Though not required for promotion to commander and beyond, attendance at the War College was highly encouraged for those wishing to extend their careers into the upper echelons of service within the Republic Military. The curriculum was the same no matter the branch of service, with classes often containing a diverse mix of Army, Navy and Marine officers; this was done to further encourage inter-service co-operation and to emphasize the fact that the military could only function effectively when all parts were working smoothly together. For two years, students were taught in the intricacies of strategic military theory and thinking, expanding on the knowledge that had been gained through their initial training and experience in the field. The focus was primarily on grand strategy at the ga