Allied Command Transformation's (ACT) Joint Force Trainer, German Air Force Lieutenant General Karlheinz Viereck, met with Commanders from the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) and Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC) recently to discuss a new directive that assigns collective exercise and training (E&T) responsibility to ACT.

The directive, referred to as the Bi-Strategic Command (Bi-SC) Directive for the Handover of Collective Training and Exercise responsibility, describes the agreement between SACEUR's headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SHAPE) and HQ SACT in the transition period from July to December 2012.

"It will give SACT the opportunity to plan Education and Training holistically, using all available means; be it e-Learning, residential courses, key leader training or exercises, in order to cover SACEUR's requirements," said Lieutenant General Viereck.

This new and holistic approach will take into account the relationship between the NATO Force Structure and a reduced NATO Command Structure and the incorporation of political guidance, SACEUR's requirements and lessons learned.

"The post 2014 Afghanistan environment, the new NATO Command Structure and the Secretary General's Connected Forces Initiative, will require a new way to plan exercises in the future," said Viereck.

Photo: From left to right, Chief of Staff Joint Warfare Centre (JWC),
U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Steven J. DePalmer;
Commander JWC, French Army Major General Jean Fred Berger;
ACT Assistant Chief of Staff Joint Force Trainer, German Air Force Lieutenant General Karlheinz Viereck;
Commander Joint Force Training Centre, Slovakian Army Major General Pavel Macko;
Commander Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre, Brigadier General Peter Sonneby.