Senior Course 117 made the last stop of its Transatlantic Field Study on November 3 2010 at the Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT) in Norfolk, Virginia.
Vice Admiral Robert G COOLING (RN), ACT’s Chief of Staff (COS) opened the session with a wide and frank introduction on future challenges to NATO.
The Senior Course received a comprehensive briefing on ACT’s structure, tasks and challenges from Capt (N) M. SMACK. Brig Gen RUIVO (PRT AF) gave course members a presentation on ACT’s contribution to the Comprehensive Approach (CA). He explained ACT’s contribution to making the CA operational.
An interesting and wide presentation on Countering Hybrid Threats was given by LtCol HILLS (RM).
The visit concluded with an unprecedented frank and open question and answer session with the General and Flag Officers of the Command Staff including ACT’s COS.
In his closing remarks, Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter LOESER, Commandant of the NDC, said that the cooperation between ACT and the NDC had been most productive and thanked our hosts on behalf of all the NDC participants.
Another highlight followed the academic part of the visit to Norfolk when the Course (divided into two groups) enjoyed very interesting tours to the US aircraft carriers, USS ENTERPRISE and USS George H.W. BUSH. They learned of the Carriers’ histories and capabilities.
This visit concluded the Transatlantic Field Study, which included visits to NATO Headquarters and SHAPE, the United Nations in New York City, briefings from multiple government agencies and the PENTAGON in the U.S. capital Washington, DC. SC 117 will return to Rome to continue with its Academic Programme.
More about SC117 Field Study II:
First stop – SHAPE and the European Union
Second leg – NATO HQ, Brussels
Third step – The United Nations, New York.
Fourth part – Washington D.C.
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