Executive Level Operational Level of Warfare Course

The Executive Level Operational Level of Warfare Course (ELOC) is part of a series of Professional Military Education courses that focuses at the senior leadership level. This course will ensure the attendees are properly educated in and understand the intricacies of effectively participating in the decision-making process and managing a Maritime Operations Center (MOC) and its resources.
Students in a ELOC class

General Information

Eligibility

Students are selected to attend ELOC; candidates are senior officers (O6) that include Active Component personnel and activated Reserve Component officers serving as principals to the numbered fleet commander.

Location & Duration

The one-week course for students is taught at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island three times a year.

Learning Format

This course is primarily seminar format but includes faculty-moderated sessions meant to encourage discussion among students followed by an application in case study-based planning and execution efforts.

Outcome

Students in ELOC will gain an understanding of operational-level staff objectives and learn the procedure of those objectives in an operational environment. Students will gain an appreciation of the critical role of senior staff leadership within the MOC to enable simultaneous maritime operations.

Program Structure

Course Overview

Foundations

Required | Core Course
Students will briefly discuss national strategy and concept documents governing the U.S. military and how the maritime-specific documents will apply to the Maritime/Navy Component level. Also discussed are Operational Art, the Operational Level of War (OLW), Operational Law, and the basic organization constructs.

Decision Making

Required | Core Course
Students will discuss in detail the Operations Process, the Navy Planning Process and the Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment, and the emerging Design process.

Navy Operational Level of Warfare Organization

Required | Core Course
Students will explore the fundamental concepts, description, and characteristics of a MOC in a working environment with a focus on forming a Combined Force Maritime Component Commander and Joint Force Maritime Component Commander staff. A comparison of the existing Numbered Fleet Staff organizations and functions is also provided.

Command and Control

Required | Core Course
Students will be provided insights into the methodologies, complexities, and challenges of command and controlling from an OLW perspective. The course delves into advanced discussions of this critical operational function. Access to Senior Leadership is provided by retired Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral senior facilitators as well as in-person or secure video teleconference presentations and Q&A with sitting Fleet Commanders and Deputy Fleet Commanders.

Student Information

Contact Information

ELOC Coordinator

More Information

Next Steps
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Cmdr. Craig Trent, left, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78), observes from the bridge as the ship departs Plymouth, England, Feb. 11, 2019.
Cmdr. Craig Trent, left, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78), observes from the bridge as the ship departs Plymouth, England, Feb. 11, 2019. Porter, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Turner/Released)