1 Graduate Certificate in Military Sustainability Enhancing the Military Mission through Land Management, Policy, and Culture

2 Background  DoD Land Use – Realistic training requires realistic training environments. Skills are perishable, maintained through regular training.  Encroachment – external influences that threaten or constrain training (e.g., urban development, noise complaints, frequency conflicts).  Promoting “outside the fenceline” compatible land uses (i.e., military sustainability) important.

3 Background  Varied perspective between natural resource and range operating programs.  Natural resource students typically deficient in understanding DoD land use and mission priorities.  Natural resource careers – DoD is typically not presented as an option.  Improved “literacy” in natural resource and military sustainability can occur through education and training.

4 Need – Education and Training  Prospective students need broad skills to be effective practitioners of sustainability “outside the fenceline”.  In addition to traditional land management skills, training in regional planning, policy development and implementation, and cultural competencies also desired.  DoD environmental programs offer career opportunities within government and defense industry.

5 Approach  Develop graduate Certificate in Military Sustainability.  Complement existing professional degrees (e.g., Masters of Natural Resources, Wildlife Science, and Rangeland Ecology).  Web-based coursework offers maximum flexibility; optional short-courses (e.g., “range tour” course). Target students – working professionals (e.g., active military/vets).  Opportunity to integrate research/field experience on military installations (students pursuing masters requiring a 6-hour non-thesis professional paper).

6 Thematic Emphasis Areas  Land Management - Natural resource land management strategies. - Military practices/requirements. - Sustainability concepts/regional planning.  Policy - Natural resource policies influencing land use. - Military policies influencing DoD environmental programs.  Culture - Cultural competencies, conflict resolution, and collaborative planning.

7 Certificate Overview

8 Sample Degree Plan

9 Research/Field Experiences on Installations

10 Target Students  Active (to include guard/reserves) or returning veterans interested in natural resource training and/or a graduate degree. Unique graduate program for veterans. “Serving those who serve”.  Career professionals with DoD or other state/federal agencies interested in continuing education training relative to working with the military.

11 Knowledge and Skills Student learning outcomes include an understanding of:  Historic, current, and future military land use requirements.  Environmental policies impacting land use and areas critical to mission.  Natural resource planning approaches (e.g., INRMP, ITAM).  Compatible land use approaches (e.g., buffer programs, regional planning, etc.).  Geospatial technology use in land use decision-making.  Conflict resolution and consensus building skills.

12 Enhancing the Military Mission through Land Management, Policy, and Culture Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources Roel R. Lopez, Associate Director 1500 Research Parkway, Suite 110A, 2260 TAMU College Station, TX Phone: (979) , Fax: (979)