In addition, the course assists students in developing a coherent framework for analysis of decisions involving the use of force to achieve national objectives. The course is presented through a series of historical case studies examining specific examples of strategic-political interaction. The course, however, is definitely not intended to be a study of history for its own sake. The case study topics have been carefully chosen to focus on historical situations which illustrate the enduring and recurring concerns of the strategist. The National Security Decision Making course educates students in the effective selection and leadership of armed forces within national resource constraints.
Operational problems require military officers to make increasing use of many disciplines.
This differs from the past, where application of a single discrete discipline was more the norm. Officers must have a firm grasp of military strategy, an understanding of joint and combined operations, and a thorough background in the essential elements of the military planning and decision making process to deploy, employ, and sustain successfully and efficiently U.S. military forces. Joint Maritime Operations applies these ideas to military problems requiring decisions in dynamic situations. The integrating themes of the course are joint maritime operations, the operational level of war, and military decision making. The ability to answer these questions is the very essence of the Joint Maritime Operations course.