The newly opened Canadian Defence Academy has been given the mission of providing life-long advanced academic support for the Canadian Forces and DND civilians. RAdm David Morris has been named the first commander of CDA and located in Kingston, Ont. This culminates the 1997 ministerial direction that every officer entering the Forces will have at least an undergraduate degree.

Background: The CF has been particularly aware of the need to improve the professional competencies of its members for the last several years. "Canadian Officership in the 21st Century" and "NCM (non-commissioned members) Corps 2020" are the two culminating reports from a decade of consultation, study, and review. The creation of the CDA on 1 Apr. 2002 marks the beginning of a new era in Canadian Forces professional development.

The Academy will oversee the activities of the Royal Military College, the Canadian Forces College, and the newly created Canadian Forces Leadership Institute (CFLI). In addition it will assume primary responsibility for both non-commissioned member and officer professional development.

The Forces need officers and NCMs with outstanding intellectual ability, capable of effective command, leadership and management in a technological and information-rich environment. Our military members must be armed with a keen intellect, critical thinking skills, and a profound understanding of national policy and military doctrine.

Within a coherent and integrated professional development structure, academic rigour will be the hallmark of Canadian professional military education. The Royal Military College of Canada, the Canadian Forces College, the Canadian Forces Leadership Institute, The Canadian Military Journal, and various discrete centres of excellence constitute the framework that will enable the Defence Academy to lead the reform and transformation of the Canadian Forces professional standards and competencies.

The principal purpose of CDA education programs is to prepare people for command, leadership, and management appointments through its two main hubs: the Canadian Forces College in Toronto and the Royal Military College in Kingston.

The Canadian Forces College mandate is to provide advanced and accredited professional military education for officers of the Canadian Forces. The environment is both joint and bilingual. The courses offered at the Canadian Forces College are accredited by the Royal Military College of Canada and lead to various degrees, both professional and academic.

All courses are open to selected Canadian Officers, while members of the public service and military officers from other nations are invited to send students from time to time. The College currently offers the following courses and seminars:

Command and Staff Course (CSC)

The 45-week CSC is designed to develop selected senior officers for key major and lieutenant-colonel tactical-level command and operational-level staff appointments in national or combined, component or joint forces. The focus of the course is on joint war fighting at the tactical and operational levels. A two-week derivative of the CSC, the Joint Reserve CSC, is designed to develop selected Reserve officers with the same focus as the CSC.

Advanced Military Studies Course (AMSC)

The three-month course prepares colonels/captains(N) for senior command and staff appointments at the operational and strategic levels within national and international headquarters and organizations. Its focus is on warfighting at the operational level.

National Securities Studies Course (NSSC)

The six-month course prepares senior officers at the colonel/captain(N) and general/flag officer ranks for increased responsibilities in the development, management, and implementation of Canadian defence and security policy. The NSSC will prepare senior officers to meet the obligations and demands of command at the strategic level.

National Security Studies Seminar (NSSS)

This two-week seminar is designed to focus attention on various national and international issues. Senior officers from the Regular and Reserve Force attend these seminars along with selected senior officials from the public and private sectors.

The Royal Military College of Canada

Undergraduate Studies. Professional military education begins at the Royal Military College of Canada. The RMC is a national university. The cadet program consists of four components or pillars that each officer-cadet must satisfy in order to graduate with an RMC degree. Academics, Leadership, Physical Fitness, and Bilingualism constitute the four pillars throughout the formal and informal elements of the RMC program. The first year officer cadet preparatory course is taken at St. Jean, PQ (the revitalized former CMR site). It includes basic military and second language training and introductory academics.

Other programs are accessible to officers and NCMs seeking to complete a degree. Degrees are available in the Arts, Sciences, and Engineering.

Graduate Studies. RMC offers a wide range of degree programs at the post-graduate level. They include key areas of Engineering, Humanities, and Science in support of the Canadian Forces.

Continuing Studies. The mission of the Division of Continuing Studies is to deliver academic programs at the professional, undergraduate, and graduate levels to students in both official languages. It negotiates access to civilian universities; develops defence-related programs and courses; awards university credit for military training and promotes an interest in lifelong learning within the defence community regardless of where students live and work.

Since the arrival of the Old Eighteen at the Royal Military College 126 years ago, this venerable Canadian institution has had a long and honourable tradition of excellence in officer development. If the past is any guide, one has no doubt the mission of this newly formed Canadian Defense Academy, as envisaged, will incorporate and extend the RMC tradition of excellence in leadership and education well into the 21th century.

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