Bydgoszcz, Poland – Allied Joint Force Command Naples hosted seven officers from partner countries during an exercise, dubbed Trident Joust 2017, held at the Joint Force Training Centre in Bydgoszcz, Poland, Sept. 11 to 20.

The partner troops from Georgia, Jordan and Ukraine worked throughout the exercise in the NATO Response Force headquarters and component command headquarters structures with their NATO colleagues. Each of the visiting officers shadowed staff positions after conducting academics and rehearsal week at the Italy-based headquarters of JFC Naples.

Georgian Lieutenant Colonel Paata Nikolaishvili worked with the civil-military cooperation team (CIMIC) and welcomed the opportunity to participate in Trident Joust.

"Exercise Trident Joust was a great opportunity to enhance my knowledge about NATO CIMIC activities and NATO planning procedures during crisis situations,” said Nikolaishvili. "As an augmentee in the CIMIC branch, I was involved in different working groups, and my primary responsibilities were the assessment of CIMIC activities and making input towards situational awareness and understanding.”

During a separate two-day observation program, four troops from United Arab Emirates and the African Union received briefings on exercise preparation and the operational assessment cycle. According to organizers, they gained insight into the daily rhythm of JFC Naples, and they witnessed a number of the working groups and boards.

Event participants said the experience gained by partner troops through the participation and observation programs offered during NATO exercises helps build cooperation and understanding, and it contributes to interoperability with NATO’s partner nations.

Story by JFC Naples J9