Academics at WHINSEC
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WHINSEC is a complex Institute offering courses germane to the security needs of Western Hemisphere militaries, law enforcement agencies, and the civilians who work in the related ministries. Courses are drawn from proponent agencies within the U.S. government, and are validated and accredited by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. Courses support the security cooperation plans of U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command.
The U.S. military benefits directly from the Institute in two significant ways. The Command and General Staff Officer Course (now called Intermediate Level Education) allows Spanish-speaking officers the opportunity to get their required staff course done in a multicultural, multinational environment. The course at WHINSEC is precisely the same as the Army's course at Fort Leavenworth, Kan, and its students receive their diplomas from the Command and General Staff College. During the 47-week course, they can also earn a Master of Military Art and Science degree.
The Institute also supports the U.S. Army in cadet leadership development, language immersion and cultural sensitivity training by offering the four-week cadet course to U.S. ROTC and West Point cadets (future courses may also include cadets and midshipmen from the Air Force and Naval Academies). These cadets participate in summer iterations along with military cadets from Partner Nations. During two course sessions in 2012, 58 ROTC (from 36 colleges and universities) and nine USMA cadets came, living and working together with cadets from Colombia and the Dominican Republic.
The John B. and Elena Diaz-Verson Amos Library serves the Institute by providing reference materials for all courses and access to internet services. The library is open to all, not just WHINSEC personnel, and is open during the workday. The Amos Library is linked to thousands of libraries worldwide, so users may view the collection and even check out books via an interlibrary loan to their own libraries.
The Institute's Translation Division provides a comprehensive glossary of terms which is posted on this web site. It includes many military translations, but also many in other fields such as human rights, economics (anti-corruption) and even agriculture. For information on any academic matters, please contact the Director of Operations and Training Support at (706) 545-9248 or by FAX at (706) 545-6964.