From 24 to 28 May 2021, Senior Course 138 undertook the NMDX exercise, a significant highlight of the academic program to experience first-hand the NATO Crisis Management Process.
The aim of the exercise is to develop a practical understanding of group dynamics in an environment where multinational consensus-building, negotiations, mediation, and decision-making processes are simulated as realistically as possible. The NMDX is an opportunity to examine the role of NATO in Crisis Response Operations, and the Alliance’s organization and functioning in crisis management situations. Course Members (CMs) directly dealt with the conditions and special requirements of international crisis management and multinational and multilateral politico-military decision-making at the NATO Senior Committees and Ambassadorial levels.
Following a preparatory sequence on “developing multilateral negotiation skills”, the exercise advanced into a series of introductory lectures and deep discussion, planning, communication and STRATCOM workshops held during five days of exercise role-play. Time was dedicated for Senior Mentors to give feedback and provide guidance. The Senior Mentors were LGEN (Ret.) Jan Broeks, LGEN (Ret.) Jo Godderij, LGEN (Ret.) Antonio Li Gobbi, MGEN (Ret.) Timothy J. Bevis and Mr Ted Whiteside, former Deputy Assistant Secretary General of NATO.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Mr Jose Moron Marchena, ESP C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN