A press release from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) announces that it will be helping Saudi Arabia develop its first War College through a contract with the US Military Training Mission (USMTM). The Saudi war college will be functionally equivalent of its American counterparts, though the release does not say exactly which one. In the US, there are half a dozen or so, focusing on the specific services as well as more general themes. They are post-graduate schools for military officers and a few civilians from the federal government.

War colleges in general train officers in academic areas that ‘expand the box’ of military thinking, allowing them to think outside the narrow, and sometimes too rigid, discipline associated with the military. A fully-developed war college helps move a military to a professional level of competence and planning.

SAIC to Support U.S. Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia

Company to Help Establish Saudi War College

SAN DIEGO and MCLEAN, Va., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a prime contract by the U.S. Military Training Mission (USMTM) to support the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF) by establishing a Saudi War College (SWC) that meets educational and administrative standards of US War Colleges. The contract has a one year base period of performance, three one-year options and a contract value of more than $11 million if all options are exercised. Work will be performed primarily in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The USMTM to Saudi Arabia is a joint training mission and functional component command under the military command of the U.S. Central Command. The USMTM advises and assists the SAAF through security assistance efforts by developing, training and sustaining capable deterrent and self-defense forces for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to facilitate regional security. Under the contract, SAIC will help establish an SWC to assist in preparing and educating Saudi leaders to face domestic and global challenges. SAIC will help establish a state-of-the-art educational institution, and develop and implement a flexible curriculum that will enable the SWC to adapt to future Saudi mission requirements. SAIC will also recruit, hire, and retain fully qualified Saudi instructors, develop and implement a quality assurance plan, and establish a career and mentoring program for SWC instructors.

“SAIC is honored to support the SAAF by helping establish a world-class SWC. We believe that SAAF, teamed with SAIC, has the prerequisites for creating a prestigious military institution for the education of strategic leaders,” said Charles Zang, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager.
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