JP 1, Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States - Defense ...

Joint Force Development
(3) Joint education can be broadly parsed into three categories:
(a) Joint Professional Military Education (JPME). As codified in US law
(Title 10, USC, Section 2151) JPME “consists of the rigorous and thorough instruction and
examination of officers of the armed forces in an environment designed to promote a
theoretical and practical understanding of joint matters.” JPME fulfills the educational
requirements of the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act. JPME is delivered in both service and
purely joint (e.g., the National Defense University) venues. JPME positions officers to
recognize and operate in tactical, operational, and strategic levels of national security. JPME
curricula—based upon approved joint doctrine and concepts—address what every officer
should know regarding joint matters at appropriate levels from pre-commissioning through
general/flag officer.
For further guidance on JPME, refer to CJCSI 1800.01D, Officer Professional Military
Education Policy (OPMEP).
(b) Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (EJPME). Although not
mandated in US law, the joint development of enlisted personnel requires some degree of
joint education. EJPME is largely delivered in Service PME venues along two separate
tracks. The first track addresses what every enlisted member of the Armed Forces should
know regarding joint subjects at appropriate levels of service; the second track is specific
educational preparation for enlisted members for joint duty. Like JPME, EJPME curricula
are based upon approved joint doctrine and concepts.
For further guidance on EJPME, refer to CJCSI 1805.01A, Enlisted Professional Military
Education Policy.
(c) Other Joint Education. JPME and EJPME provide members of the
Armed Forces with common education on joint matters. JPME and EJPME curricula
provide “some joint content for all”—what all members of the Armed Forces should know.
Other joint education provides specialist education in specific joint functional areas. Other
joint education (sometimes called “small j” joint education to distinguish it from
JPME/EJPME) is topic-specific education of joint material for both officers and enlisted
personnel. The content of “other joint education,” albeit significant to joint officer
development, does not otherwise meet standards to be accredited as JPME. This type of
education is sponsored by topic-specific relevant Services and organizations (i.e., joint
logistics education by the joint logistics community). Other joint education conveys a
specific body of knowledge relevant to the specific field and is also based on approved joint
doctrine and concepts.
b. Influence of Joint Education
(1) Joint education is based on joint doctrine and should reflect the deliberate,
iterative, and continuous nature of joint force development. Joint curricula should include
approved joint concepts and the most recent observed lessons from across the joint force.
(2) Joint education is closely related to individual joint training. Policy recognizes
that education and training are not mutually exclusive. Virtually all military schools and
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