What's a Military War College?

Hello all. I came across the term 'military war college' while researching post-high school paths. Could somebody please explain what it is? And would attending one be beneficial if I plan on joining the military? Any help is appreciated.

A Military War College is a senior level institution within the Department of Defense that offers advanced training and education programs designed to prepare military officers, and occasionally civilians, for senior leadership responsibilities. It's essentially a graduate school for military officers.

To give you some examples, in the United States, we have institutions like the United States Army War College or the Naval War College. These institutions provide programs that broaden the strategic perspective of participants and help prepare them for leadership roles at the strategic level, typically in joint and combined service environments, and other positions of significant responsibility.

As for leveraging a Military War College for your career, it's important to note that such colleges are typically for seasoned military personnel who are at a transitional point in their careers—i.e., moving from tactical and operational assignments to strategic level responsibilities. As such, a recent high school graduate can't directly enter a Military War College.

Instead, if you're interested in pursuing a military career after high school, I would suggest considering options like Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in college or applying to a federal service academy such as the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, or the U.S. Air Force Academy. These would allow you to get your degree while also receiving military training.

Once you've been in the military for a number of years and reached a higher rank, you may then have the opportunity to attend a Military War College as part of your ongoing professional development. Attending can certainly be beneficial as these institutions offer advanced education that can prepare you for senior leadership roles within the military. The networking prospects are also valuable, as you'd be interacting with a broad range of military officers from various branches of service, as well as international officers and civilian officials.

However, it's a fairly distant consideration if you're just coming out of high school. So, for now, focus on avenues that help you enter military service and gain initial experience and training.