National War College hosts Medill graduate students

WASHINGTON – Seven Medill School of Journalism graduate students had front row access to lectures and panel discussions at the National War College, at Fort Lesley J. McNair as part of Medill Explorers program.

The students, many of whom are in the Politics and National Security Specialization, and select professional journalists who cover the Pentagon and the Department of Defense were allowed to participate in seminars that focused on formulating strategies aimed at handling emerging national security threats.

The visit was part of a rare collaboration between the Medill School of Journalism and the third-oldest Army post in the country. During the two-day visit, the students were allowed to contribute to the policy debates in the seminars.

“The discussions pushed me to think and contribute at a level far and above what broad-audience journalism requires,” said Henry Keyser, a graduate student at Medill.

The National War College graduates, most of them mid-level and senior military officers who are likely to be promoted to the most senior ranks, are expected to exercise a great influence on the formulation of national and foreign policy in both peace and war.

Commenting on the interchange of ideas between Medill and their NWC counterparts, Dr. David A. Tretler, dean of faculty at the National War College said he was pleased to see the intelligent interactions between the students from both sides.

“I think it is very important both ways that future military leaders become comfortable with media and that they don’t automatically assume that the media is their enemy,” Tretler said.

During the two-day rendezvous, Medill students had the opportunity to witness the policy debates at the NWC. The instructors encouraged Northwestern students to contribute their views to the intellectual discourse.

Highlighting the significance of exchange of ideas between Medill students and their NWC counterparts, Tretler said it was important for both sides to understand each other’s role in the evolving world.

“It is essential for the media to get a better sense of the military officers and how they perceive the world,” he said.

The dean pointed out that the students at the college are encouraged to discuss emerging global challenges faced by the U.S. He said Russian revanchism in Eastern Europe, the instability in the Middle East and China’s unilateral expansion of its influence in the region were on the list of topics that were being actively examined at the NWC.

“We ask our students to look at the strategic situation of the world and encourage them to judge the most serious and most concerning challenges that the United States faces,” Tretler said.

The student body at the prestigious college that is known for hosting notable graduates, including former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell and Senator John McCain, is composed of representation from the land, air, and sea (including Marine and Coast Guard) services. The college also draws students from the Department of State and other federal agencies.

Tretler said that the NWC plans to collaborate with the Medill School of Journalism again next year for a similar engagement.