NATO CIMIC Field and Staff Workers Course in Poland

On 15 June 2015 the NATO CIMIC Field Worker Course (NCFWC) and NATO CIMIC Staff Worker Course (NCSWC) started at the Military Training Centre for Foreign Operations (MTCFO) in Kielce, Poland. The courses were opened by the Deputy Commander of MTCFO.

The courses are organized by MTCFO in cooperation with the CCOE. Members of CCOE’s Training and Education Branch have been present in Kielce since the week before to finalize all preparations for the courses and to familiarize the external syndicate coaches to the program and curriculum.

The NATO accredited NCFWC and NCSWC are designed to train CIMIC Field and Staff Workers in parallel, enabling the 22 participants that came together in Poland to conduct CIMIC activities across the full spectrum of military engagement in a modern operational environment. During the first week of the course they will receive several lectures and will conduct case studies within their syndicates. In the weekend the participants can enjoy Polish hospitality while joining a cultural trip to the famous Polish salt mines. The second week of the course will focus on the practical application of CIMIC activities when the participants will be deployed to the fictive country TYTAN as a tactical CIMIC unit (Field Workers) or members of the G9/CIMIC branch of the Land Component Command (Staff Workers).

The 22 participants gathered in Kielce are coming from Poland, Ukraine, United States, Canada, Czech Republic, Lithuania, France and Spain. They are supported by syndicate coaches from Germany, United States, Czech Republic and Lithuania.

The Polish CIMIC unit that is hosting the courses is part of MTCFO and responsible for CIMIC training within the Polish Armed Forces. The NATO accredited NCFWC and NCSWC is part of this training preparing personnel to be deployed to NATO operations.

The courses will end on Friday 26 June 2015 providing the participants with knowledge and skills transferred by several lectures and a variety of practical assignments during a complete 2 weeks program.

Article is written by CCOE/ T&E Branch, Captain Stephanie Groothedde (NLD).