NATO Civilian pre-deployment training marks 5th anniversary
On 15 May, the 5th anniversary for NATO civilian pre-deployment training took place in Vyskov, Czech Republic. The programme was launched as a consequence of a North Atlantic Council (NAC) decision to extend pre-deployment training to include civilians. Course attendance in Vyskov is one of several mandatory pre-mission steps which must be completed by civilian staff members who deploy in support of NATO operations.
Since its inception in 2007, some 800 NATO civilians have attended the week-long training in Vyskov, organised by Training Command – Military Academy (TC-MA). The Allied Command Transformation (ACT)-accredited course prepares civilian staff members for the different aspects of being deployed in support of NAC-approved operations and missions, often side by side with uniformed colleagues.
Mr. Terje Hagen, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Human Resources, visited the Academy in conjunction with the Anniversary and highlighted how it is a priority for the Organization to ensure that high quality pre-deployment training is provided to civilian staff. In his address to the fresh graduates he emphasised how attending the right type of preparatory training may prove critical in the event of an emergency. ‘’The potential risks and challenges that staff may encounter when deployed is something we take very seriously. It is therefore a priority for us to have a NATO-wide programme in place to ensure that people are as well prepared for their missions as it is reasonable to expect,” he said.
Mr. Jiri Nudcenko, an instructor at TC-MA, said the training is frequently being updated and modified to reflect current operational requirements. ‘’At present, most of the staff members who attend this course will deploy to Afghanistan. The current focus is therefore on ISAF requirements. Fortunately, for most participants many of the skills gained during the course of the week will never be put into practice in a live situation. However, we know that by equipping staff with these types of skills, it helps build confidence, which is also very important,’’ he concluded.
Ms. Stanislava Mladenova took part in the training as preparation for her new position as a Political Adviser in Kabul. ‘’This is an intensive course where we cover a lot of material. However, the balance between theory and practice is such that I feel I have not only developed the know-how to deal with a number of situations and scenarios, but also been given the chance to put these skills into practice during the field training.”
On behalf of the NATO Executive Management Division, Mr. Hagen praised the Academy’s Commander and staff for making the programme a success and confirmed that the Organization’s collaboration with TC-MA will continue beyond 2012.