Clements Center and Marine Corps Command and Staff College Partnership

Each of the military service branches were represented, as were the CIA, State Department, USAID, and military officers from a range of allied nations.  The Clements Center sponsored the participation of 21 University of Texas graduate students in the exercise, which developed a range of policy options and crisis responses for real-world security challenges in a strategic region. We were honored to be the only civilian university to participate, and it was a singular educational and professional development opportunity for our students.  In the words of student Sophia Steiner, “Working with the U.S. Marines was a great experience because it gave me a chance to see how policy decisions are actually translated into action. The Nine Innings Exercise really brought national security planning to life by offering students a first-hand view of military strategy that you just can’t get in a classroom.”