The Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers
Structure & Operations

CIOR Structure

Since 1998, the CIOR has been re-structuring to improve its cost-effectiveness and relevance. The new structure is allowing the CIOR to cut costs while increasing membership (see the sidebars “Commissions and Responsibilities” and “Committees and Responsibilities”).

The commissions and committees share the work, which, as always, directly concerns both NATO's new challenges and CIOR activities in the context of the PFP program.

The members of CIOR commissions and committees examine all issues relating to Reserve forces, without restriction, including topics such as the contribution of Reserve forces to humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict, the impact of NATO expansion on the Reserves, and employer support to reservists. Of course, delegates also continue with their task of harmonising Reserve statutes across the membership of countries.

Operations

Delegates meet twice a year, at a summer congress and a winter conference.

The CIOR annual congress is hosted by a member country, and spans five days in July or August. It always includes a military competition and a working group for junior officers, the Young Reserve Officers' Workshop (YROW). The Interallied Confederation of Medical Reserve Officers (CIOMR) and the National Reserve Forces Committee (NRFC, composed of national officials responsible for Reserve forces) have used this opportunity to hold their own congress at the same time and place.

The winter conference is three days long, and is usually held in February at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

Of course, CIOR congresses are open to all Reserve officers, who are entitled to register as unofficial delegates. The host country also schedules activities for these officers.