The Nation - News from May 7, 1989

Intermediate and senior military officers need tougher schooling, according to a report by a House Armed Services Committee panel. Faculty should be upgraded and courses made harder for the officers who attend the five intermediate command and staff colleges, traditionally for majors or lieutenant commanders, and the five senior war colleges, for colonels or Navy commanders or captains, the panel reported. About 3,000 U.S. officers attend the programs each year. The report called for tougher course work as well as more graded examinations, papers and reports, and small discussion seminars instead of large lecture classes. “What I would like to see us do is return these schools to their former premier positions that we had before World War II,” said Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), panel chairman.