More than a century of forming Peruvian leaders
The Peruvian Army’s War College is going through another transformation in order to train officers to
combat the Shining Path’s narcoterrorists
By Marcos Ommati/Diálogo
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11 February 2014
Brigadier General José Luis Vigil León
The Peruvian Army’s War College (ESGE) is a high-level academic center recognized internationally for its
excellence. Founded in 1904, ESGE’s initial mission was to prepare a group of officers and train them for
the complex duties that the Joint Staff’s personnel perform.
Peruvian Army’s War College facade.
However, as regions were threatened by insurgencies during the 1960s, the institution was forced to include
guerrilla warfare training. Later, in the 1980s, the school went through a major transformation of its
curriculum to confront the emergence of terrorism. The Peruvian Army organized Major Units, with the
mission of combating the terrorist organizations such as the Shining Path and Túpac Amaru Revolutionary
Movement.
Due to the resurgence of the terrorist group Shining Path, which was considered extinct in the 1990s,
Diálogo visited ESGE in October 2013 to speak with its director, Brigadier General José Luis Vigil León,
about how the institution is preparing its officers to confront this old threat again.
DIÁLOGO: General, when organizing the ESGE’s curriculum, are terrorist organizations, such as
Shining Path and other illegal groups, taken into consideration for intelligence and
counterintelligence classes?
Brigadier General José Luis Vigil León: ESGE-EPG [Graduate School] officers acquire different
capabilities, not only in conventional warfare, but also in non-conventional warfare. As a result, when the
syllabus is designed, we consider the current situation of the fight against terrorism, with the goal of training
officers in planning and conducting counter-terrorist operations.
DIÁLOGO: What is your main challenge as ESGE director? What are the goals and priorities in your tenure
as director of this institution?
Brig. Gen. Vigil: The ESGE-EPG's mission is to provide academic training to Army and guest officers in
military sciences, so they can perform Command and Joint Staff roles during the execution of military
operations. In addition, we provide training in modern techniques of institutional management, aimed at
achieving an efficient strategic leadership when carrying out different responsibilities, as well as organizing
and conducting training programs, such as crisis management and decision making, among others. As head
of ESGE-EPG, one of my main challenges is to gain recognition for the Warfare School as one of the main
and most prestigious institutions of higher education in the region, aiming towards the future with
international projection and aligned with innovative technology. This is done in accordance with our vision of
what it means to be the main training center with the highest intellectual, moral and physical levels that
create leaders able to successfully assess, manage and conduct military, civil and national socioeconomic
development operations by making efficient use of human, material and technological resources facilitated
by the State.
DIÁLOGO: What are the Peruvian Warfare School’s plans in terms of modernization and
technological development?
Peruvian Army’s Tactical Training Center.
Brig. Gen. Vigil: We are supported by the Army’s Tactical Training Center, with an up-to-date syllabus that
allows training in real time, not only in strategic situations and military tactics, but also in preventing and
responding to natural disasters. In addition, we have an infrastructure that is helpful in achieving the training
goals.
DIÁLOGO: How are doctrinal simulations conducted in the classroom? Is there any war gaming tool
that might help in developing planning skills?
Brig. Gen. Vigil: ESGE-EPG is committed to modernity and technological development, and we have great
plans on a national and international level, including agreements with other institutions. We are planning to
include Cyber Warfare doctrine in the near future.
DIÁLOGO: Are there any strategic alliances with other academic institutions that might help
improve officer training? Are these public or private?
Brig. Gen. Vigil: According to the vision and mission of the ESGE-EPG, the officers’ training and
improvement are priority. Therefore, our students complete master’s degree programs and courses offered
by public and private institutions through agreements, such as the National Higher Education Center, the
Diplomatic Academy, ESAN University [Graduate Business Administration School] and the University of
Maryland for foreign exchanges.
DIÁLOGO: Are there any foreign students attending the school? How is their interaction ?
Brig. Gen. Vigil: According to the command’s policy of strengthening international relations, there are
Peruvian officers studying in different countries. Distinguished professors from Colombia, Brazil and
Argentina are part of ESGE-EPG’s faculty. Moreover, a Venezuelan officer is enrolled in the program of
higher command, aimed at colonel-ranked officers, while Argentine, Brazilian and South Korean officers are
enrolled in the Major Units program of combat, aimed at major-ranked officers.
DIÁLOGO: Could you express some final remarks to Diálogo's audience?
Brig. Gen. Vigil: ESGE-EPG is strongly committed to globalization, which is now part of our reality, and we
invite officers from different countries to study and improve their skills in this center of education. We will be
glad to receive them and exchange experience and knowledge to strengthen hemispheric security.
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