Lt. Gen. David G. Perkins, commandant of the Command and General Staff College and commander of the Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, told students at the Aug. 13 opening day that they would have many opportunities to change the Army.

“Expectations are high, and we have no reason not to think you will meet or exceed those,” he told students.

Perkins also talked about students’ responsibility to the profession of arms.

“We in the Army are putting a whole new focus on that, and you, as field grade officers, have a role to play in that as stewards of the profession of arms,” he said.

The profession of arms is a holistic concept that encourages unwavering ethical behavior as well as the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

“We have spent all the time necessary that we are worthy of the trust that Soldiers give us,” he said.

Perkins said CAC is getting ready to publish dozens of new manuals next month, highlighting new doctrine for the Army. As students, U.S. Army majors can learn the new doctrine and help push the knowledge out to the rest of the Army, Perkins said.

CGSC graduates will not only keep their Soldiers in battalions informed, but also help their higher-ranking officers stay on the cutting edge of doctrine as well, Perkins said.

“Leavenworth is where we change the Army,” he said.

ILE students Maj. Brian Wallace and Maj. Jim Anderson both said that for them, the profession of arms means helping keep their oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution for the people of the United States.

“Every service member, no matter what branch you’re in, takes that oath,” Wallace said. “That’s the core. Everything else becomes secondary.”

Anderson said he was looking forward to learning from sister service members who also attend ILE. Although Army officers have usually interacted with sister service, international and interagency members during their careers, CGSC is often the first chance they can learn alongside each other.

“I’m just looking to learn from each of the different branches and services,” he said.