On April 2nd, 2009, a delegation of the German Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr (Command and Staff College German Federal Armed Forces) visited the NDC to receive a general overview of the NDC’s mission, objectives and activities.
The NDC Commandant, LtGen Wolf-Dieter LOESER, who in his previous assignment was the Commander of the Führungsakademie, welcomed the Hamburg delegation, comprised of 24 German and international officers (16 German and 8 from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and the USA). The group was led by Brigadier General Karl H. SCHREINER (German Air Force), who explained that the purpose of the one-week field study to ITALY is to visit and exchange views with Italian and NATO high- level military installations in ROME and NAPLES. Clearly, participation in the academic day at the NDC ROME was a definite highlight of the programme.
After an initial briefing on the NDC tasks and mission by the NDC PAO, Col Giancarlo FORTUNA (Italian Air Force), the NDC Commandant, LtGen LOESER (German Army), and the German Senior Representative, Colonel Gerhard BAHR (German Air Force), took the opportunity for a frank, open-minded and detailed discussion with the FüAk Course Members on the objectives, structure and lessons learned of the NDC education programme and Courses.
The delegation from Germany was also granted the opportunity to participate in the full academic day with Senior Course 114, including two top-level presentations on “NATO Partnership Initiatives: Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative”, presented by Dr Alberto Bin (NATO/Italy) and Dr Bichara KHADER (Belgium). After completion of the programme for the day, the German Course Members expressed their thanks and appreciation for the chance to gain such a privileged insight into the academic curriculum of NATO’s highest educational institution.
Prepared by Colonel BAHR (DEU AF)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN