Page 52 - The Cormorant Issue 14

CJEX – Madrid 2011
Maj Kate Gibbs AGC(ETS)
Would you like to stay in Shriven- ham to undertake the Combined Joint European Exercise (CJEX) or go to one of four other European cities? Surely one of the easiest decisions on the course – Madrid please!
On 3rd May 2011, eighteen stu-
dents from ACSC 14 accompanied
by two Directing Staff, Lt Col Oz
Pearce and Lt Col Dave McIver set
off for Madrid, with the anticipation
of a great ten days based on reports
of previous attendees. The Spanish
Centre for National Defence Studies
(CESEDEN) is the main joint military
education centre and is responsible
for providing higher military stud-
ies courses, including the Escuela
Superior de las Fuerzas Armadas
(ESFAS), the Spanish equivalent of
the Joint Service Command and Staff College. The impressive classical building is located in the centre of Madrid and was for- merly a hospital for the blind. For the duration of the exercise, we were accommodated in the Residencia Militar ALCAZAR, a short walk through the city from CESEDEN. The Spanish Staff College course is much smaller than the UK version, with some 150 students attending each year from all three services, as well as the Guardia Civil. It also attracts a significant number of inter- national students, predominantly, but not surprisingly, from many Central and South American countries.
From the moment that we arrived at the College, we, and the other visiting students from Paris, Italy and Hamburg, were made to feel extremely welcome. The first day comprised of a series of orientation lectures and an overview of Stabilisation operations and the Comprehensive Approach as they pertain to NATO. The style of delivery was very different to that experienced in the Cor- morant Hall and so began our immersion into the cultural differ- ences of working in an organisation that is not UK-led.
The course and the visitors were divided into eight syndicates representing a staff headquarters, with each student given a role. Over the following days, each headquarters studied the common CJEX scenario which was based on the fictional African region of ALTEA and undertook the planning process using the NATO Guidelines for Operational Planning (GOP). At each stage of the planning a Power-Point presentation was delivered to the directing staff; this involved developing the templates that had been pro- vided by our Spanish colleagues. The exercise was conducted in English, so throughout, despite being the least familiar with the NATO GOP, the UK students had a distinct advantage. This language benefit meant that the natural tendency of some of the other students was to allow the British to run the show; however, the most meaningful educational opportunities were afforded in those areas where real planning discussion took place.
In order to emphasise the importance of the Comprehensive Approach a series of briefs were given by representatives from both Other Government Departments (OGDs) and Non-Govern- mental Organisations (NGOs). These included lectures from the Spanish Overseas Development Agency, the International Com- mittee of the Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières. These
representatives also provided input and advice during the head- quarters planning. This part of the exercise gave a very realistic insight into the pressures and frictions that would be encoun- tered when trying to balance the national interests of NATO members, OGDs and NGOs.
On the final day two of the syndicates were chosen to present their campaign planning process and chosen courses of action to the rest of the course, including the two star general. This included the headquarters with Sqn Ldr Martin Perrin as its Commander; unfortunately, his dry Yorkshire sense of humour was somewhat lost in translation on some of the audience! Overall, the exercise was a success and the debrief points at the end indicated that the realism of working in a multi-national, culturally-diverse head- quarters had been realised. The end of course dinner provided a further opportunity to develop friendships with our syndicate col- leagues and to learn more about their various countries.
On a lighter note, Madrid provided a range of superb cultural experiences. A trip to the Prado museum and art gallery was organised on the Saturday morning by our hosts. However, monsoon-style rains that morning meant that the rest of Madrid had also decided to go as well, so the place was heaving with wet bodies struggling to get sight of the superb collection of Valazquezs and Goyas. Madrid is renowned for its huge num- bers of fabulous restaurants and bars and the students certainly accounted for testing a significant number over the ten days. However, Sqn Ldr Dave ‘Kano’ Kane and his henchmen were most often found in the tapas bar round the corner – apparently something to do with great ham and wine and nothing at all to do with the beautiful waitresses. Lt Col Oz Pearce, one of our directing staff, was in the process of completing a sommelier course and took great pride and care in finding us some great wines in every restaurant, usually one for each course! One evening, we were all invited to the lovely suburban home of the Defence Attache, Capt Fred Price RN for a drinks reception; all of us left thinking that the job was definitely one for future Posting Preference Proformas.
Overall, this was a fantastic trip and an experience that will remain as one of the highlights of the course.
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