Yesterday the 12th annual NATO Lessons Learned Conference was opened by DSACT, GEN Mirco Zuliani. The conference will be held from 10 to 12 November 2015 and is hosted by the JALLC. The theme of this year’s theme is: Closing the loop: The lessons learned capability in support of NATO transformation.
Presenters and guests from NATO and non-NATO nations as well as from various organizations participated in the first day of the conference. Attendees were welcomed by the JALLC's Commander, BG Mircea Mîndrescu, followed by DSACT who informed the audience of ACT’s two most important investments: sustaining and exploiting a NATO-wide Lessons Learned capability, and providing a coherent and integrated training system.
The first panel covered the topic: lessons from past and ongoing operations as a driver for NATO transformation, taking the strategic perspective into consideration and was opened by LTG Michel Yakovleff who noted in his presentation that lessons from exercises are valuable contributions to NATO's transformation and that exercises should be deliberately used by NATO to transform. BG Mîndrescu spoke eloquently on the recently completed JALLC project: Strategic Lessons from ISAF which sought to identify military strategic level areas where lessons from ISAF can contribute to future NATO-led operations. The JALLC’s Principal Operational Research Analyst followed with an overview of another recently completed JALLC project which looked at how ISAF effectively reduced civilian casualties during the course of the mission in Afghanistan. Find here the factsheet on this project.
The second panel explored Lessons from past and ongoing operations, this time looking specifically at air operations, led by NATO or International Coalitions. MG Peter Gersten led the discussion and provided a real-world and timely presentation that looked at Lessons from Operation Inherent Resolve and how they might be integrated by NATO. BG Mehmet Yalinalp concluded the panel with a discussion on lessons from previous air operations and current planning considerations. In particular, key Lessons Identified from Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR were presented.
The third and final panel of the day looked at how Lessons from Exercises are essential to NATO transformation from the Training Audience's Perspective. This panel was led by LTG Riccardo Marchio who spoke on key Lessons from recent Exercises and the NFS Joint Command and Control standby period, highlighting the learning path to develop the Joint Role and the Capabilities. BG Mehmet Yalinalp spoke for the second time that day and followed with key lessons from recent exercises and the build-up to exercise TRIDENT JET 16 from the Bi-SC Dir 075-003 perspective. The presentation focused on the exercise, and presented an early perspective on exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 15 LIVEX, as well as Bi-SC Directive 075-003. CDR Gary Green concluded with a review of key lessons from exercise BALTOPS 15 as part of the wider Allied Shield, its challenges, successes, and the key lessons. He noted that the history of NATO is transformation and highlighted that interoperability issues although prevalent, are nothing new to NATO and, as such, will remain an enduring challenge.
In addition to the panel discussions, updates were provided by NATO Allied Command Transformation and relevant Centres of Excellence (COE). LTC Harribert Rahmel updated the audience on the Force Development Board and Allied Joint Doctrine Campaign Plan (AJDCP). The JALLC's Head of Plans & Programming, COL Santiago San Antonio, presented the JALLC's projects from 2014-2015. LTC Tiberiu Szmuck updated the conference on the NATO EXTRA COI Portal, its way ahead and future use. From the Centres of Excellence, MAJ Philippe Belda of the C-IED COE provided an interesting update on the C-IED Community of Interest Content Manager. CDR Yusuf Uğur Kocabaş of the Defence Against terrorism COE, briefed the audience on NATO's counter terrorism experience in Afghanistan and how value can be obtained from what he called hidden lessons. Finally, the Military Police COE was represented by LTC Rafal Szczypinski, who presented the NATO Military Police Lessons Learned Capability Team as the platform to support NATO Military Police to prepare and conduct present and future operations.
The first day of the NATO Lessons Learned Conference included many poignant and interesting presentations and lively panel discussions were had by all. It concluded with a social gathering at the Monsanto Officer’s Mess during which participants noted that they were looking forward to the next day’s panels and presentations.
photos by Ana Viotti