HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF GAFCSC (JUNIOR DIVISION)
The Junior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College,(GAFCSC),
initially known as the National War College (NWC), was established on 14 October
1963 as part of the Military Academy and Training Schools (MATS). The College was
staffed by officers of the Canadian Armed Forces Training Team (CAFTT) and a British
Army Officer. They were charged with the responsibility of training selected Army
Officers for staff and higher command appointments.
In December 1963, the NWC was renamed the National Defence College (NDC), and the
course duration increased from 10 to 21 weeks. In January 1964, the institution was
once again renamed the Junior Defence College (JDC). The first Ghanaian Directing
Staff in the person of then Major JM Nunoo-Mensah was appointed to the College in
1969. He became the first Ghanaian to head the institution as General Staff Officer
Grade I in 1970. The JDC was opened to students from allied African countries in
1973.
With the establishment of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff
College (GAFCSC) in 1976, the Junior Defence College became the Junior Division of
the GAFCSC. The head of the Division was also upgraded to Assistant Commandant
(Colonel) effective October 1985 with Colonel Seidu Ayumah as the first Assistant
Commandant. In February 2007, there was a further upgrade of the appointment to the
rank of a Brigadier General.
The scope of the Division has also been reviewed over the years with more emphasis
on Staff Training for Grade 3 Staff appointments whilst the command and tactics
aspects have been de-emphasized. The course duration is now 24 weeks.
Students from Burkina Faso, the Gambia, La Cote D’Ivoire, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra
Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo and Zimbabwe have since 1973 attended the Junior
Staff Course with their Ghanaian counterparts.
INTRODUCTION
- The Junior Staff Course is a 16-week course, which is broken into 2
Terms of
8 weeks each duration.
JSC COURSE AIM
- The Junior Division of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff
College, as a regional centre of excellence, aims at enhancing the
leadership, analytical and communication skills of junior level officers
to perform command and staff functions, through research and active
development of a broad understanding and knowledge of single, joint and
combined operations as well as the management of lower aspects of
defence, economic and geopolitical issues.
- The course objectives of the Junior Division are as follows:
- To understand the techniques used in staff work.
- To understand the structure, roles and functions of the Ghana Armed
Forces, and the organisation of some units.
- To understand the rudiments of sub-unit level training, and be
familiar with unit and formation level training.
- To be familiar with some major aspects of domestic and international
affairs and how these influence security, socio-economic and
political stability.
- To understand the relationship and application of command,
leadership and management.
- To understand the fundamental logistics process and its application
during peace and war.
- To develop the physical, social and spiritual qualities of junior
officers.
JSC PACKAGE
- The fields of study for the course are as follows:
- Term 1. Grounding and foundation work.
- Term 2. Harnessing and consolidation of knowledge gained in Term
CURRICULUM STUDIES
- Terms 1 and 2 involve other areas of studies, which will be specified
in the guides.
- As part of the Environmental Studies Package students would have the
opportunity to undertake a 3-5 day study tour of some selected districts
in one particular region. Students would be expected to make 45 mins
presentations of their findings and submit written reports.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
- The following methods of instructions will be used during the course.
Further details can be found in the Students’ Handbook.
- Lecturers/Presentations – To the whole course.
- li>Seminars– To the whole course, where guest speakers form the
panel. Students make contributions and ask questions.
- Syndicate Room Discussions (SRD) – Led by DS. All Students will be
expected to participate equally. Sometimes, a student may be asked
to lead or open the discussion on a particular question.
- Map Exercises (MAPEXs) held indoors and films.
ACADEMIC ETHICS
-
Professional ethics is of paramount importance to the College. Work
presented by students should be their own original work. To do otherwise
results in unfair advantage and is inconsistent with professional ethics
and integrity. Students found guilty of plagiarism in any form, will be
subject to the full penalties for it. This could lead to your withdrawal
from the course and further disciplinary action by Service/Organization
Headquarters.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
-
To graduate from the College with the ‘jsc’ symbol, a student must meet
the established standards set by the College. These could be found in
the College Standing Orders. Students are advised to read this
thoroughly.
VALIDATION
-
Feedback is important for all training and educational courses. In the
Junior Division, the Service Writing Form (SWF) ‘Q’ is used to get to
know students’ reactions to each subject. It also serves as a conduit
for soliciting ideas for the general improvement of the various aspects
of the package for each term. You are encouraged to take an active part
in this effort.
PHYSICAL FITNESS
-
Physical fitness is one of the important aspects of the course. Two
Battle Fitness Tests are conducted during the course: one in each term.
All students are required to pass these tests. Physical training is
programmed for Tuesday mornings while games are conducted on Thursday
afternoons.
OBJECTIVES OF THE COUNTERINSURGENCY AND INTERNAL SECURITY
PHASE OF THE JUNIOR
DIVISION PROGRAMME
To strengthen the integrative capacity of the security services in an era of
internal security demands.
To practice students in the problems of establishing Joint Headquarters, and the
restoration and maintenance of law and order in an internal security and
counterinsurgency environment.
To practice students in the staff work and procedures related to resolving
internal security and counterinsurgency.
To practice students in strategy, tactics, roles, and responsibilities of the
security services in an internal security and counter-insurgency situation.
COURSE PARTICIPANTS
The Ghana Police Service
The Ghana Prisons Service
The Ghana Fire Service
The Ghana Immigration Service
The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority
The Bureau of National Investigations
The Narcotics Control Board