One Shepherd has been at the forefront of leadership development for half a century. Our newest program, the Operational Warfighter Leader Program (OWLP, blithely pronounced “Owl Piss”) expands on our tradition of leveraging wargame simulation to create command and staff officer opportunities. In this manner, Warfighters authentically apply leader competency in a safe yet challenging environment.
The OWLP is a unique, wargame driven curriculum designed to develop high level organizational and operational leadership skills. By scaling battlefield management up to the staff officer tier, the program challenges experienced leaders to adapt their command styles away from the field and into operational level planning.
Program Structure & Format
Unlike the hands on, field based Warrior Leader Program, the OWLP focuses heavily on operational management, multidisciplinary coordination, and strategic decision making.
- 3 Weekend Format: The program unfolds over three seminars per semester.
- Remote Seminars: Two of these weekends are conducted remotely, focusing on logistical coordination, mission intent, and multi team planning in a simulated environment.
- In Person Seminars: The final weekend transitions to a physical location, featuring a high intensity Staff Exercise (STAFFEX) where teams go head to head acting as opposing staffs.
- Duration: Students must complete a total of four semesters to graduate from the program.
Core Competencies & Evaluation
Participants are expected to master advanced wargaming and operational management. Key focus areas and challenges include:
- Strategic Planning: Managing resources, establishing contingencies, and casting a cohesive organizational vision.
- Consensus Building: Communicating commander intent and orchestrating actions across large simulated units.
- Peer Review: The program utilizes intense feedback sessions and “murder boards” to rigorously evaluate and refine leadership abilities.
Cost & Logistics
- Tuition: A typical semester costs around $1,100.00.
- Requirements: Candidates for the program must be at least 21 years old
Overall Consensus
Alumni reviews and community feedback highlight One Shepherd’s immersive approach as both intellectually and emotionally testing. The OWLP receives high marks for translating real-world military wargaming and strategic principles into lessons directly applicable to civilian corporate or institutional leadership.
