U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy produces military officers who have taken an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies..." Their character and knowledge are critical to defending the national security of our country. As both an institution of higher learning and a professional school, instructors in courses offered at the Academy draw out links between specific disciplines and the requirements of national security. This makes the Academy unique, providing cadets with both the knowledge and motivation to effectively defend the security of the United States.

What do we mean by National Security and the Full Spectrum of Joint and Coalition Warfare? Our cadets will enter a national security environment characterized by complexity and uncertainty. We cannot prepare cadets for every specific challenge they are likely to face as officers. Accordingly, our national security courses aim to educate cadets broadly in order to develop versatile and creative thinkers who can respond effectively to the demands of the evolving twenty-first century security environment. By laying a broad foundation in the theories and methodologies of the basic sciences, engineering, economics, geography, history, political science, and military strategic studies, we equip cadets with the ability to think in technological and strategic terms in order to ensure the security of the United States.

In order to develop an understanding of national security among our cadets, we focus our assessment on five areas that are particularly important to national security. 

-- The Constitution is the basis for national security. The Officer Development System notes: "Officers serve the Nation for one and only one purpose: to support and defend the Constitution." An understanding of the Constitution and American system of government provides cadets with the motivation to secure our nation and an understanding of how national security policy is made. 

-- Appreciating the heritage of the US military gives cadets an understanding of how historical events have shaped today's world, enabling cadets to better tackle national security challenges. 

-- Understanding the full spectrum of conflict prepares our cadets to carry out a wide range of missions, including peace-keeping, irregular warfare, conventional warfare, and nuclear warfare. 

-- Cadets must be able to explain and analyze the doctrine, organization, and command of joint and coalition forces. This includes understanding the organization and doctrines of the various services, the interrelationship between sea, land, and air warfare, and the complexities of joint operations. 

-- The complexity of national security issues means that cadets must understand the culture, economic system, geography, history, politics, and technical capabilities of the United States and other countries.

Cadets are immersed in national security from the very beginning of their experience at the Academy. Basic training begins by instilling discipline and introducing cadets to the culture of the Air Force. "Modern World History" gives Fourth-class cadets a survey of world history that provides a foundation for understanding the national security environment. In their Third-class year, "Politics, American Government, and National Security" provides cadets with an understanding of the American Constitution and the national security process of defending that Constitution, while "Military Theory and Strategy" lays the professional cornerstone for the military officer through the exploration of military theories and strategies. In their Second-class year, cadets go on to study "Military History," which emphasizes how political, social, economic, and technological factors shape national security challenges. For First-class cadets, "Geopolitics" and "Joint and Coalition Operations" round out our primary core courses on national security. 

Cadets appreciate the applicability of what they learn to their career as Air Force Officers. For example, Cadet 3rd Class Van-Ryan Belanger, a student in military theory and strategy, said, "I've learned that military theory is always changing, requiring constant adaptation by an officer. Every war and every battle requires a close look at its specific characteristics. As an officer, constant adaptation is necessary, as explained by Sun Tzu in his writings on the ever changing characteristics of war." 

"I've learned how all the armed services and components are organized and constructed to offer tailored force packaging to the joint force commander," said Cadet 1st Class Tyler Olmstead, a student in a joint coalition organizations course.

National Security and the Full Spectrum of Joint and Coalition Warfare is at the very core of the knowledge expected of military officers. The Academy provides a diverse curriculum that prepares cadets for the breadth of future national security challenges. It emphasizes the diversity of diplomatic, economic, informational, and military tools used to ensure national security, while ensuring that cadets are prepared to take their place as Air Force officers committed to defending the Constitution.