Lieutenant General Zdzisław Goral, Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE), represented the Corps during the Bilateral Land Component Command Corps Commanders’ Conference, which took place from 28th to 30th October 2008 in Milan, Italy.
Among the participants of the conference there were Lieutenant General Cayetano Miró Valls, Commander of the Allied Land Component Command – Madrid, Lieutenant General Kathal, Commander of the Allied Land Component Command – Heidelberg, commanders of different NATO commands including Lieutenant General Zdzisław Goral, Commander of the MNC NE, representatives of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Allied Command Transformation and Joint Forces Command Brunssum as well as adjutants, spouses and others.
The main aim of the conference was to familiarize the Commanders with the most current trends and developments within NATO and to exchange information on issues particular commands are working on. Therefore, the conference included both briefing parts and discussions.
The implementation of a new element of the NATO structure, namely the Deployable Joint Staff Elements, was discussed. The Allied Land Component Command – Heidelberg is the first command that will be ready to send their staff to those formations in 2009.
Other topics referred to combating terrorism or countering Improvised Explosive Devices, the issues NATO is currently dealing with. The ISAF mission in Afghanistan drew a lot of attention of the conference participants. NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy presented their process of preparations for the mission in Afghanistan starting in 2009. The Chief of Staff of the Joint Forces Command Brunssum (JFC Brunssum) Lieutenant General Jean-Pierre Bovy presented the most updated situation in Afghanistan. He focused on the role of insurgents and Improvised Explosive Devices as their main weapon as well as the importance of the cooperation between NATO and other civilian organisations operating in Afghanistan. He also addressed all Corps Commanders to make sure links between respective functional areas at a Corps and JFC Brunssum levels are established. Direct contact between for example officers dealing with logistics or planning would enhance their mission preparation process.
Apart from briefings, discussions and exchange of views, there was a social programme organised for the participants of the conference, which included among other things a sightseeing tour in Milan.
The next Corps Commanders’ Conference is going to take place in the spring 2009.
