APOC 13-1 Group PhotoThis week, 148 American and international Fellows completed the popular one-week Asia-Pacific Orientation Course to become the largest class in APCSS history.  Although the majority of Fellows were from U.S. Pacific Command and other on-island major component commands as well as the U.S. Coast Guard, USAID, and U.S. Strategic Command, this class also included non-U.S. participants.  Nineteen international Fellows also attended the course

The course covers trends and current issues shaping the regional security environment.  The course focuses on U.S. policy and provides an introduction to regional cultures, politics, protocols and challenges.  The curriculum broadly examines: Security Foundations; Regional Security Perspectives; Country Specific Issues; Transnational Issues; Governance, and Development and Security Cooperation Issues. This rigorous program of lectures and interactive sessions better equips graduating course Fellows with policy perspectives and tools important for duties at U.S. Pacific Command and its components.

Since opening in 1995, APCSS has had representatives from 104 countries and territories, and four international organizations attend courses at the Center for a total of 7,216 alumni.

The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is a U.S. Department of Defense institute that addresses regional and global security issues. Military and civilian representatives, predominantly from the U.S. and Asia-Pacific nations, participate in a comprehensive program of executive education, professional exchanges and outreach events, both in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. More information is available at www.apcss.org.