The Seventh Conference of the European Training Centres (CETC 25) began today at the Army House in Skopje, in the presence of the Minister of Defence, Vlado Misajlovski, the Army Chief of the General Staff, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, the US Ambassador, Angela Aggeler, and the Commander of the 7ATC, Brigadier General Steven Carpenter.
The event, which is organized by the 7th US Army Training Command (7ATC), and its co-organizer and host the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), the first subordinate command of the Army General Staff, brought together in one place the leaders of the European Training Centres, the chiefs of the training sections that plan joint and multinational trainings, as well as representatives of the organizations that need different types of training.
At the opening of the Conference, the Commander of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa, who is also the Commander of NATO LANDCOM, General Christopher Donahue, addressed the Conference via video link, expressing his gratitude to the TRADOC and the 7ATC for organizing this Conference, after which he emphasized that we are aware of the uncertainty and the major threats in the geopolitical environment we find ourselves in, which means that we must be prepared. He also pointed out that this Conference represents a rare opportunity, and that participants should use it to ensure a multinational training environment, which we all appreciate and support.
The Army Chief of the General Staff stated in his address that this Conference serves as a platform for cooperation and dialogue between the European Training Centers, and we are here with a common commitment whose main goal is to strengthen interoperability, training and readiness.
The Commander of the 7ATC, General Carpenter, said that with the participation of 95 representatives from 24 different nations, this is one of the largest events of this kind so far, emphasizing that at such conferences it is particularly important to build partnerships, as well as to invest in personnel in the direction of preparing appropriate training centers and training.
The TRADOC Commander, Colonel Vasko Kokolanski, expressed his gratitude for the trust given to co-organize this important Conference, which is actually the third such conference organized outside of the Federal Republic of Germany. He stated that this is clear evidence of the firm commitment to building trust and interoperability between allies and partners.
This year’s Conference, entitled “Unified Strategic Training and Development”, provides a platform for dialogue and exchange of experiences and practices between European training centres in support of interoperability, training and combat readiness in four separate areas: development and modernization of training centres, smart training and defence, simulations and interoperability, and new technology and development.
At the Conference, special emphasis was placed on achieving the following tasks: improving interoperability, increasing combat readiness and capability, promoting innovation and modernization, strengthening cooperation, supporting the development of doctrines, supporting the development of training centres, and cooperation activities in the area of security.
This two-day Conference, which we are hosting for the first time and which coincides with the fifth anniversary of our accession to the NATO Alliance, is a recognition of our Army and its commitment to strengthening common goals with the Alliance within the framework of building trust and improving training.
