News

CIOR activities & events

DSACEUR speaks warmly about Reserves, CIOR

Roy Thorvaldsen, Lieutenant Colonel (R) Norwegian Army/ CIOR Public Affairs 16.08.2019

I like the Reserves. My Father was a Reservist in the UK Territorial Army for 21 years. I also like Reservists because Reservists win wars. Small Regular Armies need reinforcements and regeneration.

With these words, NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), General Sir James Everard (KCB; CBE, UK Army) opened the CIOR Summer Congress Symposium, which focused on “The Millennial Reserve Officer”. For the 2nd in command of all NATO military operations, Reservists will provide an indispensable and valuable contribution in the efforts to win any 21st century military conflict.

By Roy Thorvaldsen, Lieutenant Colonel (R) Norwegian Army/ CIOR Public Affairs

But it goes a long way back:

– Small armies are often decimated in the early stages of a conflict, with Reservists then used to create the experienced spine of a new, replacement Joint Force, with conscripts providing the mass. It works: 21 of the first 30 Divisions established by the British in 1939 as we raced to build a proper Army were created in this way, General Everard said.

NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), General Sir James Everard spoke warmly about Reserves and CIOR in his opening remarks at the CIOR Summer Congress Symposium. Photo: Estonian Defence Forces.

– Reservists important to compete with Russian hybrid warfare

– I like Reservists because in Russian thinking, the ratio of non-military and military measures in Hybrid Warfare is 4:1 – with non-military strategic competition coming under the aegis of the military, Everard said.

– It falls to Nations to combat these threats – and this takes engagement with, and the involvement of civil society. This is your world – and my experience is that you are often best placed to explain the threat and the necessity of our response to Government and the Civilian community, he continued.

– Much to learn from Reservists – importance is increasing

– I like Reservists because amongst you are Masters of the dark arts, associated with Emerging & Disruptive Technologies that are now coming of age. Today (21.2 – the second decade of the 21st Century) these capabilities support the rest of the Joint Force. Come 21.4, it will increasingly be the other way around – and we have much to learn from you, the general stressed.

– CIOR plays an important role advocationg and promoting

– I like the Confederation of Reserve Officers, and your role advocating for, and promoting, capabilities and skills of Reserve Officers, not only with strategic events like this – and your Winter Seminar – but also through the Young Reserve Officer Workshops, your Military Skills Competitions, CIMEX and the Language Courses. And all with a focus on that Millennial Generation who directly contribute to our preparedness to compete across the spectrum of conflict.

Close to 600 attendees at the CIOR Summer Congress symposium listened to DSACEUR’s remarks on the increasing role and importance of Reservists in any 21st century military conflict. Photo: Estonian Defence Forces.

Praised cooperation with NRFC

DSACEUR also praised the recent revitalisation of the relationship between the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers and NATO’s committee on Reserves:

– I must stress the importance of the [cooperation between the] NATO Reserve Forces Committee (NRFC) and this Confederation. Following the 2019 MOU [Memorandum of Understanding], you are well placed to provide united policy advice on Reserve issues to the Military Committee.

CIOR President Colonel (Retd.) Chris Argent thanking NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), General Sir James Everard for his opening remarks at the CIOR Symposium. Photo: Estonian Defence Forces.

– [This advice will be] on – for example – Cyber Defence, Reserve Component Recruiting & Retention, Employer Support and the Future Young Reserve Officer. [This work will] provide the Military Committee, NRFC and our stakeholder nations with a valuable insight into both the Millennial Generation and what comes next, including how we might better engage, recruit and retain Reservists, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe concluded.

Similar news

All news

Virtual Summer Congress kicked off

The first ever fully virtual Summer Congress in CIOR started with an inspirational keynote speech from Rear Admiral Ralf Kuchler, German Navy, to set the tone – before the President moved to more ordinary agenda points like the budget plan for the next fiscal year....

Getting ready for MILCOMP!

An important event during the CIOR Summer Congress is the military skills competition. All participating nations take MILCOMP very seriously, and train for months to be the best they can be for their team in this friendly annual contest. By: Roy Thorvaldsen, Lt. Col...

CIMEX 2021 only a week away!

The announcement of the CIOR Summer Congress also signals the coming of the annual CIMIC (Civil-Military Cooperation) exercise, CIMEX. This year’s theme should be particularly interesting and highly relevant, so hurry and sign up, says CIMIC Chair, Major Zoe Stewart...

CIOR Language Academy precursor to Summer Congress

The CIOR Summer Congress takes place 4-10 August in Tallinn, Estonia. The forerunner has been the CIOR Language Academy (CLA). The CLA held classes in French and English from July 20 to August 4, at the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences in Tallinn. The CIOR...

CIOR President attends NRFC Summer Plenary: Warm reception and praise for MOU implementation

CIOR President Colonel (R) Chris Argent (UK) attended the National Reserve Forces Committee (NRFC) Summer Plenary Meeting in Warsaw on 10 and 11 July. The President was warmly welcomed as a ‘special guest’. Brussels, 11 July 2019: The Chairman of NATO’s National...

CIOR-CIOMR Summer Congress 2019 in Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn, Estonia, host city for the 2019 CIOR and CIOMR Summer Congresses. The largest annual meeting of these two organizations is jointly held each summer in a different country and is organized by a separate member of CIOR/CIOMR each year; in 2017, the Congress was...