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This year’s Annual National Reserve Forces Committee (NRFC) winter meeting was hosted at NATO HQ, from 30 January to 2 February 2023. With NATO Member States and six Partners, the NRFC promotes and enhances the utility and interests of Reserve Forces and Personnel as a vital component of National Forces and the NATO Force Structure.

The three-day meeting of the NRFC focussed on briefings, topical discussions and syndicate work. Welcoming participants, the Chair of the NRFC, Brigadier General Charlotte Wetche, summarised the aim of the different sessions, “the NRFC is a forum dedicated to fostering a strong cooperation and achieving synergies through the use and combination of NRFC expertise” adding that “Together, we can continue the meaningful work of the NRFC, whilst respecting the different national approaches regarding Reserve Forces”.

Over the course of the meeting, participants received a series of updates from a variety of NATO entities, including NATO School Oberammergau, the NATO International Military Staff and the Allied Command Transformation, as well as briefings from some NATO and Partner Nations. For some Nations reservists make up almost 50% of their National forces, which makes the exchange of ideas, procedures and lessons-learned even more valuable. In topical working sessions, members were invited to discuss, lessons identified from the recent and ongoing global pandemic as well as specific areas of interest, such as cyber and military mobility.

On Wednesday, the NRFC meeting merged with its sister organisation, the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (known by its French acronym CIOR). Both organisations are complementary, the first focusing on the Reserves and the second on Reservists. Addressing the national representatives at the beginning of this joint session, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, H.E. Mircea Geoana highlighted the key role reservists are playing in the current security environment and in implementing NATO’s current agenda. Adding that “our unity and solidarity are stronger than ever. There is no doubt in my mind that NATO is the best guarantee for our security. And reserve officers, like you, are key to protecting our people and values”.  The follow-on programme included a dedicated session to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the use of its reservists to push back the invading Russian forces. Participants were briefed on the establishment of the Territorial Defense Forces as a new branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in February 2022, and composed of volunteers, who are mobilized for local defence.

Finally, the Chair of the NRFC, Brigadier General Wetche attended a meeting of the NATO Military Committee, providing a comprehensive update on last year’s activities as well as ongoing work and projects, with a special focus on how the Nations will be able to mobilize their Reserves. In his remarks, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Bauer thanked the NRFC Chair for the briefing. “The Roles of the Reserves Forces in contributing to the objectives of the Alliance will remain important as our adaptation continues and we look forward to receiving more policy advice on reserve issues from the NRFC”, concluded the Admiral.