Greetings From Course Directors
Dear CSELC graduates,
Currently, we already have 95 graduates from 22 nations. This is the CSELC alumni community. You have left your mark on the BALTDEFCOL, and hopefully, the College has left its mark on your perceptions and mindset. We will keep you updated and informed on CSELC and BALTDEFCOL matters. But let's communicate both ways. For a more effective interaction and relationship between the College and the CSELC community, I would like you to consider selecting a CSELC community representative or leader.
Organised and coordinated communication with one or two representatives would allow for more effective implementation of goals and objectives. One of these could be the CSELC reunion. The College can offer a venue, but the alumni community should unite and initiate content and demand.
To set the tone, let me share that by the end of 2024, CSELC will be a NATO ACT-certified course. This certification will show BALTDEFCOL's relevance and contribution to NATO, which also will mean international recognition and attractiveness of the BALTDEFCOL for students and staff alike.
CSELC content is an excellent opportunity to deliver important and latest developments in regional security, resulting in common understanding and letting many allies and multinational organizations be on the same page and have a deeper understanding of the cause of security dynamics. It is paramount that Command Senior Enlisted Leaders can advise on and enhance strategic-level leadership's decision-making process.
There is an unwritten rule that all alumni are ambassadors of the course and the educational facility from which they graduated. I am proud to have 95 excellent CSELC Ambassadors from 22 nations. I am confident that our reputable circle will grow and will go on to do great things.
Best regards,
CSELC Course Director
CSM Alvydas Tamošiūnas
Dear all BALTDEFCOL alumni,
With each new year, we also have a new class of students in the HCSC. Unsurprisingly, this year’s group consists of 24 very active students from 13 nations. Three MOD civil Servants (two female) bring different views and experiences as in the past. We also welcome students from Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine. Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine is, of course, a key topic of the course, but as in the last years, China tends to bubble up regardless of the subject. The class learnt a new expression today–“the Dragonbear”. We will have more opportunities to discuss this and many other subjects in the coming weeks. Only today, our German student remarked that he was impressed by the quality and experience of the lecturers we have invited. That promises both motivation and engagement well.
The HCSC follows the same general layout that some alumni may recognise. The course Director is still Eugeniusz Cieślak and most of the Module Coordinators are the same. Another thing that hasn’t changed is the presence of the Senior Mentor, Commodore (ret) Hans Helseth, for the seventh year in a row. There must be something about this course that attracts the lecturers–and the faculty–back year after year.
This does not mean there are no new developments – far from it. From this year on, we will focus more on military issues since this is our bread and butter – not to forget that we have a major war in Europe on our hands. But it does mean that important events like the Conference on Russia, the electives, the international and the Baltic study trips are all maintained and combined with the social activities important to networking – which builds a good alumni!
Best regards,
HCSC Senior Mentor
Commodore (ret) Hans Helseth
Dear JCGSC graduates,
The JCGSC 2023-2024 is now past the mid-way point, and what an exciting five months it has been. Over 70 students from 14 nations joined this year, making it the largest cohort yet. While the lectures and presentations have certainly lived up to the BALTEFCOL standard, the highlight of the course at this point is undoubtedly the two field trips, namely Saaremaa and the BDST. Both have provided a unique perspective on past battles and potential ones looming on the horizon. The students had the opportunity to discuss tactical, operational, and even strategic issues with key stakeholders in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
On the social front, this year’s cohort had the privilege of participating in the opening ceremony of #Tartu2024, the official kickoff of the city as the European Capital of Culture. Similarly, the course came together to celebrate key historic celebrations of Latvian and Lithuanian independence. Finally, although the course schedule remains very busy, the students took the time to conduct charity events and raise money for the Tartu Christian Adolescents' Home, organizing two outings with the children. As we begin the second half of the course, motivation and enthusiasm are still high, and we are looking forward to a challenging end of the course.
