The Captain’s Career Course, also referred to as CCC provides a rigorous course of instruction to prepare Company Grade Officers to perform the most difficult job our Army has to offer – leading Soldiers in combat.
Following selection for promotion to the rank of Captain, Company Grade Officers normally attend their respective branch Captain’s Career Course.
This usually happens when Officers have 4-5 years of military service.
The Captains Career Course is the second major branch school Officers attend before Company Command.
The first major branch school is the Officer Basic Course, now known as the Basic Officer Leaders Course.
The course combines the instruction formerly taught in the branch Officer Advanced Course (OAC) and the Combined Arms and Services Staff School (CAS3).
Given the CCC’s pivotal timing and role in the career progression of the officer corps, it is under continual scrutiny and revision. As such, the Army struggles to improve the course to capitalize on the opportunities afforded by Information Technology (IT) enabled dL approaches. While pursuing improvements it must also respond to the demands dictated by war and a rapidly changing organizational and operational environment. ~ National Technical Reports Library
During the course, students learn about a variety of topics to include:
- Full Spectrum Operations
- Counterinsurgency Operations (COIN)
- Conduct Problem Solving in Tactical and Garrison environments
- Map Symbology
- Leadership training
- Prepare OPORDs
- Command Climate Survey
- Composite Risk Management
- Branch Specific Information
- Military Decision Making Process
- Uniform Code of Military Justice
- Combatives (in some Captain’s Career Courses)
During the Captain’s Career Course, students normally work in small groups consisting of 4-10 students.
The students learn from each other’s experiences by conducting group projects and group presentations.
They also receive instruction from their instructor, typically a Major or Lieutenant Colonel.
Personally, I really enjoyed the interactive aspect of my Captain’s Career Course.
Instead of just receiving lectures from the instructor, we learned from each other.
Most of the students had different experiences and backgrounds, which led to interesting conversations and valuable lessons.
In addition, a huge majority of students had combat experience, which provided real-world, practical lessons.
The professional education a captain receives is critical to the foundation of his military career. The Captains Career Course affords the opportunity to prepare these officers for the increasing responsibilities and challenges they will face, but most importantly, it is the last branch technical training that most officers will receive. Therefore, this educational experience is critical to the officers development and should receive the attention and resources necessary to develop agile and adaptive leaders. ~ Defense Technical Information Center
As I mentioned earlier, each branch offers its own, unique Captain’s Career Course.
This includes Maneuver, Quartermaster, Finance, Adjutant General, Aviation, etc.
In addition to the branch specific requirements, students must now also complete the Core Course.
Most Captains Career Courses are 4-6 months in length.
Upon graduation from the Captain’s Career Course, students will be prepared to assume Company Command or serve on a Battalion or Brigade level staff, joint and multi-national environments.
This includes positions such as Battalion S3, Battalion S4, Company Commander, Assistant Brigade Staff and more.
In essence, the Captains Career Course provides first Lieutenants and Captains with a common foundation of operational and leadership instruction tied to the Officer’s specific career field, branch and functional area needs.
To attend the Captain’s Career Course, you must have already graduated from your Basic Officer Leaders Course or Officer Basic Course, pass your Height/Weight and APFT, and be a First Lieutenant or Captain.
To enroll, you need to have your S3 Shop or Readiness NCO enroll you in ATRRS. It’s important to check to make sure that you have any prerequisites completed.
These might vary from branch to branch.
In summary, the Captains Career Course is designed to prepare competent leaders, capable of leading Soldiers in combat.
This includes Company Commanders, Battalion Staff Officers and Brigade Staff Officers.
During the Captains Career Course, students learn leadership principles, branch specific information and a variety of other topics.
Please share your experience in the Captains Career Course if you completed it.
If you have any questions or comments, please post them below.
Thank you.
Other posts you may enjoy:
- Best Jobs and Duty Assignments for Army Captains
- Best Military Schools for ARNG Captains
- The Army Acquisition Officer Career Path: What You Should Know
Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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Hello Chuck, just a curiosity, when finishing ADA CCC do the students receuve any insignia or badge?
Regards
Great question. I never receieved any new insignia when I graduated my CCC, although I was not ADA.
Chuck,
I was wondering if there is a General CCC in the Army,not branch specific. Something like the Expedtionary Warfare School the Marine Corps. I heard the National Guard have something similar, Combined CCC I guess they call it. Thanks!
I believe there is one for combat arms, but I could be wrong. I have been out for a while, but will ask around.
Thanks!
Any update?
Hello from Republic of Georgia, I have enrolled on Engineer Captain Carrier Course and planing my visit to USA to Attend from September, but now I am selected to be promoted to Major, So I doubt If I pass required exam and accept promotion to Major is a problem or can make obstacle for attending Captain Carrier Course In USA? Because in that case I am considering to place it on hold until I attend the course.
Thank you In Advance
Here in the U.S. it would be fine to be promoted to Major before attending the Captain’s career course. You should check with your leaders.
From what I know, in the US, attending CCC is required in order to promote to Major.
That being said, I don’t know how it works with international officers, but I did see some Majors from other countries at the Signal CCC while I was attending BOLC there.
Do Engineer NG officers attend the same EBOLC and ECCC as Active duty or is our watered down to distance learning?
Lectures are fine for some introduction, but I prefer hands on learning preferably in groups. This course will move officers from basically the first part of their career into the second part. You won't be the young LT anymore or the new guy who is running only small programs.
When you get back and get reassigned you will be in a position with real responsibility and/or authority. You will be leading a larger group of troops, possibly to the battlefield. Make sure this is the job you want because active duty or guard there is no hiding once you reach this level of responsibility.
I think hands on training, even in the Captain’s Career Course is a good idea.
After completing this course, do Captains return to their previous post or move on to another?
Great question. On the Active Duty, you normally go to a new unit. In the ARNG or USAR, you typically return to your previous unit. I hope that helps.
Im about to complete my ADA CCC. I also put my packet in for a branch transfer to AG. If accepted, do I have to attend the AG CCC for another 5 months?
To the best of my knowledge, the answer is YES. OBC and CCC are branch qualifying schools so if you want to get another branch after you have already been to CCC, you will need to attend the new branch Captain’s Career Course. That is my interpretation of the rules. Maybe someone else can chime in here.
I have my Finance Officer Captain’s Career Course to attend next year. I am very excited about that. Thanks for giving us an overview, Chuck.
Good luck, Terry. And thanks for your service.
I remember when this used to be the Officer Advanced Course. Things sure have changed a lot since I attended my Advanced Course in 1993.
Tell me about it Lou. I went through the Captain’s Career Course in 2005/06 and it has changed a lot since then, too.
The path to Company Command is rigorous. Thank you for detailing what all is included in the Captain’s Career Course. The breadth of topic is stunning and really speaks to the level of responsibility of those in Company Command leadership roles. The importance of leadership training for these folks cannot be understated.
I recently completed the First Phase of MCCC (Maneuver Captains Career Course, i.e. for Armor and Infantry branches) and I must say that it is one hell of a course. The personal insight from the instructors there provided so much more than is obtained by just reading FMs and military doctrine. The years of experience that you gain from someone’s personal insight is just invaluable. I went as a 1LT and I encourage all young Officers to do so as well. Not only will you have the course knocked out, but you will gain some great insight that will strengthen your professional relationship with you and your CO.
I agree with you, Justin. The Captain’s Career Course is a great course. I really enjoyed it. My favorite part was CAX, the Combined Arms Exercise. I don’t believe they offer that course any more, but I really found it helpful. I learned a lot about the Military Decision Making Process, writing OPORDs and giving briefings.
Chuck