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Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction 13/04 – North Atlantic Treaty Organization Defence College Policy and Coordination of Canadian Activities

Table of Contents

  1. Identification
  2. Overview
  3. Objectives
  4. NDHQ Staff Responsibilities
  5. Command and Other Responsibilities
  6. Canadian NATO Defence College Association
  7. Conclusion
  8. References
  9. Annex

   

Chef of Military Personnel Crest

1. Identification

Date of Issue: 2004-05-25

Date of Modification: 2024-12-01

Application: This instruction applies to all Canadian participants to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence College.

Supersession: ADM(HR Mil) Instruction 01/01

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP)

Enquiries: Administrative Response Centre (ARC)

2. Overview

General

2.1 The North Atlantic Council has directed the College to overhaul its curriculum with a broader focus on security. The College’s courses have relevance for military officers and civilians working a variety of security related fields, including defence, justice and police. The mission of the NATO Defence College (NADEFCOL) is to contribute to the effectiveness and cohesion of the Alliance by developing its role as a major centre of education, study and research on transatlantic security issues and to:

  1. prepare selected officers and officials for important NATO and NATO related international appointments;
  2. conduct academic studies and research in support of the Alliance’s wider goals;
  3. support an active outreach programme with other educational institutions.; and
  4. promote dialogue between NATO members, Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries and NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue countries.

Level

2.2 NADEFCOL, which is situated in Rome, Italy, conducts two serials of the "Senior Officers Course" annually and two short courses of five to seven days. The short courses are designed to support students who may not be able to attend the longer Senior Course. The course members are military officers, diplomats, or public servants. They are normally in the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel to Brigadier-General, or equivalent, and should be destined for NATO and multinational staffs or NATO-related duties. Majors are selected by the Director General Military Careers (DGMC) by exception only, if their work is significantly related to NATO issues. MC 123/6 (Final) allocates up to three vacancies to Canada on each course. Military officers normally fill two of these vacancies and a member of the Department of Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) normally fills the third. There are also General/Flag Officers’ Courses and a one-week Reserve Officers’ Course run by the College to which Canada provides candidates.

Faculty

2.3 Canada will continue to provide Faculty Advisors and other academic staff, and has filled posts such as Commandant and Deputy Commandant. Faculty candidates must be graduates of the NADEFCOL and should be in the rank of Colonel (or equivalent). They should meet as many of the following criteria as possible:

  1. have broad experience encompassing operations;
  2. be graduates of a senior defence college or equivalent level diplomatic institute;
  3. have prior service on a large international staff, as a Counsellor in an Embassy, or as a Defence Attaché;
  4. have prior service in a senior level policy planning position;
  5. have academic teaching experience; and
  6. hold a post-graduate degree, preferably in a NADEDEFCOL curriculum related discipline.

Value

2.4 The principal value of the NADEFCOL to Canada is that it provides military officers and civilians with a sophisticated education in the inter-relationships of NATO nations and of NATO issues. The staff and candidates selected for employment and education at the NADEFCOL must display a high level of capability and potential to realize the personal benefits of the education, and be of subsequent value to Canada by providing service in NATO or related posts.

Aim

2.5 The aim of this Instruction is to set out the Canadian policy and objectives relating to the NADEFCOL, and to identify those agencies responsible for the coordination and execution of the activities in supporting these objectives.

3. Objectives

3.1 Implicit in the mission of the NADEFCOL is the requirement to foster mutual understanding and respect, and to enhance the ability of individual officers and officials from NATO and PfP countries to work together productively to achieve common goals. In view of the above, it is paramount that the Canadian policy principles be acknowledged in conducting the affairs related to NADEFCOL personnel selection and activities. The Canadian policy principles are as follows:

  1. to utilize the NADEFCOL as a forum to provide other members of the Alliance and members of PfP countries with a knowledge and understanding of Canadian security and defence issues;
  2. to utilize the vehicle of the NADEFCOL as a senior officer educational institution in the preparation of Canadian officers for employment in the Alliance and nationally; and
  3. to plan and execute high quality NADEFCOL instructional tours of Canada, to clearly demonstrate Canada's foreign and defence policies, military capabilities and Alliance contribution, scientific and industrial achievement, and socio-cultural character.

4. NDHQ Staff Responsibilities

General

4.1 Staff throughout NDHQ have responsibilities for various aspects of the NADEFCOL that affect NDHQ and Canada. In all cases, the national agency for liaison, staffing and overall coordination of NADEFCOL activity is D NATO Pol.

Chief of the Defence Staff

4.2 The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) appoints the President and the Secretary of the Canadian NATO Defence College Association (CNDCA) from NADEFCOL graduates assigned to NDHQ. He also appoints national and regional Vice-Presidents from serving and/or retired NADEFCOL graduates.

Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff

4.3 On behalf of Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (DCDS), Chief of Staff J3 (COS J3) issues CAF taskings in support of the NADEFCOL instructional tours to Canada (visits to bases, ships, and units).

Director Protocol and Foreign Liaison

4.4 Director Protocol and Foreign Liaison (DPFL) is responsible to coordinate the visits of NADEFCOL in accordance with all relevant instructions and the visit program developed by D NATO Pol. DPFL support will include provision of an escort officer.

Chief of Military Personnel

4.5 The NADEFCOL "Senior Officers Course" is complementary to the Canadian Forces Officer Professional Development System. The Chief of Military Personnel (CMP) is responsible for: 

  1. through Director General Military Careers (DGMC), identification of suitable military members as staff and course members and their subsequent career employment; and
  2. serving as OPI for this Instruction.

Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources – Civilian)

4.6 The ADM(HR-Civ) Group is responsible for the identification of DND civilian course members.

Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy)

4.7 Director General International Security Policy (DGIS Pol) (D NATO Pol) is the NDHQ central policy authority and, as such, is the sponsor of NADEFCOL visits to Canada and is responsible for the planning of College instructional tours in Canada, including:

  1. the coordination of the briefing sessions in Ottawa when the College is conducting an instructional tour of Canada;
  2. being the departmental point of contact with the FAC regarding FAC participation in NADEFCOL activities. Such participation includes nomination of appropriate lecturers to the College either in Rome or while the College is visiting Canada, and nomination of course members. In Ottawa, discussions with parliamentarians is a desirable and important objective of the tour;
  3. advising, as requested by the Director of Senior Appointments (DSA) and/or Director General Learning and Professional Development (DGLPD), for nominations for faculty of the college; and
  4. canvassing NDHQ directorates, CF colleges, and other government departments for guest lecturers for each course.

5. Command and Other Responsibilities

College Instructional Tours

5.1 The College visits Canada twice annually. Early in the tour planning, the views of the College Tour Coordinator and the Canadian Military Faculty Advisor should be sought and considered in the preparation of the program. Commands are to ensure that a NADEFCOL tour is properly received at one of their bases or installations, and that presentations, demonstrations and overall reception are of the highest possible standard recognizing the status of the NADEFCOL. (NADEFCOL courses are cleared to the NATO SECRET level; briefings should be tailored accordingly). College visits are not a heavy burden to Canada. From time to time, however, Canada may be asked to provide airlift for part of the tour. Commands and Base Commanders should be aware of the Canadian NATO Defence College Association and the willingness of its members to advise on, assist with and participate in the hosting of local visits. Tours of Canada must be organized to provide the following:

  1. an itinerary that demonstrates and emphasizes Canada's geostrategic situation and therefore its unique national security requirements;
  2. national presentations, normally in Ottawa, which focus on foreign and defence policy, the economic situation, and the CAF;
  3. a visit to one or more operational bases or installations that includes a Command briefing and an opportunity to see CAF personnel in operation (e.g., dynamic displays, training exercises, firepower or flying demonstrations, visit to a ship, etc); and/or
  4. a visit to a high technology defence oriented industry.

Canadian Forces Support Unit (Europe)

5.2 Canadians at NADEFCOL in faculty positions or as course members are provided administrative support by Canadian Forces Support Unit (Europe) (CFSU(E)).

Canadian Representative to the Military Committee NATO and National Military Representatives Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

5.3 NADEFCOL issues involving Canada are of primary interest to NATO and National Military Representatives (NMR) Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Brussels. Agencies dealing with NATO Defence College programs and events must ensure that Canadian Representative to the Military Committee (CANMILREP) NATO and NMR SHAPE are informed on Canadian views and staff activities. In this way, an agreed and informed Canadian position dealing with NADEFCOL issues is more apt to be presented within the appropriate NATO forum. 

6. Canadian NATO Defence College Association

Objectives

6.1 The Canadian NATO Defence College Association (CNDCA) is an active CDS sponsored association of Canadian graduates, faculty and honorary members of the NADEFCOL. The CNDCA belongs to the NATO Defence College Association. The objectives of the CNDCA are:

  1. to raise public awareness about the Alliance and its continuing relevance to Canadian security;
  2. to preserve and develop the international and national associations and friendships whilst serving with the NADEFCOL;
  3. to enable the members to study and to be informed about the Alliance and about the activities of the NADEFCOL;
  4. to provide an influential and informed body of opinion to support the Alliance;
  5. to maintain the official register of all the Canadian members of the Association and to issue an annual directory of Ancients and members of the Association; and
  6. to publish periodically a CNDCA Newsletter for distribution to Association members.

President

6.2 The President of the CNDCA is appointed by the CDS and is the focal point of Canadian NADEFCOL related activities. As such, they are responsible for requesting and managing resources through the Business Planning process. They are responsible to the CDS on College matters, and is normally a general officer who can be from any staff appointment in NDHQ. The President of the CNDCA:

  1. may pass directly any feedback he receives on any subject to the agency concerned for their consideration at any time;
  2. acts as an advisor, as requested by DSA and/or DGCHRSD, for nominations of academic staff of the college;
  3. attends the Annual Seminar and Conference of Anciens at the College as the CDS representative; and
  4. provides an O&M and TD budget of up to 10K annually for related activities.

Secretary

6.3 The Secretary is normally a Lieutenant-Colonel. The Secretary maintains a directory of Canadian Anciens and, under the direction of the President, coordinates all activities of the CNDCA. The Secretary also maintains a copy of the Constitution of the parent association. The Secretary attends the Annual Seminar and Conference of Anciens at the College as the CNDCA representative.

7. Conclusion

7.1 Support to NADEFCOL through the careful selection of suitable course members, provision of qualified faculty, academic staff, and lecturers, and the conduct of challenging College instructional tours of Canada, will provide benefits to Canada out of all proportion to the costs. Benefits will be evident, both in the near and long term, in: increased national visibility of the College and NATO generally; by the establishment of a pool of officers, civilian and military, with a good grasp of the organization, processes, and policy strengths and weaknesses of the Alliance; and by the access, through knowledgeable in-place Canadian officers, to NATO policymaking bodies.

8. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Associated DAOD

Related References

9. Annex

  1. Annex A – NATO Defence College - NDHQ Matrix of Responsibilities

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