Education & Training (DH-MarOps)

As the training and education requirements become more diverse and increasingly complex, NATO has introduced a conceptual framework called Global Programming that aims at improving NATO education and training (E&T) efforts and includes a development methodology, a governance structure, and a production planning process.

At the core it is all about adequately processing the Training Requirements in order to ensure effective, efficient and affordable Solutions. Clearly, the best possible results can only be achieved by reducing any potential deficiencies in the field of Education, Training, Exercises & Evaluation (ETEE) and through optimal coordination.

In order to cover the entire ETEE spectrum, the development methodology contains a number of 27 different Disciplines. These range from the broad spectrum areas of Warfare Domains, e.g. land, air and maritime, to more specific areas like Counter Terrorism or Energy Security.

The governance structure is managed by the Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT) and comprises a Requirement Authority (RA) and a Department Head (DH) for each discipline. While the RA collects the operational E&T demands, evaluates them with respect to their validity, and converts them into training requirements, the DH will seek solutions on how and by whom the identified training needs can be met.

The DH may be a training institution but is not necessarily an E&T provider. The RA and DH must bear substantiated competence within their specific discipline.

The NATO Headquarters Allied Maritime Command was nominated as RA for the Maritime Operations Discipline in November 2013. In January 2015, COE CSW assumed the respective DH responsibility - initially on a trial basis until the formal approval by HQ Supreme Allied Command Transformation in January 2016.

As a DH, the COE CSW translates NATO’s training requirements for Maritime Operations into E&T solutions and coordinates all efforts to overcome identified gaps for individual and collective training.

An important instrument is the Annual Discipline Conference with the release of the subsequently produced Discipline Alignment Plan (DAP). Based on the results of last conferences and DAPs the DH supported the development of the new training course “Understand Maritime Aspects of Joint Operations” provided by the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (GRC) and the Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (TUR). Currently, the DH supports the development of a new training concept for NATO High Readiness Forces Headquarters in their role as a NATO Reaction Force Maritime Component Command Headquarter, and the transfer of the Maritime Operational Law Seminar into a regular course provided under the auspice of the NATO School Oberammergau.

For any E&T correspondence, please contact: dh.marops@coecsw.org.

Our Work | © Deutsche Marine