The Commander’s Conference took place from 22nd to 24th April 2008 at the Allied Land Component Command – Headquarters Heidelberg. Multinational Corps Northeast was represented by its Commander Lieutenant General Zdzisław Goral.
Bilateral corps commander’s conferences are organised twice a year by Allied Land Component Command – Headquarters Heidelberg or the Allied Land Component Command – Headquarters Madrid alternately. This time it was the Headquarters in Heidelberg with the Commander Lieutenant General Kather to hold the conference.
In the conference not only corps commanders with their adjutants and spouses were invited, but also representatives from other commands as well as members of the Headquarters in Madrid and Heidelberg.
The main idea of the conference was as usual to get in touch with the latest developments and challenges in NATO and in different commands as well as to present the actual operational situation. This time, the keynotes were results of the Peace Establishment Review, which are going to lead to the creation of the so-called Deployable Joint Staff Elements. They are operational level headquarters elements, designed to be in theatre as the deployed joint staff for an operational level command. With this issue the future role of corps and NATO Force Structure in general is related.
Among other topics raised there were also counter-terrorism or logistic protection of operations and many others.
Apart from lectures, discussions and exchange of views, opinions and motions, there was a social programme organised for the participants of the conference, which included among other things a reception at the City Major’s and a separate ladies programme.
For General Goral there were two notable results of the conference. First of all, it provided updated operational situation and presentation of current trends in NATO. The second benefit was the occasion to meet other corps commanders and members from other corps and commands. Afterwards, it makes the work easier and enhances mutual relations among NATO family.
