OVERARCHING GOAL:

Graduates anticipate a range of military challenges and possess the requisite warrior ethos, leadership perspective, and military skills to respond effectively in combat and a wide range of complex situations.

Rationale and Amplification

The contemporary spectrum of military operations is characterized by an array of symmetric and asymmetric challenges, in diverse geographic, cross-cultural and often dangerous environments.  Army officers will be confronted with complex and dynamic situations in which ambiguity, uncertainty, and rapid change are constants and no clear best course of action exists.  Future officers must be able to respond effectively within these parameters to achieve goals and objectives that support mission accomplishment.  To do so, they will need to apply their military training, informed by a continually developing leadership perspective, and backed by a physically and mentally tough warrior ethos. 

Our mission is to develop each cadet into a commissioned leader of character who possesses the mature judgment, adaptability, and tactical skills, plus the mental toughness and will to win essential to the profession of arms.  Furthermore, we seek to inspire each cadet to a career of professional excellence in the United States Army.  We cannot train cadets for every circumstance they will encounter as officers.  Therefore, we will educate them broadly so they have a foundation for continued learning and development underwritten by a versatile, imaginative, critical thinking mind set.  At the same time, we will train them in depth in particular war-fighting skill sets, so they have the best opportunity to succeed in critical mission tasks immediately.  The military experience at the United States Military Academy is well suited to providing a foundation for the development of future strategic leaders.     

What Graduates Can Do 

Graduates can anticipate and respond effectively to the array of symmetric and asymmetric military challenges posed by a changing world.  Graduates are prepared to lead as agile decision makers able to act quickly, competently, and with confidence to complete their assigned missions.

To Anticipate:

Graduates can understand current and historical military operations and can anticipate the evolution of future conflicts.  They are doctrinally grounded and able to communicate intelligently with subordinates as well as superiors using the language of our profession.  Graduates are able to evaluate current training levels and requirements of their units, predict future requirements, and develop and resource effective training plans.  Graduates can anticipate requirements and develop creative tactical courses of action to accomplish the mission within the guidance of the commander’s intent.  They expect and prepare for changes to unit missions and Army organizational structure.  They recognize and prudently manage both tactical and accidental risk.

To Respond Effectively:

 Graduates are flexible, creative, adaptive and intuitive leaders, capable of quickly assimilating and leading their units in a variety of cultural contexts.  They are full spectrum war fighters, prepared to exercise sound judgment, address complex military issues, and execute training and combat missions in dynamic and chaotic environments.  Graduates possess the military skills commensurate with their grade and leverage their abilities to ensure successful completion of unit missions.  Graduates understand their roles as leaders and team builders.  They form cohesive units based on mutual trust and confidence, and take initiative to develop themselves and their subordinates through professional relationships.

The overarching goal is supported by six complementary goals.  Each goal is listed below with a set of corresponding objectives.

Military Domain Outcome Goals:

Graduates who:

1. Understand operational concepts of war
   
   
   1. Understand and explain the range of possible military operations.
   2. Understand and analyze both current and historical military operations using the levels of war.
   3. Understand Combined, Joint and Combined Arms operations.
   4. Understand the linkage between tactical and operational tasks and strategic goals.
   5. Familiarize with the Army’s operational doctrine, terms and graphics.
   
   
2. Understand precepts of military law
   
   
   1. Understand Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) and Rules of Engagement (ROE).
   2. Understand the limits and responsibilities of commanders and other leaders under the Constitution
   3. Understand service members' rights under the UCMJ and the Constitution.
   
   
3. Understand the Core Leader Competencies
   
   
   1. Demonstrate the ability to lead others by example, communicate effectively, and influence both within and outside the chain of command.
   2. Develop a positive environment, prepare self for future challenges, and develop leaders both personally and professionally.
   3. Demonstrate ability to achieve results.\
   4. Demonstrate agile and adaptive leadership, understand cultural diversity, and operate in complex, volatile, and ambiguous environments.
   
   
4. Graduates demonstrate proficiency in the basic military skills required of an officer(BOLC 1 tasks)
   
   
   1. Demonstrate proficiency in General Knowledge Tasks
   2. Demonstrate proficiency in Basic Soldier Tasks
   
   
5. Graduates demonstrate superior performance in marksmanship, land navigation, and preparation and delivery of small unit operations orders (BOLC 1 tasks)
   
   
   1. Effectively plan and implement the fundamentals of, Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM phases I-III) and familiarize with selected portions of Advanced Rifle Marksmanship (BRM phases IV-V).
   2. Effectively analyze terrain and successfully conduct tactical movement
   3. Effectively communicate tactical plans using Troop Leading Procedures
   
   
6. Demonstrate the capacity to solve military issues during periods of high stress.
   
   
   1. Possess ability to quickly assess the situation, develop and evaluate courses of action and anticipate their consequences under stress and in simulated combat environments.
   2. Decide wisely and act decisively under stress and in simulated combat environments