FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kanas -- The United States Army Command and General Staff College hosts 160 officers from the United Kingdom's Intermediate Command and Staff College (Land) here beginning Feb. 14 to study with their U.S. counterparts. Exercise Eagle Owl 18A is a two-week education engagement that allows U.S. and British officers, taught by instructors from both nations, to participate in a multinational staff planning exercise where they are exposed to the other nation’s operations planning process allowing for synthesis level of learning.
This is the 24th iteration of Eagle Owl at Fort Leavenworth. The previous three iterations planned for 2020 and 2021 were cancelled because of COVID concerns. Twenty six Command and General Staff Officer’s Course Staff Groups consisting of 354 students will work with their British counterparts during this iteration of the exercise. Operation Eagle Owl 18B is scheduled for May and June. It will bring an additional 200 British Officers to Kansas to work with U.S. students bringing total participants for Eagle Owl this year to 1,000.
The U.K. has invested money, resources, and time to bring their whole course to Fort Leavenworth. Nearly every British Army and Royal Marine Major gains the experience of working with their U.S. counterparts. According to planning documents, “It has vital importance for the future. Our nations continue to bind themselves closer with common equipment, joint commands, and blended formations, developing cognitive interoperability is critical for organizational leaders of both our nations.”
The exercise helps American and U.K. officers understand the cultural and procedural similarities and differences of each nation; execute division-level, multi-national, and joint deliberate planning for large-scale combat operations; sustain a close strategic relationship; enhance leadership, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills; compare and contrast the operations process of each nation; and build professional relationships to facilitate future partnership.
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