Young Reserve Officers Workshop: Modern Diplomacy in a Medieval Setting

Magazine Article / January 27, 2020 / Project number: RCAF-Excelsior-Winter-2020-04

The annual Young Reserve Officers Workshop (YROW), a professional development program held concurrently with the annual Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) Summer Congress, was held in Tallinn, Estonia from 4-9 August, 2019. The week-long workshop is designed to be a junior reserve officer’s first exposure to a multi-national environment and to colleagues from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Partnership for Peace nations. It is a professional development opportunity for approximately 60 junior reserve officers from various NATO countries. The officers work together in an international setting learning about current defense issues of relevance to NATO and the reserve forces.

Following an application and review process, seven reserve officers from Canada were chosen to attend the event. I was fortunate enough to be selected to represent the RCAF, and was joined by four officers from the Canadian Army, and two from the Royal Canadian Navy.

We were given an introduction to NATO, CIOR, and had guest speakers from related international organizations. We received training on the Law of Armed Conflict and were able to participate in collaborative work/role play with the officers from other countries. We also had time to explore the local area and learn about the culture and history of Estonia. We spent our evenings in Tallinn Old Town, a well-preserved medieval city with winding cobblestone streets and amazing architecture. Unlike many other capital cities in Europe, Tallinn has managed to wholly preserve its structure of medieval and Hanseatic origin and many buildings date back to the Middle Ages. We dined at unique restaurants that cook their dishes according to historical recipes, and made lifelong memories and friendships.

The YROW was an enriching experience where I was able to establish professional relationships that will last throughout my career. It provided me a strong foundation on which to build knowledge, professionalism, and confidence moving forward with my career and future NATO experiences.

I believe that these workshops are important for joint and combined interoperability and to strengthen ties among Alliance countries, and that this experience has better prepared me for positions of higher responsibility within the Canadian Armed Forces. I learned the importance of compromise and diplomacy and gained an understanding of the spectrum of global geopolitical tensions, interactions, national perceptions and relationships. Being able to debate in a structured environment has helped me better understand and appreciate the diversity of our colleagues’ civilian and military processes, traditions and values.

The YROW is an extremely valuable experience, and I am grateful to have been able to participate. I hope to see many more junior officers receive these opportunities in the future.

The 2019 Young Reserve Officers Workshop was held from 4-9 August in Tallinn, Estonia. Approximately 60 junior reserve officers from various NATO countries participated.

Reserve officers participating in the Young Reserve Officers Workshop in Estonia, held 4-9 August, 2019, were able to experience the city of Tallinn, a well-preserved medieval city with winding cobblestone streets and amazing architecture. Tallinn’s Old Town with its structure of medieval and Hanseatic origin is juxtaposed against a backdrop of modern architecture.