ARMED FORCES COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Armed Forces Command and Staff College is a Joint Service institution established to produce operational-level military officers of the highest professional standard as well as to ensure standardization of Staff Duties in the Nigerian Armed Forces. The College was established on 29 May 76 as Army Command and Staff College, with assistance from the British Army Advisory Team (BAAT).
The first Senior Officers’ Course (SOC 1), which lasted for 6 months, was conducted from May 1976. A second course (SOC 2), ran from January to June, 1977. The Students of SOC 1 were all Army officers while SOC 2 had 2 naval officers. On 12 Sep 77, the Army Command and Staff Course (ACSC) comprising 62 Nigerian Army officers, 2 Nigerian Navy officers 2 Nigerian Air Force officers and 2 Army Officers
from Guyana were assembled to run the first full course for about one year. Further expansion of the College was made on 24 Apr 78 when the Army Junior Division was established to conduct its first course for selected officers of the rank of Captain from the Nigerian Army.
MISSION STATEMENT
To produce operational-level Armed Forces officers of the highest professional competence and training as well as to ensure standardization of Staff Duties in the Nigerian Armed Forces.
OBJECTIVE OF AFCSC
To develop the professional knowledge and understanding of selected officers of Armed Forces in order to prepare them for the increasing responsibilities both in staff and command appointments.
AFCSC Academic Programmes
In order to achieve its mission, the College runs 3 Courses, namely:
Senior Course for Majors and their equivalent,
Junior Course for Captains and their equivalent, and
Staff Duties Course for Senior NCOs (Non Commissioned Officers) of the 3 Services.
The Senior Divisions of the Land, Maritime and Air Warfare Departments conduct a one – year joint course per academic year for the officers of the rank of major or its equivalent. The Junior Courses of the 3 departments conduct two 20 – week courses for officers of the rank of captain in the Army or its equivalent in each academic year. Successful students are awarded Pass Staff Course (psc) and Pass Junior Staff Course (pjsc) at the end of the Senior and Junior Courses respectively.
