Post the colors: Fort Leavenworth International Military Students fly flags in opening day ceremony

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas - The Command and General Staff Officer Course 2026-27 school year was officially kicked off with a traditional flag ceremony Aug. 17, 2026, in Eisenhower Auditorium at the Lewis and Clark Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The posting of the U.S. colors was followed by the flags of the 79 countries represented by the course’s 87 international military students.

Command and General Staff College Commandant Col. David Norris said the ceremony has marked the formal beginning of the CGSOC school year for decades, and that the flags posted have significant meaning.

“They represent the aspirations of our nations, the deliberate and powerful declaration of our mutual commitment to advance common values and shared interests through cooperative study and the building of critical personal relationships,” he said.

Norris congratulated the international military students for following in the distinguished footsteps of their predecessors.

“Our international students' selection for this course represents a significant investment by your home nation, a testament to your exceptional professional potential and to your nation's faith in your future,” Norris told the international military students. “I have full confidence in your success, and I extend a warm welcome to you and your families as you join the U.S. Army team and the Fort Leavenworth community this year.”

Norris told sponsors, who help acclimate international families and provide social and other support during the school year, that their dedication is deeply appreciated.

“An environment of this caliber is not built in isolation,” he said. “To our sponsors and our international military students, our incredible volunteers and their families, thank you. To the cities of Leavenworth and Lansing and the greater Kansas City area, you have demonstrated the very best of American hospitality and friendship.”

Norris noted that the international military students are often among the course’s highest performers. He said that in the 2016 CGSOC class, international students graduated in the No. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 10 positions.

“Let that sink in - all while navigating life in a foreign country, far from home, operating in a second and sometimes third or fourth language, all while mastering complex U.S. Joint All-Domain Doctrine - year after year, our international students set the highest marks for academic excellence at this institution,” Norris said. “I urge our U.S. officers to embrace your international teammates, and, as iron sharpens iron, benefit from the valuable contribution their presence makes possible.”

Norris told the U.S. students that like their international counterparts, their presence at CGSC is a significant investment in their future.

“For the entire class, this year is a truly rare opportunity - a year to read, to think, to write, to reflect and to grow, both personally and professionally. I encourage you and your families to embrace every aspect of this important experience. But let me be clear: this year, this course is not a comfortable break from the operating force. It's a demanding intellectual crucible designed to evoke critical professional growth. This curriculum, designed, developed and delivered by our world-class faculty, is difficult. It will challenge you profoundly, requiring innovation and adaptation in the application of your tradecraft, and at every turn, you will be assessed and provided critical feedback. Your leadership and warfighting potential will be revealed, it will be identified, and it will be known to you.”

Norris said the incoming class has demonstrated exceptional intellectual accomplishment, with several of the students already holding professional, doctoral and master’s degrees.

“The academic credentials of this class and this cohort are very impressive,” he said. “You have proven that you can take academics seriously. Continue to do so over the next 10 months. This is no time to rest on your previous accomplishments. This year is about preparing you for what lies ahead in the operating force, fulfilling critical roles, serving in a highly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world.”

Norris reminded the students that 21st century strategic challenges require field-grade officers to be able to fight effectively in joint, combined and multinational coalitions.

“Our nations rely on leaders like you to provide the security (and) stability that are necessary for peace and prosperity,” he said. “This is our solemn duty, and together we will fulfill it.