Sweden’s First Flag Hoist at the C-IED Center of Excellence
Szöveg: LtCol Carlos Rodriguez Sacristan | 2017. március 4. 9:36The C-IED Center of Excellence commemorates the integration of the Swedish Armed Forces as full members of the COE by officially hoisting its national flag Two years after the signing of the Accession Note, Sweden’s integration process at the Counter Improvised Explosive Devices Center of Excellence (C-IED COE) has been completed.
One of the peculiarities of the Sweden’s integration is undoubtedly that it is not a NATO nation, unlike the other nine partners, which further enhances the character of this Center of Excellence and its “holistic approach": multinational, joint, interagency and academy. However it is not the only differentiating factor, while the other members of the center are the nations that have signed the integration, in the Swedish case it is their Armed Forces that have become “contributing nation".
The contribution of a new partner to the joint project is always a great news; The case of Sweden, with only one post in the multinational staff of the center, is of vital importance to the department that deals with Education and Training, since it is the official dedicated to integrate C-IED in exercises , NATO or national, with more experience and time of dedication of all those destined in the COE.
The great accomplishment of this collaboration of more than two years until the signing of adhesion, has been the implementation and recognition of C-IED aspects in the NATO’s planning processes.
The experience gained in exercises such as the Trident Jewel, Jaguar and Juncture series, the Northern Challenge and the Bison Counter, or the preparation of scenarios for the specialized COE C-IED courses will be the two challenges to be pursued by the next Swedish representative coming this autumn.
Photos: Ropero Pastor, Diego; Cabo primero (OR4)
