Page 6 - The Cormorant Issue 24 Crest Publications

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Director’s Foreword
Cdre Heber Ackland
EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO, WHEN we were planning Advanced Command & Staff Course 24 (ACSC 24) at the outset of the global pandemic, we knew that there would be real challenges; but the level of disruption has certainly exceeded my expectations. You will recall that we had factored major disruption into term 1, with a fundamental restructuring of the course and a remotely delivered, largely distance-learning Foundation Phase enabled by excellent support from our Academic Partner, King’s College London. This was a big call, and a major departure in the 25 year history of ACSC. In the end it proved to be
a good call when we entered a second lockdown towards the end of term 1 – the lessons we had earned helped us greatly during the extended period of remote delivery which followed in term 2 and beyond.
Of course I don’t need to tell you that, by now, it was becoming clear that ACSC 24 simply would not be able to operate any way close to a normal course and almost all opportunities to travel in the UK, let alone overseas, with all the benefits they bring in terms of understanding and learning, would sadly
be lost. Indeed, the big question was whether we would return at all. After all, even setting aside the obvious health and safety challenges, what would be the point of coming back to the Defence Academy
if it was simply to spend time in front of the same computer screen?
Happily, in the end we were able to return to site after Easter and actually experience many, albeit not all, of the benefits of residential learning and networking,
in a safe and responsible way. It was also, I have no doubt, a great relief for the dozen or so international
officers who had spent eight months in isolation in Cormorant Building to meet the rest of the course for the first time! The buzz about the place, missing for so long, was palpable – you could just feel the human engagement happening. What a pleasure, too, to hear top quality speakers in person, while still benefiting (I think) from a hybrid form of delivery and questioning. How fantastic also to see Joint Operational Planning Groups undertaking their planning, cyber wargames under way, and the whole course enjoying a great visit to RAF Brize Norton for the Air and Space Combat Power visit. Reminders of what we’ve
missed, perhaps, but reminders too that nothing beats real-world contact and engagement.
While this was not the course we would have chosen, it was probably the one which was realistic in the circumstances. I am also clear that, while many benefits have been missed, there have also been some compensating plus sides. First amongst these is the noticeable improvement in this cohort – your cohort’s – engagement with the material and associated depth of understanding. We need to look at the empirical evidence on this, but I am as
“To succeed on what is a hugely demanding
Masters level course in normal times is a great accolade – but in these extraordinary times, it is, well, extraordinary