Wednesday 7 August saw the start of a new academic year for students at the Baltic Defence College.

This year sees the start of the fourth Joint Command and Staff Course (50 participants from the Baltic States as well as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) the second Colonels Course (8 participants from the Baltic States and Hungary) and the second Civil Servants Course (15 participants from the three Baltic States including Kadi Salu from the College support staff). The 6 BiH students are sponsored by Switzerland, the Georgian student by Lithuania.



The college also welcomes some new staff members. Colonel Seppo Soikkeli, from Finland, takes over as Head of the Land Operations and Leadership Department. LtCol Bernhard Klotz from Germany is taking over from his countryman LtCol Michael Schuchert and Maj Joakim Westberg is taking over from his countryman Maj Lars Rosander who has returned to Sweden. We also welcome our first Dutch staff member LtCol Frank van der Meijden, whose presence will underline the NATO focus of the new Civil Servants Course.

This year also some previous graduates of the college are returning as staff members. Navy Captain Dan Trifanescu from Romania is joining the staff as are Major Peeter Läns and Major Riho Röngelepp from Estonia and Captain Viesturs Bubucis from Latvia.