Story by JFC Naples J9

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo - JFC Naples’ J9 Military Partnership Branch conducted an Exercise Planning Course Mobile Training Team (MTT) in Kinshasa at the Collège des Hautes Études de Stratégie et de Défense, April 29 to May 3.

Three officers from JFC Naples’ J-7 Training and Exercise Branch, assisted by two representatives from the NATO Military Liaison Office to the African Union (AU), trained 39 attendees.

The attendees included military officers (among them 9 generals and 16 colonels), police officers, and civilians from various members of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

Responding to a request by the AU to provide training to the planning element of the African Standby Force regional headquarters, this event was the first NATO course in the region and was considered by BGen SAVIHEMBA, ECCAS representative, as “Act One between ECCAS and NATO”.

The focus of this MTT was to explain the logical sequence that comprises NATO’s planning process for an exercise. Topics covered included concept and specification development, analysis and reporting and product development. Open discussions were conducted throughout the course.

"The seminar achieved its projected objectives,” said French Army Lieutenant Colonel Christophe Le Cerf who thanked the ECCAS for the confidence placed in NATO by sending such a high level audience to the course.

During the closing ceremony, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Deputy CHOD expressed his gratitude to JFC Naples for its committed assistance to ECCAS, AU, and all African countries.

The training provided will aid the AU with its forthcoming implementation of a common training and education directive to provide standardized exercise planning and execution solutions.

Capacity-building support is one of the pillars of the NATO support to the African Union, that includes delivering courses through NATO’s MTTs and inviting AU officers to attend courses at NATO training and education facilities.