Junior Command & Staff College

The Graduation Ceremony of the No. 37 Junior Commanders’ Course was held at the Junior Command and Staff College auditorium at SLAF Academy China Bay this morning (9 Dec 2011). The Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

A total of 23 Officers from the Air Force in the rank of Squadron Leaders and Flight Lieutenants, 4 Officers from the Army in the rank of Majors and 4 Officers from the Navy in the rank of Lieutenants followed and graduated from this course successfully. The Junior Command and Staff College is accredited to the University of Kelaniya and all Officers who fulfill the required criteria will be awarded with a PG Diploma in Defence management.
       
The Officers are required to endure on a 14 weeks course.  It is a full time residential course with all compulsory modules suited to fulfill the command and staff duties requirement of the SLAF. As an adult education program, the course is conducted on the basis of a knowledge sharing exercise where the course participants are expected to actively seek out knowledge under the guidance of the directing staff as well as visiting experts.  

The course participants are required to carry out an independent research and submit a research paper and a viva voce before completing the course. The course curriculum is also designed to promote the development of English and IT skills. Great emphasis is also laid on the development of public speaking skills of the course participants.

The course participants are also taken on an organized study tour to number of selected outside organizations in order to expose them to the various challenges of management and the means by which different organizations meet them.
Physical fitness is also an important part of the curriculum and a regular program of physical training and organized games is included to ensure not only that the course participants maintain their fitness while they participate in the course but also to encourage them to make it a routine part of their lives.