Modular Short Course 142-2 on “Contemporary NATO”

From 27 February to 3 March 2023, 21 Course Members from various NATO countries attended Modular Short Course 142-2 on “Contemporary NATO”.

As Study Period B of Senior Course 142 on “Contemporary NATO” continued, the College ran Modular Short Course 142-2 in parallel. Designed for military officers and civilian officials who may not be able to attend the Senior Course, which extends over approximately six months, the MSC gives participants the opportunity to attend a shorter course at the College in order to learn about the complex, challenging and evolving environment in which NATO operates.

MSC 142-2 presented an overview of some of the global security challenges identified within the scope of “Contemporary NATO”. The five-day Course included several lectures, Q&A sessions, and daily preparatory work as well as consolidation discussions in Committee on the topics of the day, with the Faculty Advisers Colonel Jörg Prescher and Mrs Nancy Vellone.

Day 1 started with welcoming remarks by the NDC Commandant, Lieutenant-General Olivier Rittimann, prior to the preparatory work. The lecture of the day was then presented by Dr Ashley Tellis and Dr François Godement on “Strategic Competition between Great Powers – Competitors and Global Commons”, followed by a Q&A session and consolidation work in Committee.

Day 2 was focused on a lecture exploring “How NATO Works”, delivered by Brigadier General (Ret.) Dr Patrick Wouters and Mr Joris Ghesquiere. Day 3 was dedicated to “NATO Partnerships – A Cooperative Approach to Security”, presented by Mr James Mackey – who addressed the Course Members remotely – and Dr Kevin Koehler, former NDC Researcher and NRCC Faculty Advisor.

Day 4 centred on “NATO’s Crisis Management”, with two lectures delivered by Lieutenant-General (Ret.) Hans-Werner Wiermann and Prof. Dr Joachim Koops.

The last day, dedicated to “NATO’s Role in Increasing Collective Resilience”, included a presentation by Ms Sarah Tarry. MSC 142-2 concluded with the conferment of certificates to Course participants by the NDC Commandant.

NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Sofia Carvalheiro, PRT C)