Green light for new NATO training centres
Two agreements signed at NATO’s Headquarters in Brussels on 13 April pave the way for the establishment of new NATO training centres in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and Oostende, Belgium.
Two agreements signed at NATO’s Headquarters in Brussels on 13 Aprilpave the way for the establishment of new NATO training centres inBydgoszcz, Poland, and Oostende, Belgium.
The firstagreement, signed by NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation,Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, and Polish Deputy Defence Minister ofDefence Janusz Zemke, establishes the legal framework for a NATO JointForces Training Centre in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
The Centreis due to be fully operational on 30 June 2006 and will have a uniquerole in conducting joint and combined training at the tactical level.
Inparticular, it will aim to promote tactical interoperability betweenthe forces of NATO member countries in areas essential to modernmilitary operations, including the NATO Response Force.
Teaching advanced skills
Thesecond agreement establishes a formal relationship between NATO’sSupreme Allied Commander Transformation and the Belgium-NetherlandsNaval Mine Warfare School (EGUERMIN) in Oostende, Belgium.
TheSchool, staffed by about 50 multinational military and civilianpersonnel, will now assume the lead for NATO’s naval mine warfareeducation and training. Specifically, it will train individuals andship crews in naval mine warfare and advise NATO countries and commandson the subject.
The agreement was signed by Admiral Giambastiani,Belgian Army Lieutenant General Hendrik Jennart and Royal NetherlandsAir Force Lieutenant General Jo Goddery.