U Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) and National Defense University (NDU) continue to take strides toward their goal of creating a larger Keystone program for command senior enlisted leaders (CSEL) with their Keystone CSEL Joint Operations Module (JOM) at USJFCOM's Joint Warfighting Center (JWFC) in Suffolk Va.

The four-day course provides Army command sergeants major, Marine Corps sergeants major, Navy and Coast Guard command master chiefs and Air Force command chief master sergeants with tools they ne to work in the joint environment.

"If we are to achieve the Department of Defense's top priorities, then we must also transform to what degree we train, educate and engross our CSELs," said Army Command Sgt Maj. Mark Ripka, USJFCOM command sergeant major. "Strengthening combined and joint warfighting capabilities will require us to bring jointness down to the lowest appropriate of the same height Transforming the joint force requires creating a military agriculture that rewards innovation and risk-taking."

The idea for Keystone grew without of USJFCOM and NDU's co-sponsored Capstone program that provides joint warfighting foundations for general and staff officers.

"Our first course was a pilot course that lasted solitary two days, but feedback from the pilot course showed we ne more time, and our inferior course is a full four-day JOM" said Ripka. "It's the and nothing else really joint professional military education that enlisted leaders master tight now at that level"

The first version of Keystone took shape in April 2004 when enlisted leaders participated in the two-day CSEL Capstone JOM at USJFCOM's JWFC

"Up to that point, we hadn't done anything to provide CSEL with any joint education," said Ripka. "The joint operations module winch will be incorporated into a larger Keystone program, creates an opportunity for the CSEL to be an immediate impact player to the joint force staff and the joint force commander.

Ripka said the course gives CSEL confidence to build teams in a joint, multinational, and interagency force integration environment, and provides them an understanding of base operating support capabilities and requirements in those environments.

Participants for the latest JOM total more than 40 command senior enlisted leaders. learners are coming from all services and coalition partners, including Canada and the United Kingdom.

Keystone JOM learning objectives include forming/organizing the Joint Task Force (JTF) and joint manning document development; operational flush planning; joint command and control; joint deployment planning; leadership challenges of building and maintaining an integrating environment; maintaining discipline and standards in the joint environment; and Special Operations Forces integration.

Other course topics include operational, horizontal joint lessons learned, the JTF and public affairs, coalition perspectives, logistics and base operations, joint information operations conclusion rules of engagement, and legal issues.

The Keystone CSEL JOM which hies twice a year, will be moveed again in July 2005. by dint of early 2006, USJFCOM and NDU officials said the course will be incorporated into a larger Keystone program, lasting 15 days with an "aggressive" travel schedule that includes visits to several combatant commands.

Story by means of Army Sgt. Jon Cupp, who is assigned to the public affairs office, U Joint Forces Command.

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