The Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) prepares students to serve at the strategic leader level, making ICAF a crucial part of the DOD leader development system. In particular, the Strategic Leadership Department develops strategic thinking skills, focusing on the stratified systems theory, which deals with why strategic leaders must also be strategic thinkers. Three concepts—strategic thinking, conceptual capacity, and mental models—serve as a foundation. While the curriculum cannot furnish direct strategic level experience, it enhances conceptual capacity and provides vicarious experience. It also exposes pupils to leaders from the government, military, and private sector. Then it is up to students to continue making sense of the complex global and national security issues ICAF introduces them to.