These exercises are held indoor to enable the students to ascertain clearly the basic principles of employing troops and equipment on varying terrain and different phases of war.

Outdoor exercises are conducted to enable the students to find practical solutions to tactical problems without troops. Student Officers plan on the map, discuss in the syndicate room or outdoor and then see the feasibility of executing the plan on ground.

Several such exercises are conducted during the course where students study the tactical aspects of their plans during the outdoor part of the exercise and are exposed to ground realities.

The intellectual discipline of research demands analysis, logic, judgment, original thought, accuracy, clarity of expression and indeed integrity all attributes we seek to develop. Research forms a major part of the course and there are requirements throughout it, for both individual and group research. Students are expected to approach their research in a disciplined way in keeping with the factors demanded.

Students are required to submit nine well–composed written assignments on selected topics, solutions to numerous tactical problems and a final dissertation of 8000 words on a chosen topic.

A wide range of eminent guest speakers address the students during the course. Training teams from foreign countries also visit the College and exchange ideas during the course.

Student Officers visit the Survey Department, Western Naval Command, Ports Authority and Colombo Dockyard, SLAF Base Katunayake, High Courts, NARA, Met Department, Parliament and embark on an Overseas Study Tour to a SAARC or an ASEAN country.