The Defense Financial Management Course (DFMC) is a mid-level DoD/Joint course. It bridges the gap between technical competencies and strategic financial management, as well as leadership orientation. Graduates earn credit hours that are applicable towards the DoD Financial Management Levels 2 or 3 Certification and/or other continuing professional education (CPE) requirements.
ACADEMIC MISSION
The DFMC mission is to, “Produce DoD FM Warfighters who understand the strategic environment, optimize and align finite resources with strategic priorities, provide informed FM decision support and advice to senior leaders, grasp the importance of maintaining integrity of financial results, and appreciate the unique FM role best to enable DoD, Joint Operations, and the Warfighter.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Following extensive functional analysis, consultation with senior DoD financial management leadership, review of the DoD-wide FM strategy, and consideration of and adherence to the 2025 interim defense strategy guidance, DFM&CS introduced a completely redesigned DFMC curriculum plan in 2025. Five-course learning outcomes illustrate what all DFMC graduates bring back to their organizations.
- Understand joint organizations, joint operations, the strategic environment, key non-DoD government entities, and great power competition.
- Understand DAS and PPBE and their interconnectedness in support of Warfighting concepts and Strategy through a DoD FM lens.
- Apply effective leadership through mission command; understand and exploit the human weapon system.
- Apply strategically informed decision support to create options for senior leaders through agile and mission-oriented DoD FM advice.
- Analyze and evaluate data to optimize resources in support of strategic initiatives and operations, while maintaining the integrity of financial reporting.
LINES OF EDUCATIONAL EFFORT
The faculty executes the DFMC mission through three academic lines of effort: Leadership and the Human Weapon System; DoD Financial Management and the Strategic Environment; and Decision Support, Critical Thinking, and Data. The course is heavily grounded in student-centric learning concepts and techniques to meet all learning outcomes.
LEARNING METHODOLOGY
Instructors lay solid foundations in fundamental principles, and students engage in practical exercises, case studies, small group discussions, demonstrations/performances, role-play scenarios, and networking to enable higher levels of learning. Additionally, the school hosts numerous senior DoD leaders who add real-world, practical perspectives. The course culminates in a rigorous capstone exercise, a decision briefing to a guest senior leader, during which the faculty assesses student proficiency in all course learning outcomes.
EVALUATION
Faculty assesses learning outcomes through two short examinations, two written assignments (one individual and one collaborative), two oral presentations (one individual and one collaborative), student participation in small-group work, and various problem-solving exercises. Student participation also influences overall grades. Students are encouraged to provide formal, constructive criticism of each lesson, as well as through the end-of-course survey. We encourage maximum participation from the class to ensure we meet the desired learning outcomes.
TARGET AUDIENCE
GS-12 with more than one year in grade and five years of DoD financial management experience through GS-14 (from any military service or DoD agency). Primarily, financial management career fields are encouraged, but acquisition and sustainment career fields are also welcome to attend. O-4/O-5 military officers. E-8 financial management military enlisted. For Air Force students only, there should be a minimum three-year break between completing the Air Force Professional Financial Management Course (PFMC) and attending the DFMC. However, PFMC is not a prerequisite for the course.
PREREQUISITES
Excitement to take an active role in a dynamic, student-centric learning environment. Willingness to collaborate with teams. Appreciation for strategic concepts. Ability to embrace challenges under pressure. Motivation to provide viable options for senior operational leaders. Desire to be part of a winning team in a highly complex global security environment. Students selected for this course should possess a broad knowledge of the DoD FM environment, have above-average critical/creative thinking skills, and possess a fundamental Fiscal Law 201/301 training certificate.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each DFMC class has ~40 students divided into small groups of approximately ten students from the different services and agencies (military and civilian). Students complete most activities in small groups. A collaborative environment greatly enriches the learning experience.
Many opportunities are available to hone communication and team collaboration skills. All students are required to write a short organizational paper and deliver a concise briefing on their leadership philosophy. Additionally, all small groups collaborate on a capstone exercise project and provide a budget optimization decision briefing to a senior DoD leader, hosted by the school for this purpose. Students also offer leadership thoughts and perspectives that initiate each day of class and introduce all guest speakers.
Regular class hours are 0800-1600 CST; however, one to two additional hours outside of class are required for students to complete assignments and group projects.