US Army's Pre-Commissioning Programs: The Potential Application to US Civilian Intelligence Agencies as a Means to Increase Collaboration.

摘要

This thesis examines the potential application of training and education methods used by the United States Army pre-commissioning programs to the civilian intelligence agencies with respect to how they might increase collaboration. Specifically, the thesis focuses on how the common basis of education and shared hardship provided by the United States Military Academy at West Point, Officer Candidate School (OCS), and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) creates a collaborative environment and instills a sense of enduring collaboration for graduates. Research focused on the curriculum design and training found in each pre-commissioning program that builds long-term collaboration in the students, such as immersive experiences and the building of a professional identity. Three distinct approaches to adapting the Army's pre-commissioning programs to the civilian intelligence community are assessed using the structured-focused methodology, along with the use of evaluation criteria adapted from the Army course of action screening criteria of Feasible, Acceptable, Suitable, Distinguishable, and Complete (FAS-DC). Potential approaches for implementation are identified, along with options for future research and subsequent steps necessary to execute the recommended approach. The primary research question this thesis addresses is as follows: Can the training and education methods used by the U.S. Army pre-commissioning programs be applied to the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) to form a comprehensive and complete approach to improve collaboration among civilian intelligence agencies. The secondary research questions are as follows: (1) Is an approach similar to West Point appropriate for the education of intelligence professionals in such a way as it can be applied to the IC; and (2) If an approach based on West Point is not appropriate, is another approach based upon other Army pre-commissioning programs such as OCS or ROTC more applicable.