For centuries, military education has been quietly shaping the world as we know it, from global security mega-trends to grass-roots resilience activities. The networks developed in military colleges alone have influenced the ascension of leaders throughout time, from monarchs, presidents and the heads of armed forces, to community leaders, business entrepreneurs and rebel leaders. These officials bring with them learning that shapes their norms, knowledge, ideologies and decision making.

Given this influence, it is perhaps no surprise that military education has been a site of political, economic, societal and ethico-legal contestation and collaboration since its inception. Indeed, it has informed everything from the revitalisation of national economies and emancipation of marginalised peoples, to the enactment of mass atrocities and abuses. Despite this, it remains a relatively underdeveloped field of research within the wider discipline of adult education. 

At the Centre for Military Education, our goal is enhance global security and equity, by developing a more diverse and robust research base across the field of military education. In doing so, we hope to build on the deep historical roots and contemporary role of King’s College London within military education, in ways that generate new pathways for academic rigour, diversity and impact. This includes delivering new systems for supporting experts and practitioners with deep access, experience and insight in military education, as well as alternative thinkers and commentators who are seeking to challenge existing norms and assumptions. As governments and societies worldwide grapple with an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous threat landscape, the need for this has never been more urgent.