The NATO Defense College’s Senior Course 119 spent the weekend of 1st-2nd October visiting Switzerland, a long-standing and very active member of the Partnership for Peace (PfP). The visit was divided into two distinct parts, the first with a broad cultural emphasis and the second with a specific focus on Course Members’ professional knowledge and skills.
A greatly appreciated highlight of the NDC delegation’s cultural programme was a fascinating visit to Zermatt on Sunday, which included an impressive guided tour of the Ethnic Museum and a highly informative visit to a Search and Rescue Centre.
On Monday 3rd October the group, led by NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Dalhaug and Director of Academic Operations Brigadier General Desjardins, received several outstanding briefings on a number of topics related to Swiss security and defence policy in the capital city of Bern. An overview of Swiss Security Policy was provided by Ambassador Catrina, while Ambassador Martin addressed the group on Swiss Foreign Policy. Further briefings, on the role of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and of the Democratic Control of Armed Forces Centre, were delivered by Ambassador Tanner and Mr Fred Schreier respectively.
After a thought-provoking Q&A period, during which Course Members took full advantage of this rare opportunity to participate in a lively and comprehensive discussion of security and defence priorities from a Swiss perspective, Major General Halter (Chief of the Swiss Armed Forces Joint Staff) took the floor to illustrate the Swiss Armed Forces’ Readiness Concept.
Senior Course 119 is now spending time in Berlin, one of the Alliance’s pivotal capital cities, after which the group will conclude the first Field Study period of the Course with a final stop in London.
More about the Field Study:
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 
