Joint Command and Staff Course

The target population consists of selected officers of Major equivalent or higher rank from within the NZDF and the Asia-Pacific region and selected individuals from Other Government Agencies, who have demonstrated their potential for promotion.

The 32-week residential Staff Course covers an intense graduate level syllabus, and provides several associated study visits.

The College syllabus is modelled on similar institutions in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Courses follow a modular approach that incorporates the following subjects

Course outline

Operational Studies

This is essentially a joint service study, focused at the Operational level of war, placing significant emphasis on Joint and Combined operations. This is taught from a practical military perspective supported by lectures on recent and current NZDF operations and incorporates a two week Joint Operations Planning Course (JOPC). The subject includes a combined planning exercise carried out in conjunction with a visit to the Australian Defence College in Canberra. The module gives attention to United Nations Peace Support Operations (PSO), the Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC), and Military Aid to the Civil Power as authorised within the Defence Act. 

This course includes the Massey University paper Joint, Interagency and Multinational Operations (149.708). The paper examines the theory and practice of Joint Force warfare. It considers a small number of historical examples of joint campaigns, as well as the modern methodology of campaign planning.

Strategic Studies

This is a joint/combined service subject at the strategic and grand strategic level of war. This module examines the changing nature of warfare and possible future trends, the principles of war, the historical development of military strategy and strategic schools of thought, New Zealand's strategic area of interest, the defence-policy making process, and recent White Papers and government frameworks. The module includes a combined forum on regional strategic issues in Canberra, Australia.

This course includes the Massey University paper The New Zealand Strategic Environment (149.701). The paper studies New Zealand's strategic environment, looking at the uncertainties of the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, considering how these impact on New Zealand's national interests in terms of trade, defence and foreign policy.

International Relations

A strong theoretical approach to IR includes a review of the origins of IR theory, an examination of the causes of the Cold War, changes to the international political environment post-Cold War; and current trends and factors shaping the behaviour of states in the Asia-Pacific region. A two week overseas study tour provides an opportunity to see the practical aspect of this subject.

This module provides analytical tools for examining security behaviour and includes the Massey University paper International Relations: Theory and Practice (200.761). The paper provides an overview of the major ideas, themes and contemporary issues in International Relations.

Command, Leadership and Management

A student presentation in the lecture theatre [wn-08-0144-04].

This subject reviews traditional and contemporary theories of leadership and management, and military approaches to command. Included are discussions on professionalism, morality and ethics. Joint Command Staff Course members undertake a comparative study of military and civilian sector approaches to leadership, with emphasis placed on the responsibilities of command. Visits to commercial enterprises provide examples of how the concepts operate in practice.

This course includes the Massey University paper Command Studies (149.704). The paper examines the theoretical aspects of command and examines several critical issues that face commanders.

Graduate Qualifications

Course members who successfully complete Joint Command Staff Course and the attending Massey University Papers will be awarded Massey University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Defence and Strategic Studies) as well as the postnominals, “psc(j)”.