A member of directing staff at the Joint Services Command and Staff College has returned from supporting an Italian Navy Staff College course in Venice.
Lieutenant Commander Chris Lang from the Royal Naval Division (RND) spent two weeks advising on the operation planning course exercise, part of the college’s Junior Staff Officers Course.
The NATO aligned, 18 week-long course is delivered twice a year, and is broadly equivalent to the UK’s single-Service Intermediate Command and Staff Courses. It covers:
• strategy (global and maritime)
• management styles
• effective communication
• law, and doctrine
It also includes:
• academic research
• proficiency exams
• English language practice and development
• a two-week capstone operation planning exercise (conducted in English)
Lt Cdr Lang’s role on the final exercise was to enhance maritime awareness, while developing NATO collaboration and co-operation, and to exchange ideas on how to better plan for future operations.
Focusing on the introduction of actor analysis and an information ‘campaign’, and by using a fictional scenario, students were challenged to adhere to tight deadlines in their planning and analysis, while using a multi-domain operation mindset.
Opportunities for wargaming and ‘red teaming’; (the independent application of a range of structured, creative and critical thinking techniques to assist the end user make a better-informed decision or produce a more robust product), during the planning process were further maximized during the fortnight’s activity.
Of particular significance to the exercise was the presence of a visiting Lieutenant Colonel (Tenente Colonnello (OF-4)) from the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Italy, who was able to bring current-operations perspective to the planning process as well and further generate the exchange of ideas.
The Junior Staff Officers’ Course prepares Italian Navy Officers in the ranks of Lieutenant (Tenenti di Vascello (OF-2)) and Lieutenant Commander (Capitani di Corvetta (OF-3)) from all specialties including the Marines and Coastguard, to command a small operational vessel.
Reflecting on his experience, Lt Cdr Lang said:
“In entering the fifth year of collaboration next year, it is hoped by both parties that this engagement will continue to flourish into a productive relationship between two key NATO allies.”