Page 25 - Cormorant Issue 20 2017
P. 25
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Overall, the RSE1 visit to Brussels offered us a privileged insight into the NATO and EU perspectives on defence. It is only right to pay collective thanks to Cdr Andrew Canale for organising an exceptional visit, and having the foresight to build in contingency plans for almost every eventuality. Speci c highlights include a stand out performance as we encountered a road closure one morning, a problem overcome by leaving the bus, physically blocking a main road and marshalling the bus the wrong way along a one way street. Bring on RSE 2!.
The relatively
early nish presented an
ideal opportunity to explore Brussels... ◆◆◆
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about NATO Travel Orders, but it is only right to thank the respective ACSC Admin teams for their time in producing 71 of these extremely important documents.
Wednesday was dedicated to the EU, albeit
from the comfort of the Business Centre Europe Conference Centre. Unfortunately the number of speakers, perhaps understandably, was fewer than originally planned. However, to hear about the EU military operations from the Chairman of EU Military Committee and for the UK Political and Security Committee Ambassador to grant us 60 minutes
of his time in the current climate was extremely rewarding. The relatively early nish presented an ideal opportunity to explore Brussels, prepare the follow up SRA presentation or knock out 1300 words on the theory of constructivism. The nal day included a Battle eld tour of Waterloo. Having been divided into two groups, the rst half of the visit was set aside for re ection within the panorama and recently-refurbished museum and Cinemax experience. However, the 4D experience was no match for Dr Huw Davies’ vivid account of the
battle from three different perspectives, delivered
in atmospheric driving rain. Thankfully, as only the Royal Navy consider jeans to meet JSCSC smart casual criteria, most of us were able to dry off within a few minutes of boarding the bus for the return journey to the Eurostar terminal.
Post NATO wind-down
Is that a hedgehog?
