The course is provided by the Joint Services Command and Staff College of the British Armed Forces initially for 24 colonels or equivalent aged 41 to 44 years (and a few lieutenant-colonels and brigadiers): 15 from the army, 1 or 2 from the Royal Navy, 1 or 2 from the Royal Air Force, and 4 from overseas (such as the United States of America, Germany, Netherlands, and Australia), and some civilians (from the Ministry of Defence).
Led by the Colonel Higher Command and Staff Course, from 1988, there are 9 phases including out of area and future battlefield.
The course culminates in an army-group level ADP backed wargaming exercise.
Those attending the annual course, and those on the Directing Staff receive the letters "HCSC" in the service List.
The course is designed to prepare selected officers for higher command of field formations and for senior operational staff appointments in national and international HQs.