On 17th August, the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) had the honour to welcome Major General Andrzej Reudowicz (POL A), the Commander of the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) in his first official visit to the College.

MG Reudowicz was accompanied by CDRE Hans Helseth (NOR N), Special Advisor to Commander JWC and CDR Zbigniew Zachariasz (POL N), Military Assistant to JWC Commander. The main purpose of the visit was signing the “Letter of Intent on Cooperation” between NATO SACT as represented by NATO JWC and BALTDEFCOL, which was the continuation to a Commandant’s visit to JWC in April and in SACT in May. It opening possible options for cooperation between the institutions, especially in the area of conducting military exercises and exchanging expertise.

The delegation was welcomed by the College Commandant MG Andis Dilāns and the BALTDEFCOL delegation consisted of COL Jean Trudel (CAN A), Deputy Commandant and Chief of Staff, COL (ret.) Dr. Zdzislaw Sliwa, Dean, COL Miroslaw Smolarek (POL A), acting Director of Department of Military Studies and Polish Senior National Representative and SGM Peeter Einbaum (EST A), College Sergeant Major. The visit started with an office call.

After the building tour led by SGM Einbaum, MG Reudowicz received a briefing about the BALTDEFCOL mission, courses, research activities and cooperation between the College and other significant NATO organisations. Within the follow-on on the discussion, possible options of cooperation were under consideration.

After the presentation, the students of Joint Command and General Staff Course (JCGSC) had an excellent opportunity to listen to MG Reudowicz’s lecture “ODE´s (Officer Directing the Exercise) role in JWC supported exercises”. The General highlighted the importance of professional military education within the multinational environment to better understand “what we are fighting for” and the role of officers in advising political decision makers to make decisions based on real estimates. It was followed by the questions and answers session.

JWC delegation visit to Estonia will continue in Tallinn with a meeting with Deputy Commander of Estonian Defence Forces Brigadier General Indrek Sirel.