From 20 to 22 September 2023, a delegation of 3 guests from the Mubarak Al Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College (MAJCSC), led by its Commandant, Brigadier Faisal Al-Shemmari, visited the NATO Defense College (NDC).
During the 3-day visit, the delegation had the opportunity to learn more about the NDC’s organization, were given a comprehensive overview of the educational curriculums for NATO Regional Cooperation Course 30 and Senior Course 143, and were introduced to the NDC’s main activities. The MAJCSC is a military educational institution in Kuwait City which prepares field grade officers to lead at the operational level of warfare. The MAJCSC and the NDC share similar objectives and the aim of this visit was to maintain and improve the academic cooperation between the two institutions, as explained by Colonel Mohammed Al-Hudaibi, Senior Member of the Directing Staff at the MAJCSC.
The Mubarak Al Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College delegation was composed of Commandant Al-Shemmari; Staff Officer First Class (SO1) of the Production and Printing Branch Brigadier General Al-Sabaghah; and Colonel Al-Hudaibi. On the first day, the guests had an Office Call with NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, during which the two Colleges were able to discuss their academic standpoints with a view to strengthening the partnership between the NDC and the MAJCSC and promoting a shared and cooperative academic environment. The delegation was then given a comprehensive briefing by the NDC Head of the Academic Policy & Engagement Branch, Colonel Eric De Landmeter, on the history, structure, and main activities of the College, providing the visitors with a close look into the core tasks of the NDC and its past and present activities. In the afternoon, the visitors joined NATO Regional Cooperation Course 30 (NRCC 30) during its International Negotiations & Multilateral Simulation Exercise (MSX). This exercise enables Course participants to replicate global consensus-building procedures such as those used by international organizations and to practise multilateral negotiation, mediation, and decision-making strategies with the overall objective of determining a shared course of action.
The second day of activities started with an orientation visit to the Partner Courses Branch. Subsequently, the delegation had an office call with NDC Dean Dr Christopher Schnaubelt, where they discussed the implementation and the engagement aspects of the academic programme and academic policies. In the afternoon, the visitors re-joined the MSX exercise along with NRCC 30, holding discussions within separate Committees. An orientation visit to the Curriculum Planning Branch and the Research Division concluded the day.
The guests also had the opportunity to learn more about the activities developed to boost the quality of the education offered to Course Members during a presentation hosted at the College Library, a part of the Academic Support Branch. The delegation then attended a lecture entitled “Introduction to Regional Security in NATO’s South – A Regional Outlook” in the Main Auditorium.
The MAJCSC Commandant, Brigadier General Faisal Al-Shemmari, concluded the 3-day visit to the NDC by delivering final remarks.
Before departing, Colonel Mohammed Al-Hudaibi shared a few reflections on these three days of observation at the NDC. He highlighted the value of working in Committees to consolidate the topics addressed during lectures and encourage dialogue between Course Members. This structure “makes it easier for NATO countries to get new perspectives from different regions, especially the MENA region. This method is something that can be reflected in our academic plan.”
NDC-MAJCSC Cooperation:
The MAJCSC is invited by the NDC each year to join the NATO Conference of Commandants, which acts as a forum for authorities with similar responsibilities in the area of higher defence education. It helps to build mutual understanding and awareness, improve academic programmes and instructional techniques, and identify areas where Defence Colleges can cooperate or support one another.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Mr David Lucio Rossi, ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN