Washington DC was the next stop after New York City in this Fall Field Study. Senior Course 115 received a series of briefings on Capitol Hill that focused on the impact of the legislative process on national security in general and the US political and military relationship in particular. The first speaker, Colonel Philip C. Skuta, USMC, United States Senate, Director, Marine Liaison, explained why the presence of US Armed Forces in the legislative branch is so important and how constitutional oversight over defence functions. His concise but thorough presentation was followed by a candid question and answer session.
The following two short briefings were given by Ms Dana W. White, a professional staff member on the minority staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Mr William G.P. Monahan, a Counsel on the majority staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee. After providing a brief oversight of the Committees they represent, their roles, how the means of congressional oversight work in practice, and the political perspectives and dynamics within and between the two committees, the two speakers engaged in a lively discussion with the Senior Course during the Q&A session.
An interesting and very informative briefing about the evolution of the US Senate and the Congressional system was delivered by Senate Historian, Mr Don Ritchie, who has worked for the Senate for over 30 years. He also explained the appropriations process, stressing the separation of powers between the US branches of government. He presented a fascinating historical perspective on why the US government operates the way it does today.
In the afternoon Course Members had the unique privilege of a guided tour of the Capitol and an insightful presentation, from both a cultural and a historical perspective, of the state building.
The afternoon sessions gave the Course an extraordinary opportunity to learn about US positions on key current issues in the international arena. In the set of presentations by senior State Department officials, Ms Carolyn McCarthy, Head of the NATO PA Delegation, Mr Jeff Miller, Member of the House of Armed Forces Committee and NATO PA Delegation, and Representative Mr John Boozman, US foreign policy was examined in a number of areas of NATO interest. Each briefing was followed by a lively discussion during the Q&A session.
In keeping with tradition, the US Marine Corps invited the Senior Course to the historic Marine Barracks at 8th & I for an outstanding reception, hosted by Gen. James F. Amos, Vice Commandant of the USMC. It was a very cordial and friendly occasion that provided plenty of opportunities to meet with representatives of the USMC, representatives of the Embassies in Washington D.C., and also with NDC Anciens and NDU graduates.
The evening ended with a visit to the WWII Memorial.
The next day Senior Course 115 visited the U.S. Defense Department in the Pentagon, where they received several extremely informative and up to the minute briefings by high level experts. The entire visit was hosted by the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General James E. Cartwright, USMCs.
After the Pentagon tour, Vice Admiral James A. “Sandy” Winnefeld, USN, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, J5, gave a welcome address focused on NATO and U.S. National Security. He discussed the vision of the Alliance that is being developed in the new Strategic Concept, the current ISAF mission and objectives, and ways and means to reinforce efforts in Afghanistan. After the briefing, Senior Course members took part in a vigorous Q&A session.
The next speaker, Ms Julianne Smith, Principal Director, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy, International Security Affairs, gave a detailed briefing on NATO’S Strategic Concept and the U.S. view. She touched upon NATO’S ambitions, its relationships, the perception of threats to the Alliance and the balance between clearly military threats and those that do not fit into the same category, such as cyber warfare. Her well informed presentation ended in an engaging exchange of views with Senior Course members.
Following Ms Smith, LtCol Christopher Coke, USMC, Assistant Division Chief, EUCOM Division, Joint Operations Directorate, gave a very systematic and precise update on U.S. commands abroad. The difficulties of meeting the different security challenges across the globe were a recurrent theme throughout a very informative presentation, which Course Members examined in further detail during the discussion period.
The next presentation, by Captain Richard Wortman, Strategic Deterrence and Strike Policy Division Chief on the Joint Staff J5, covered the issues and challenges of European Missile Defence.
The morning session concluded with final remarks by General James E Cartwright, USMC, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The briefings were thought provoking and led to lively interaction between the speakers and the audience, adding considerable value to the Senior Course academic program as well as to high level strategic thinking. The opportunity to discuss issues with senior Pentagon officials was greatly appreciated by the Course Members.
The visit to Washington D.C. concluded with a tour of the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon and a visit to Arlington Cemetery.
The Pentagon Memorial, located just southwest of the Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia, is a permanent outdoor memorial to the 184 people killed in the building and on American Airlines Flight 77 in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
On the way back from Washington D.C. a stop was made at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. The museum opened to the public on November 13, 2006 as a tribute to U.S. Marines, and brings to life the values, mission, and culture of the Marine Corps. It features era galleries that highlight the role of the Marines during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Future exhibits will chronicle the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and World War I, as well as more recent initiatives in Panama, Kuwait and the Balkans. Each exhibit addresses the political climate at the time, the specific role of the Marines, and how those experiences affected American history.
Washington D.C. was an important part of Senior Course 115’s educational experience. The visits to the U.S. Department of State on Capitol Hill and to the Defense Department in the Pentagon, as well as the traditional hospitality of the U.S. Marine Corps, were memorable highlights. The next stop is Allied Command Transformation, Norfolk, Virginia.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Col. Daria DANIELS SKODNIK, SVN)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN