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1. The Junior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, initially known as the National War College (NWC), was established on 14 October 1963 as part of the military Academy and Training Schools (MATS). The NWC was staffed by officers of the Canadian Armed Forces Training Team (CAFTT) and a British Army Officer and charged with the responsibility of training selected Army Officers for staff and higher command appointments.
The course duration initially was 10 weeks with a student capacity of 10. In December 1963.the name of the institution was changed to National Defence College. Its main scope remained unchanged, but the duration and student capacity were changed to 16 weeks and 30 students respectively. The first Ghanaian Directing Staff in the person of then Maj JM Nunoo-Mensah was appointed to the College in 1969. He became the first Ghanaian to head the institution as GSOI (Coord) in 1970. With the establishment of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) in 1976, the National Defence College became the Junior Division of the GAFCSC.
The head of the division was also upgraded to Assistant Commandant (Colonel) effective October 1985 with Colonel Seidu Ayumah as the first Assistant commandant. The scope of the division has also been reviewed over the years with more emphasis on Staff Training for Grade 3 Staff appointment whilst the command and tactics aspects have been deemphasised. The course duration is now 22 weeks. The students are also given the opportunity to pursue the Post graduate Certificate in Public Administration during the duration of the Course. This package is run by GIMPA. Students from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, La Cote D'lvoire, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Togo and Zimbabwe have since 1973 attended the Junior Staff Courses with their Ghanaian counterparts.
LOCATION
2. The Junior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC) is located within the Military Academy and Training Schools (MATS) Whistler Barracks which is located along the main Accra-Tema coastal road.
COURSE DETAILS
3. Course Aim. The Junior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, as a regional centre of excellence, aims at enhancing the leadership, analytical and communication skills of junior level officers to perform command and staff functions, through research and active development of a broad understanding and knowledge of single, joint and combined operations as well as the management of lower aspects of defence, economic and geopolitical issues. The duration of the Course is 22 weeks made up of 2 terms with the following objectives:
a. To understand the techniques used in staff work.
b. To understand the structure, roles and functions of the Ghana Armed Forces and the organisation of some units.
c. To understand the rudiments of sub-unit level training, and be familiar with unit and formation level training.
d. Be familiar with some major aspects of domestic and international affairs and how these influence security, socio-economic and political stability.
e. To understand the relationship and application of command, leadership and management.
f. To understand the fundamental logistics process and its application during peace and war.
g. To develop the physical, social and spiritual qualities of junior officers.
4. JSC Package. The fields of study for the 2 terms are as follows:
a. Term 1. Grounding and foundation work.
b. Term 2. The employment of the Armed Forces affairs and Peace Support Operations.
5. Term 1 Summary. Term 1 lasts for 10 weeks and is the foundation Term. The term is designed to help students develop the habit of being very analytical both orally and on paper. Students do a lot of writing to improve on their writing ability.
a. Training Objectives. The aim of the term is to ensure that students possess an adequate knowledge of organisation, staff procedures, rules and conventions of Service Writing to enable them benefit fully from the course. Attention is also focused on Communication Skills, Intelligence and Joint & Combined Doctrine and Military Operations.
b. Subject Areas. The following subjects are covered during the term:
(1) Operational Staff Work. This is to assist students understand the responsibilities of staff officers and also improve upon their minor staff duties at unit and formation HQ levels. |
