NATO Focus on NCO Training

“We cannot expect change unless we make a change ourselves. During my visits, I always endeavour to offer advice from an allied perspective, not least regarding future NCOs. Different times require different kinds of preparation and, above all, different approaches,” said CWO Remigijus Katinas, CSEL for NATO ACT.

“As commander, my primary objective is to ensure that the NCOs of the HDF are properly trained and educated,” emphasised Colonel Imre Frankó. In his presentation to the NATO ACT CSEL, the commander of the HDF NCO Academy discussed the unit’s organisational structure, its mission and the key role it plays in the HDF training system.

“We are held in particularly high regard within the Alliance; our five-level “Acélkocka” (Steel Cube) training system is highly innovative. We are working closely with the HDF Transformation Command to ensure that our functioning is based on real operational experience, in line with today’s challenges,” said Colonel Imre Frankó.

The commander of the HDF NCO Academy added that, in the long term, they aim to provide an increasing amount of training at an international level as well. Cooperation with partner nations – and the resulting interoperability –is strongly supported by NATO’s Allied Command Transformation. One example is the Academy’s drone operation training system, which is based on allied doctrines and the lessons learned at the NATO ACT.

“The key message of visits like this is that cooperation and the acceptance and application of NATO’s principles are moving in the right direction in our country. Alongside our NCO training, we also demonstrated the leadership guidelines we are formulating in accordance with NATO directives,” emphasised CSM Tamás Zsiros.

Through a series of presentations and static displays, CWO Remigijus Katinas gained a deeper insight into the Functioning of the NCO Training Centre, as well as into the equipment pool used in SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Extraction) training, drone operator training, and the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) activities, among other things. During his visit, he also learnt about the structure, mission and role of the HDF Cyber and Information Operations Centre.