Senior Leaders’ Course Concluded With the Joint Graduation Ceremony With the Command Senior Enlisted Leaders’ Course

The eighth Senior Leaders’ Course (SLC) ended today in Tallinn, Estonia. The overall theme for SLC 2023 was „NATO Enlargement and Security of the Baltic Sea Region”. The course aimed at developing a shared understanding of security concerns in the Baltic Sea Region. It provided insight into NATO’s current strategies and policies related to the security and defence of the Baltic Sea Region after NATO enlargement. At the same time, the course facilitated executive-level professional networking among Allied Generals / Flag Officers and their senior civilian equivalents.

The course gathered thirty-four military and civilian participants from twenty NATO countries and Sweden. This year, the Senior Leaders’ Course combined efforts of the Baltic Defence College with those of Finland and Sweden, which provided for high-level institutional speakers and increased participation in the course. During one week of educational activities, several topics were discussed, including the evolution of the security environment in the Baltic Sea Region and political and military perspectives on the security and defence of the Baltic Sea Region after NATO enlargement. Panel discussions and Q&A sessions focused on strategic aspects and regional security implications of NATO enlargement. SLC participants were exposed to institutional, academic and expert perspectives on NATO’s deterrence and defence posture in the Baltic Sea Region. The course also discussed responses to hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea Region. The course's final day was devoted to an in-depth discussion of the prospects for military cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region after NATO enlargement.

The course offered a unique opportunity to meet and discuss with distinguished speakers. Senior Leaders’ Course participants engaged, among others, with high-level governmental speakers from NATO, the Baltic States, Finland, and Sweden, as well as former and current commanders of Allied and national armed forces. The course also met with the Ambassadors of Finland and Sweden.

The final day of educational activities and the Senior Leaders’ Course graduation ceremony was combined with another prominent international course, the Command Senior Enlisted Leaders’ Course (CSELC), which came to Tallinn on its final international study trip. This year, the CSELC comprised twenty-four representatives from eighteen nations, including Ukraine. The graduation ceremony for both courses was hosted by General Martin Herem, Chief of Defence of the Republic of Estonia. Joint graduation has a symbolic meaning since CSEL's main role is to provide two-way communication from the Commander to troops, and that can be achieved only when the Senior Enlisted Leader and Commander have mutual understanding and common informational background.

Baltic Defence College family wishes good luck to all graduates of the Senior Leaders' Course 2023 and the Command Senior Enlisted Leaders' Course 2023 in their future endeavours! Stay in touch with each other and the College as you are members of the BALTDEFCOL Family!

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