"Serving as international directing staff provides a unique blend of professional development, international exposure, and personal growth opportunities. This experience not only enhances my individual career but also contributes to broader defence engagement and cooperation between the UK and Kenya."
Lieutenant Colonel John Shankata is a member of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC) directing staff, and the course’s Kenyan liaison officer.
"As a liaison officer/directing staff for ACSC, I am responsible for mentoring, guiding, and facilitating the learning of mid-ranking military officers and civil servants attending this prestigious course."
His role, working in the Joint Services Command and Staff College, is varied and includes:
- Teaching and facilitating collaboration with King’s College London Defence Studies Department
- Supporting the development and delivery of the ACSC curriculum
- Mentoring and guiding course members throughout the course
- Assessing student performance and drafting mid-course and end-of-course reports
- Attending mandatory directing staff training and induction
The longstanding relationship between the UK and Kenya, that forms part of a wider defence engagement, has enabled ACSC to have a two-year rotational liaison officer role that has been in existence since the early 1990s.
International directing staff benefit not only the ACSC syllabus but staff and course members alike, through offering diverse experiences and viewpoints, and enriching the learning environment by providing insights into different military cultures, strategies, and operational approaches.