 The application process includes an examination , an interview , and a supervisor assessment . Applicants must also complete the U.S. Army 's Command and General Staff School or an equivalent intermediate @-@ level education course offered by another uniformed service . The student body of SAMS comprises mostly U.S. Army field grade officers from combat , combat support , and combat service support branches . However , in 1987 the U.S. Air Force graduated three officers and officers from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps graduated the following years . U.S. government agencies began sending students to SAMS in 2007 . The Department of State , Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) have provided students to the school . Also , Warrant officers first attended SAMS in 2010 . 
