The Higher Institute of Military Learning (IESM) was created on September 27, 2005, by Decree-Law No. 161/2005, dated September 22, and resulted from the merger of the Higher Learning Institutes of the three Branches of the Armed Forces: the Army (IAEM), the Navy (ISNG) and the Air Force (IAEFA).

The mission of this Institute, which is located in the facilities of the former and now extinct IAEM, is to provide scientific, doctrinaire and technical military training to the career officers of the Armed Forces, required for accomplishing the command and staff duties both within the branches and in joint and combined forces, as well as their performance in postings in international organizations.

The IESM also cooperates with higher educational university learning in carrying out courses leading to graduation, in legal terms, in the areas of strategic and security studies, strategic intelligence, logistics, international affairs and management of defence resources.