The academy educates the future élite of not only the German armed forces but also of other member-states of the European Union and NATO.

A particular characteristic of the course is that it specifically focuses on the strategic and tactical aspects of war and educationally prepares officers for assignments as military leaders.

It provides an excellent comprehensive, multifaceted focus at the theater-strategic level across the military spectrum of Joint and land force operations during peace, crisis, and war.

As a result, high-level military officers including the German Ministry of Defence refer to the course as being a think tank.

The course body comprises three-quarters of international field-grade officers from non-NATO member states from all continents.

These short courses are clustered in five so-called Training Fields and run between a few days up to three weeks on a full-time basis and include on-campus accommodation.