Pleasure – Opportunity
Text: defence.hu | Photo: Franciska Veres archive, OR-7 Dennis Sattler | 15:49 June 11, 2025It is the first time that a Hungarian NCO has become the Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) of the NATO Allied Command Operations (ACO). It was officially announced at the 21st International Command Senior Enlisted Leader Conference in Lisbon – held with the participation of 35 NATO member and partner states – that CSM Zoltán Kaszab, Command Sergeant Major of the Hungarian Defence Forces, will receive this position.
At the conference, the issues of further developing the essential interoperability among allied armed forces were discussed, as well as the changing notion of mission command at the level of NCOs and the challenges of NATO and its Indo-Pacific region.
Taking care of our federal relationships and thorough military training make it possible to serve in joint units. Leaders play an indispensable role in this, said General Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and commanding officer of NATO ACO.
Senior Warrant Officer Kevin Mathers said in his speech that NATO’s force lies in collective knowledge. The different operational units share their experiences with each other, which thus become shared knowledge and are complemented with the results of previous extensive research. This gives us a unique deterrence power.
“It is great to see the strive for perfection in the whole NCO personnel”, said the HDF CSM at the event, who submitted his tender for the vacant position with the support of General Dr. Gábor Böröndi, Chief of HDF Defence Staff.
You will soon be able to read our interview with CSM Zoltán Kaszab on our website.
