Military Committee Chairman addresses NATO reserve officers

Speaking at the CIOR Mid-Winter Meeting 2012, Gen Bartels addressed the importance of having flexible and adaptable Reserve Forces in order to secure the Euro-Atlantic region. “We are not able to operate without taking on  board reservists, both inside and outside the Alliance”. Discussing new  asymmetric threats and security challenges, Gen Bartels reminded the audience  of  the complexity of the battlefield and space of operations, especially  for  counter   insurgency.

In this context, military experience and civilian expertise are crucial in order to build relationships between civilian and military communities. In  a similar fashion, CIOR and the NRFC have important and complementary roles in forging a “two-way” open understanding between the armed forces and civilian organisations. “Reservists play and will continue to play a decisive role”.