Israel opened its first Army Command and Staff College today at inauguration exercises attended by President Ben Zvi, Premier Moshe Sharett, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Moshe Dayan and high-ranking army officers. Also present were the students of its first class, veteran officers holding ranks from captain to colonel.
President Ben Zvi, welcoming the first class, referred to Israel as “the nation of the Book and sword. ” Mr. Sharett outlined the political situation, referring to Jordan’s “retreat” this week-end when it withdrew from a debate at the United Nations Security Council on Israel and Jordan cross-complaints. He warned, however, that war along Israel’s frontiers might erupt at any time.
Gen. Dayan called the school the “Army’s major attainment,” asserting that it was essential that the laws of staff work be clarified and the methods of command be taught if the Army was to continue to exist as an institution. He thanked the governments and armies of France and Britain for having welcomed Israeli officers to their staff and tactical schools in recent years, and said that the teaching methods of these schools had served as a base for the Israeli college’s methodology.
The Israeli school, which will prepare officers for general staff work and important command posts, will teach the following basic curricula: the Israel Army’s structure and the operation of its units; staff work; war studies–the operation of large formations; military history and science; and, general studies, including geography, political science, economics, psychology and languages–English and Arabic.
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