Republic War College

"The difference between tactics and strategy might seem simple to the layperson, but to an officer it is the void between galaxies."

- Vice Admiral Voskel Dun'vei, addressing a class of War College graduates

The Republic War College was an institution of higher learning maintained by the throughout the history of the. The college's primary purpose was to teach mid-level officers, typically majors and lieutenant commanders, in the art of grand strategy, so that they would be able to advance within the, and Marine Corps with a solid understanding of what was required to wage war on a large scale.

Purpose and structure
Though not required for promotion to commander and beyond, attendance at the War College was highly encouraged for those wishing to extend their careers into the upper echelons of service within the. The curriculum was the same no matter the branch of service, with classes often containing a diverse mix of, and Marine officers; this was done to further encourage inter-service co-operation and to emphasize the fact that the military could only function effectively when all parts were working smoothly together. For two years, students were taught in the intricacies of strategic military theory and thinking, expanding on the knowledge that had been gained through their initial training and experience in the field. The focus was primarily on grand strategy at the galactic level and its many parts, such as the importance of s in coordinating offensives and the economics of widespread warfare.

Standards for completion
The standard for graduates of War College were high, though not so much that there were many failures. Those who were accepted had already demonstrated the capacity to understand such high strategy, in addition to possessing the skills to process the combined input of subordinates and form plans. By the second year, students were expected to be able to formulate offensive and defensive campaign strategies for multiple forces from all three branches of the military, including the setting up of logistical support and contingency plans in case some aspect didn't go according to plan. These operational strategies were then put into computer simulations, which pitted random student entries against one another and produced a series of theoretical results, with students continuing to come up with new plans that used the same computerized data runs to ascertain possible outcomes.

In order to graduate, students had to demonstrate an evolution in their strategic thinking skills. This was done by writing a campaign thesis that incorporated the student's primary theory on interstellar warfare, which was accompanied by a detailed operational plan that was meant to fulfill the requirements that were chosen for this final project by their instructors. These requirements involved the setting up of a potential situation that the student then had to resolve, such as an insurrection in the or an invasion of the  by a well-equipped splinter faction. This thesis and plan was then put to the test in an interactive simulation, in which the student would pit his or her plan against one of their instructors. The student was not required to win the scenario in order to graduate; in fact, very few were those who were able to beat their instructor. Rather, the scenario itself and how the student played it was measured and evaluated. Those who graduated from War College with high enough marks might be promoted to Commander immediately, however the majority simply returned to their units, where they might take on additional responsibilities.

Results of training
Those who graduated from Republic War College were typically reassigned to battalion, regimental, or division staff postings, where they would assist their various unit commanders in coming up with and implementing tactical plans, either for peacetime exercises or during conflict. War College graduates were more likely to advance to positions of command than those officers who did not attend, and more quickly. Those who attended but failed were typically returned to their previous units, with the stigma of having washed out rarely lasting for very long.

Behind the scenes
The idea of a Republic War College is inspired by the various institutions run by real-world armed forces, such as the '.