC)
– an annual, 40 week course for 280 officers at Major
to Lieutenant Colonel and Service equivalents from all
three Services, MOD Civil Servants and International
Officers from almost 50 nations.
• Component staff training courses for all three Services,
comprising a range of shorter courses that are aimed
at junior and intermediate staff training for officers
between the ages of 26 and 34. This is delivered
by the RN Division, the Army Division and the RAF
Division.
• Other courses and exercises include those for Reserve
officers and preparation for those about to attend staff
training overseas.
College Badge
The College Badge was painted
by a heraldic artist of the College
of Arms. The design is based
on the original badge granted to
the Joint Services Staff College at
Latimer in 1948 and has changed
little during the College’s various
incarnations: the Joint Services
Staff College (1946-1971);
the National Defence College
(1971-1982) the Joint Services
Defence College (1982-1997); and now the Joint
Services Command and Staff College (since 1997). The
College Motto ‘Unity is Strength’ was proposed by the
first commandant of the Joint Services Staff College, Rear
Admiral CE Douglas-Pennant CB CBE DSO DSC.
The badge has at its centre the Cormorant which was
chosen as the College emblem by the Joint Services
Staff College in March 1947 following a proposed
design by Lieutenant Colonel J B Adams, a member of
the Directing Staff. He explained that the Cormorant
was a land based sea-bird and, as such, was considered
appropriate in view of its adaptability between the three
environments in which the Services operate; land, sea
and air. It also maintains the custom of the single-Service
Staff Colleges at Greenwich, Camberley and Bracknell of
having a bird as an emblem.
Further embellishments to the badge include, below the
image, a Naval Crown, Crossed Swords and Air Force
Wings. The Royal Crown, which marks the reign of HM
Queen Elizabeth II, surmounts the Badge.
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The Station