MILENG COE Information Exchange Seminar 2024 and Industry Day
The Military Engineering Centre of Excellence (MILENG COE) successfully hosted its annual Information Exchange Seminar (IES) from 3rd to 5th December 2024 in Ingolstadt, Germany. This event brought together NATO entities, national representatives, and civil organizations to address key challenges and share lessons learned from various operational contexts.
The focus of this year’s seminar was “MILENG Host Nation Support / National MILENG Support to (in) NATO.” This theme highlighted the critical importance of military engineering (MILENG) in supporting Alliance operations and closing capability gaps. Discussions centered around lessons learned from NATO exercises, operations, and training events, including enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in the Baltics, the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), and the NATO Response Force (NRF).
The seminar featured distinguished speakers from the military and civilian sectors who shared their expertise on MILENG operations and Host Nation Support, offering valuable insights to enhance NATO capabilities. On 4th December, the MILENG COE Industry Day showcased innovative industrial solutions aligned with NATO’s objectives, fostering collaboration between the military and industry. Additionally, syndicate workshops allowed participants to tackle specific challenges, culminating in a final presentation of their findings, highlighting practical solutions and recommendations.
Representing the NATO Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Centre of Excellence, CPT Simon Brigant and Mr. Vladimir Vostiar contributed valuable insights, presenting EOD perspectives on Host Nation Support (HNS). Their input underscored the importance of integrating EOD expertise into MILENG operations to enhance mission effectiveness.
The seminar concluded with a Festive Ending – a celebration on Saint Nicholas Day, where participants received small gifts as a token of appreciation for their active engagement and contributions.
The IES 2024 demonstrated the power of collaboration, fostering a platform for knowledge-sharing and innovation to enhance NATO’s military engineering capabilities. The IES 2024 exemplified the collaborative spirit of NATO, bringing together diverse perspectives to enhance military engineering capabilities and readiness. This seminar continues to serve as a platform for addressing operational challenges and shaping the future of NATO MILENG initiatives. The NATO EOD COE remains committed to supporting these efforts and stands ready for further collaboration to contribute its expertise and strengthen the Alliance’s collective capabilities.
TExt, Photo: Mr. Vladimír VOŠTIAR, (SVK-CIV)
