The first out of two this year’s Seminars devoted to Engineering, Force Protection and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical matters finished on 16th May 2008.
A three-day internal Joint Engineering, Force Protection and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (JEFNC) Seminar was organised by the MNC NE staff of the Engineering, Force Protection and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) Branch. Among the participants there were not only MNC NE personnel but also external guests from Germany, Lithuania and Poland, who would actually play the role of Engineering and NBC units Response Cells during the exercise Crystal Eagle 2008. In fact, this Seminar constitutes the next step forward in preparation of that exercise, which is the most important training endeavour for the Corps in 2008.
The overall aim of the Seminar was to reach common understanding of Land Component Command Engineering, Force Protection and NBC functional areas, as LtCol Radislav Jelinek, a chief of the Branch said. During the Seminar basic documents referring to the exercise Crystal Eagle were reviewed, such as Operational Plan or Standard Operating Procedures. On this basis it was possible to work on the exercise play and develop a list of events and incidents to be practised during the exercise. They may refer to for example building bridges or maintaining roads as in case of engineering or an incident of finding an old military training area with some potentially toxic material left in the ammunition storage. Therefore all necessary steps to analyze and secure the material shall be taken.
It is important to state that the Seminar was also a chance to exchange experiences from the mission in Afghanistan and implement them for the needs of the exercise play. Moreover, both the MNC NE personnel and external guests had opportunity to familiarize with the exercise structure and procedures.
This Seminar does not end the preparations of this Branch for the exercise Crystal Eagle. Before the exercise is launched in September, the Exercise Rehearsal Training will take place, during which the next seminar of that kind will be organised with the idea of getting acquainted with the exercise scenario and discussing all remaining issues.
