DIPLOMACY EDUCATION (MILITARY PROVIDERS)

It's hard for most diplomacy students and most members of the military to understand, but the military actually does spend a lot of time and energy studying "diplomacy" in one form or another. After all, when diplomacy fails they know they're going to be the ones called on to get some president's chestnuts out of the fire. All of these sites have excellent links with other military educational establishments. It's worth taking an afternoon and going through them to learn who offers what to whom, where and why. Sometimes you have to go down three or four levels to get to the real meat, but it's worth it.

1. National Defense University

Note the difference between this site and the next one. The NDU has an .edu extension while the USA FMSO has a .mil extension. There's a big difference. This where the military's top brass go to learn how to be top brass. It's the military equivalent to a Ph.D program. You decide if it equals a civilian program in the same area.

2. U.S. Army, Foreign Military Studies Office

Leavenworth, KS is the Army's top school for fighting wannabe generals. Carlisle Barracks, PA is the Army's top school for desk wannabe generals. That's a bit of an over-simplication and no Army officer below the rank of brigader would agree with it, but's true. You have to dig through the material to find subjects that interest you, but it is good stuff you won't find anywhere else.

3. Strategic Forum Index

More NDU stuff. Most of this is designed to be read as part of a fairly short program. It hits the high-lights and doesn't put too much strain on the old gray cells. Generals, after all, do have other things to worry about: Their golf game, scandals, and which ribbons to wear, etc.

4. US Naval War College

The Naval War College is a favorite of mine. They were the first organization to actually sub to my PMW magazine back in 1971! They're almost reactionary in their thinking about most diplomatic subjects and if a problem can't be solved by the Marines or an aircraft carrier task force. they're at a loss as to what to do. However, the Naval War College has a major wargaming program that has been a big factor in commercial wargaming for years.

5. Air University Professional Reading Guide

If you are serious about studying the military aspects of diplomacy you need to start with this reading list. Download it, go through and check off what you have already read, pick out what you think you should read, and make up a reading program for yourself. If you can't identify each of these sources and their contribution ot the field, you won't make it.