Even though it was not the first contact with NATO structures for many students visiting Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast (HQ MNC NE) on 25th and 26th March 2009, they learnt a lot of new facts about both NATO and MNC NE, and could get a feeling of what it is like to serve in a multinational unit.
The visit of more than 130 Polish students from the Institute of Political Science and European Studies of Szczecin University on 25th March was a result of cooperation between MNC NE and Szczecin University. It seems a useful way to bring closer the ideas related to NATO, MNC NE and the military as such. After all, “We do speak about NATO and MNC NE during our classes”, as one of the lecturers Dr Luiza Wojnicz said. She also added that once a year a trip to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Brussels is organised for students of Political Science and European Studies, therefore, many of them have some knowledge about NATO. Nevertheless, the visit to HQ MNC NE was also an excellent idea. As Dr Luiza Wojnicz said, they were pleased with the organisation of the visit and the fact that they could even choose the language in which the presentation on MNC NE was delivered to them.
The world of MNC NE was presented by Major Marcin Walczak from the Public Affairs Office who talked about all interesting and important issues related to the Corps’ tasks, history, structure and mission in Afghanistan. As one of the third-year students of the European Studies said, it was an interesting and professionally conducted presentation. Another one underlined the fact that materials and knowledge gathered during this visit would facilitate her understanding of the European security and NATO-related issues, which in fact cover the subject of her Bachelor’s dissertation.
The younger also want to know
HQ MNC NE has its door open for the younger visitors, too. On 26th March, a group of about 30 students from the High Schools Complex No 3 in Szczecin entered Baltic Barracks to listen about MNC NE. The programme they followed also included a briefing on MNC NE. Additionally, the students took part in a specially prepared presentation by the Headquarters Company run by Warrant Officer Witek. Three soldiers presented full uniforms and equipment of a soldier on patrol, keeping watch and directing the traffic, including weapons, weapon handling skills and armoured vests.
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