The Pakistani Military's Successful IO Brief at an American Military University

A Brief at Air Command and Staff College

Signing Ceremony for Proclamation 5621, Designating March 21, 1987 As "Afghanistan Day" with Bill Bradley, William Broomfield Gordon Humphreys Claiborne Pell, Habibullah Mayar, Ali Mayar, Eshan Jan Areef, Mohammad Gailani, Mohamad Salehi and Steven Symms in Roosevelt Room, 3/20/1987

In 2015, a younger, slimmer Major Will Selber returned somewhat triumphantly from his least favorite deployment to Afghanistan. In recognition of his heroic service to his country, the United States Air Force sent him to the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

ACSC is traditionally reserved for the “top 20%” of all O-4s—or those officers who garnered “significant favor” with General Officers. Nevertheless, while a year in ACSC is not exceptionally difficult, the competition is fierce if you aim to set yourself apart.

ACSC had some excellent professors. I don’t recall the name of the man who taught “Understanding Clausewitz,” but I audited the course—yes, I took it for fun—and it changed my life. My year at ACSC was fantastic! While Montgomery, Alabama, isn’t New York City, it was certainly better than being stuck at Resolute Support Headquarters watching another winnable war slip away.