On the 26th of May, the Italian Navy General Staff Plans and Maritime Policy Division Head, Rear Admiral Vincenzo Montanaro, accompanied by the Italian Navy delegation, visited the NATO Security Force Assistance Centre of Excellence (NATO SFA COE).
The Division has the role of “Policy Director” of the Italian Navy. It identifies the direction of the maritime instrument and of its operational employment, participating in the strategic and operational planning at the National, International and NATO level, defining the status of readiness in the case of an emergency.
The aim of the meeting was to illustrate the contribution of SFA to Defence Capacity Building, paving the way for future collaborations between the Centre and the Italian Navy General Staff.
During the visit, the Director Col Massimo Di Pietro presented the collaboration with NATO and the support to the Alliance in training and education events, in the implementation of the SFA Concept and Doctrine.
He also introduced the NATO SFA COE’s opportunities and the training offer with basic, intermediate, and advanced courses. In particular, he mentioned the forthcoming “Institutional Adviser course”, born within the “Interoperable Multinational Resident Advisor Capability project” developed by Italy and USA as co-leaders, aimed at preparing military and civilian personnel to work as advisers at the ministerial and institutional level to support the Host Nation in reconstruction efforts.
At the end of the meeting, the Rear Admiral Vincenzo Montanaro expressed his appreciation for the elevated potential and excellent work done by the Centre, as a tangible proof of NATO’s comprehensive approach to crisis management.
