The Defense Department has granted a Center of Excellence certification to a U.S. Strategic Command organization that fosters missile defense training for service, joint and theater operations.

The Joint Ballistic Missile Defense Education and Training Center or JBTEC received CoE certification after a year of preparation, becoming the first ever joint CoE the U.S. Army said Tuesday.

Established in 2005, the center works to train warfighters from different services in planning, analyzing and jointly executing integrated air and missile defense strategies.

The Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense operates the newly certified center at Schriever Air Force Base.

The CoE certification recognizes the quality of the center’s services and expertise in the assigned field of joint missile defense training.

JBTEC annually caters to 4K students consisting of personnel from combatant commands, federal agencies and U.S. allies.