Compass Orientation - Lesson One

Please view important dates below.
DEP Block Calendar

Class of 2025

• Orientation Weekends: 21-22 April 2023 and 28-29 April 2023
• DE2301 Start Date: 10 July 2023
• First Resident Course: 17-28 June 2024
• Second Resident Course: 14-25 July 2025

Class of 2026

• Orientation Weekend: 19-20 April 2024
• DE2301 Start Date: 8 July 2024
• First Resident Course: 15-27 June 2025
• Second Resident Course: 12-24 July 2026

The Army War College does not accept individual applications into its SSC programs except through special exceptions. A DA-centralized board is held on behalf of the CAR to identify officers to attend SSC. USAR officers are selected according to AR 350-1. Commissioned officers from all components should remember that according to the provisions of AR 350-100, attendance at the Army War College incurs a 2-year service obligation. U.S. Army War College Distance Education Course allows you to participate in a 2-year, rigorous program of instruction that results in the award of the same graduation certificate and the same fully accredited master of science degree awarded to graduates of the resident program. You will need to devote 15 hours each week to a program that is delivered to you via the Internet, one that leverages technology to enhance the educational experience. Only the resident SSC courses and nonresident Army War College course award MEL SSC and JPME II upon completion. SSC graduates are assigned to organizations based on guidance from the CAR, and Director of ARNG. Tours following graduation are to the Army Staff, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of Defense, ACOM, and combatant command staffs in branch, FA, branch/FA generalist or joint positions."

U.S. Military. To attend the United States Army War College a prospective student must be a serving colonel or lieutenant colonel with at least 16 but not more than 25 years of service at the starting date of the course. Students must have completed the Command and General Staff College, or the equivalent. To be eligible potential students must have completed a baccalaureate degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution. The years of service prerequisite may be waived for deserving officers by their component. Requests for waiver shall be endorsed by the applicant's immediate commander and will accompany the officer's application.

Civilian. To attend the Army War College, Department of the Army Federal Government civilians must be at the grade of GS/GM-14. Other DoD and Federal Government civilians may be accepted in the grade of GS-13.

International Fellows. All students attending the USAWC are expected to read, write, and speak English fluently. Native speakers of English are defined as those individuals who have received all of their primary and secondary education in the following countries: Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brunei, English-speaking Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, and the United Kingdom. Non-native speakers of English must demonstrate proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) which must be taken prior to enrollment at USAWC. A score of 557 on the paper-based test, 83 Internet based, or 220 on the computer-based test is the minimum for enrollment in the program of instruction at the U.S. Army War College. Information on the TOEFL may be obtained by writing to:

• TOEFL
  P.0. Box 6154
  Princeton, NJ 90541-6154, USA or https://www.ets.org/toefl

International Fellows seeking enrollment in the Master of Strategic Studies degree program must submit their transcripts and supporting documentation to the USAWC Registrar's Office for assessment by an outside review body to determine equivalency of their degree.

Service Obligation. Commissioned officers from all components should remember that according to the provisions of AR 350-100, attendance at the Army War College incurs a two-year service obligation. Prospective students from other services or government organizations are encouraged to determine if an obligation is incurred and the extent of the obligation.

To graduate from the U.S. Army War College through the Distance Education Program a U.S. student must:

1. Successfully complete all Distance Education academic requirements. Satisfactory completion of the individual course requirements is the only basis for receiving credit for the completion of the Distance Education Program.
2. Attend both resident courses.
3. Possess a Secret security clearance.

The Department of Distance Education's program requires a high degree of academic rigor. The high academic standards have given the U.S. Army War College's distance education offerings respectability in both civilian and military education circles. As a result, the Distance Education Program has been recognized as a graduate level program.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the specialized nature of the curriculum at the U.S. Army War College, transfer of credits from other institutions will not be accepted.

Permanent Records. Current academic files are maintained by the Department of Distance Education. Records of former students such as transcripts and AERs are maintained in the Registrar's Office. Once selected for the U.S. Army War College, each student will receive an administrative packet, which requires immediate attention. Included in the packet will be the instructions on how to submit your biographical information via Compass. This information must be completed no later than 10 days after receipt of the packet. A required part of your records is a current photo, which must be sent electronically to the DDE Administrative Office as a JPG file not later than 60 days after your enrollment in the course. If you fail to submit your biographical information and photograph to the College, administrative actions will be pursued.

Transcript. All second-year students must request that their undergraduate transcript be mailed directly from their institution to U.S. Army War College Registrar's Office, 651 Wright Avenue, Room T033, Carlisle, PA 17013 for verification NLT 31 December of the academic year prior to graduation. U.S. Army War College transcripts are available by contacting the Registrar's Office (email: usarmy.carlisle.awc.mbx.registrar@army.mil). Please note, to be official, a transcript must be transmitted directly from the registrar of one institution to another.