The DEC is an information sharing body hosted by the Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, that meets twice a year.

DEC Members include the Director, Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA), and General and Flag officers representing the commanders of unified combatant commands, major service commands, military services, military departments and heads of applicable Intelligence Agencies. 

The DEC is conducted virtually and consists of distinct biannual formats: A Winter session, and a Spring session.

WINTER DEC. The Winter DEC provides updates on the overall State of DoWEA (same general concept as the President’s State of the Union Address to the nation). 

Typical topics in the Winter DEC agenda include student achievement, military construction (MILCON), DoWEA-wide initiatives (i.e., Teacher Hiring, School Safety, impacts of force structure changes), and stakeholder initiatives implemented by DoWEA Region Directors for Student Excellence.

SPRING DEC. The Spring DEC consists of an agenda generated by topics from stakeholders across the DEC membership.  Topics are of interest to the greater council membership but may (by exception), include Region-specific subjects.  Topics for the Spring DEC are developed from a PRE DEC. 

PRE DEC. 

PRE DEC topics must first be vetted at the region level school advisory group, or the DoWEA Monthly Military Services Update before being presented at the PRE DEC.

The PRE DEC is managed and hosted by the DoWEA Headquarters Chief of Staff and is typically conducted approximately 45 days prior to the DEC.  

The PRE DEC is also conducted virtually.  

Invitations to the PRE DEC are emailed to DEC Action Officers by the DoWEA Operations, Plans, Legislation and Policy