 Initially a non-academic institution reserved to serving diplomats and either generals or senior officers, it also admits commissioned officers at large, executives, and senior civil servants ("hauts fonctionnaires") linked to the diplomatic service.Among others, its Greek branch has educated the commanding officer of the Greek Navy's Frigate Command between him attending the Naval Postgraduate School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.Along with the Institut français, the CEDS is a "de facto" lever of the French diplomatic influence ("Action Française à l'étranger").