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Graduate Certificate in Military Sustainability

Enhancing the Military Mission through Land Management, Policy, and Culture

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Background DoD Land Use – Realistic training requires realistic

training environments. Skills are perishable, maintained through regular training.

Encroachment – external influences that threaten or constrain training (e.g., urban development, noise complaints, frequency conflicts).

Promoting “outside the fenceline” compatible land uses (i.e., military sustainability) important.

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Background Varied perspective between natural resource and

range operating programs. Natural resource students typically deficient in

understanding DoD land use and mission priorities.

Natural resource careers – DoD is typically not presented as an option.

Improved “literacy” in natural resource and military sustainability can occur through education and training.

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Need – Education and Training Prospective students need broad skills to be

effective practitioners of sustainability “outside the fenceline”.

In addition to traditional land management skills, training in regional planning, policy development and implementation, and cultural competencies also desired.

DoD environmental programs offer career opportunities within government and defense industry.

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Approach Develop graduate Certificate in Military Sustainability. Complement existing professional degrees (e.g.,

Masters of Natural Resources, Wildlife Science, and Rangeland Ecology).

Web-based coursework offers maximum flexibility; optional short-courses (e.g., “range tour” course). Target students – working professionals (e.g., active military/vets).

Opportunity to integrate research/field experience on military installations (students pursuing masters requiring a 6-hour non-thesis professional paper).

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Thematic Emphasis Areas Land Management

- Natural resource land management strategies.- Military practices/requirements.- Sustainability concepts/regional planning.

Policy- Natural resource policies influencing land use.- Military policies influencing DoD environmental

programs. Culture

- Cultural competencies, conflict resolution, and collaborative planning.

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Certificate Overview Hours Land Management Sustainable Military Land Management 3 Field Military Land Management 1 Geospatial Technology in Military Land Mgmt 2 Land Management Elective 3 Policy and Culture Natural Resource Policy Seminar 1 Cultural Competency/Conflict Resolution Seminar 1 Policy and Culture Elective 3 Total 14

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Sample Degree PlanCourse Description Online HoursLand Management WFSC XXX Sustainable Military Land Management yes 3WFSC XXX Field Military Land Management yes 1WFSC XXX Seminars in Natural Resource Policy and Cultural Conflict yes 2WFSC XXX Geospatial Technology in Military Land Management yes 1ESSM 630 Restoration Ecology yes 3ESSM 660 Landscape Analysis and Modeling yes 3RENR 405 GIS Environmental Problem Solving yes 3WFSC 618 Wildlife Study and Design yes 3Policy and CultureESSM 406 Forest Policy yes 3ESSM 670 Ecosystems and Markets yes 3WFSC 630 Ecology and Society yes 3INTA 654 Military Strategy yes 3WFSC 684 Professional Paper yes 6 37

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Research/Field Experiences on Installations

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Target Students Active (to include guard/reserves) or

returning veterans interested in natural resource training and/or a graduate degree. Unique graduate program for veterans. “Serving those who serve”.

Career professionals with DoD or other state/federal agencies interested in continuing education training relative to working with the military.

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Knowledge and SkillsStudent learning outcomes include an understanding of: Historic, current, and future military land use

requirements. Environmental policies impacting land use and areas

critical to mission. Natural resource planning approaches (e.g., INRMP, ITAM). Compatible land use approaches (e.g., buffer programs,

regional planning, etc.). Geospatial technology use in land use decision-making. Conflict resolution and consensus building skills.

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Enhancing the Military Mission through Land Management, Policy, and Culture

http://military.tamu.edu/

Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural ResourcesRoel R. Lopez, Associate Director

1500 Research Parkway, Suite 110A, 2260 TAMUCollege Station, TX 77843-2260

Phone: (979) 845-4067, Fax: (979) 845-0662Email: roel@tamu.edu