On the 26th, September 2023 Sergeant Majors of the Armies of the A-5 (US – Adriatic Charter) together with their colleagues from Slovenia and Kosovo as observers, and also the US national Guard’s Program for Partnership held the 26th A-5 Senior NCOs Conference reinforcing the 26th A-5 Chiefs of Defence Conference.
The conference was opened by Chief of Staff of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, and led by the Sergeant Major of the Army Goran Kjirkovikj, U.S. European Command Senior Enlisted leader, Sergeant Major Robert V. Abernethy and Command Senior Enlisted leader of NATO Allied Command Operations, CWO Kevin Mathers. This conference marked a significant turning point in our collective efforts to tackle current issues concerning information warfare and to increase our members’ awareness of information security.
Regarding the topic: ‘Escalated information warfare and increasing awareness’, the conference provided a broad framework which aims to intensify the initiatives for information warfare, and develop strategies for creating highly-qualified and technologically skilled NCO Corps. It was accepted, unanimously that in todays interconnected world, training of NCOs into experts for identification, mitigation and opposing various forms of information warfare is of crucial importance.
One of conference’s key goals was to increase awareness of information warfare, to encourage closer cooperation and strengthen interoperability among A-5 member states. This provides an unparalleled opportunity for individuals with different profiles and experiences to exchange knowledge and compare best practices for mutual cooperation in designing effective strategies.
By joining the Sergeant Majors of different nations and Armies this conference brought about a fruitful exchange of ideas and set the basis for future joint efforts. Collective dedication to intensify the initiatives for information warfare and raise the capabilities of our NCO Corp sets the basis for stronger and more resisting Army to all threats of modern warfare.
