Medical professionals including surgeons, nurses, dentists, veterinarians and pharmacists from across NATO met in Sofia, Bulgaria in early July for the CIOMR Summer Congress. CIOMR is the sister organisation of the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR), and CIOMR and CIOR cooperate closely in various fields.

During the Summer Congress in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) convoked a special session and unanimously agreed to bestow upon Major General Evan L. “Curly” Hultman, AUS (Ret), the title of "Honorary President of CIOR for Life."

Early August, the reservist community came together in Sofia, Bulgaria to discuss “Recruitment and retention of reservists into NATO operations”. The issue is highly relevant, as countries around the world face challenges in recruiting for their militaries.

“Our vision is to integrate nationally and participate more internationally,” says Colonel Popov of the Union of Reserve Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of Bulgaria (RONU). The Union, really an association, has already celebrated its centennial in 2007 although it was suspended during the Soviet times from 1944 to 1989.

CIOR's Military Competition (MILCOMP) is a true test of combat effectiveness and this year’s competition in Sofia saw 129 competitors from 17 countries battling it out for the top prize through thunder, lightning, rain and sunshine.

May, Berlin/ Germany: The German Reserve Association invited national decision makers from political, business and military world to discuss the current developments on the reserve issue.

Your dedication and commitment as reservists, make your countries’ armed forces more effective. And this in turn, makes NATO more successful.” These words ended the speech of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who addressed the CIOR community on 18 May 2009. The speech was part of a seminar at NATO HQ following the unveiling of a monument celebrating the 60th anniversary of CIOR.

Lt. Gen. David Bill, UK Military Representative to NATO and the EU, started the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) winter meeting with a speech that runs fully in line with the aim of the world’s largest reserve officer organization. As a notable representative and active soldier Lt. Gen. Bill recognizes and understands reserve issues from both political and military points of view.

Lt. Gen. David Bill, UK Military Representative to NATO and the EU, started the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) winter meeting with a speech that runs fully in line with the aim of the world’s largest reserve officer organization. As a notable representative and active soldier Lt. Gen. Bill recognizes and understands reserve issues from both political and military points of view.

Employer support to reservists is a major focus for CIOR. The 2008 CIOR Symposium on this subject has been on of the highlights of the 2008 Summer Congress. This Symposium gathered highly regarded international decision makers from various horizons: business, Armed Forces and Government.

Reserve issues are often the subject of hot debate. Under the leadership of the
Canadian presidency for the past two years, the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers has generated much discussion – and significant action.

No š? gada 7. l?dz 13. j?lijam Stambul? (Turcij?) notika Rezerves virsnieku konfeder?cijas (CIOR),Medic?nas rezerves virsnieku konfeder?cijas (CIOMR) un Nacion?lo rezerves sp?ku komitejas
(NRFC) kongress.

Anastasia Dubivko, a Russian student at CLA, stood in front of a class of 15 students and delivered a brief to her “commander.” “You have three options,” she told him after explaining a scenario of possible military deserters. “You can hide from the media and keep it a secret, you can walk through the neighborhood with pictures of the soldiers, or you can ask the media for help.”

Canadian Corporal Laura Taylor looked around the room and told 10 students to think of three facts about themselves, write them down, but then change one to a lie.
The students, who were studying beginners English at CIOR’s Language Academy in Istanbul, chuckled.

Now in its ninth year of existence, CIOR’s Language Academy boasts a record number of students and staff.

Taking place at the Turkish Armed Forces Educational Foundation, Haydarpasa Dormitory, Kadikoy in Istanbul, CLA 08 has 93 students attending from 19 different NATO and PfP countries, and 17 staff and instructors.

If you’d like to be a doctor in the Australian military, you’d have to join the Reserves.

“The Australian Reserves have a targeted, niche capability that fits a capacity not available with the regular forces,” said Rear Admiral Graeme S. Shirtley, Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Forces.

 

When Air Force 1st Lieutenant Scott Stenzel’s role as a C-130 load master with the Delaware Air National Guard dramatically increased in the months following the Sept. 11 attacks, his employer was initially supportive.

Although there are many personal, cultural and military differences among people treated by the doctors and nurses of the CIOMR, there is one thing that is always the same; the patients are vulnerable to the same injuries and conditions – and all of them need effective treatment. That’s why of all the topics presented in CIOMR are crucial – the information on medical treatments and technologies could not only introduce new technologies and techniques, they could potentially save the life of someone serving on the battlefield.

The President and the Council of the United Kingdom Reserve Forces Association (UKRFA) held a Reception on 9 July to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Territorial Army at the British Consulate General Istanbul.

What do roller coasters, helicopters and stepladders have to do with military journalism and public affairs? Twenty-five CIOR attendees found out the commonalities at the 3rd annual media workshop.

The National Reserve Forces Committee (NRFC) conducted their annual summer meeting in Istanbul from 8 – 11 July during the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers’ (CIOR) Summer Congress.

A German team took first place in the 2008 CIOMR first aid competition. Forty-nine teams competed in the annual event that tests the medical response skills of reservists. Each team of four competitors who went through a planned scenario and were judged on their reactions to an injured person in a simulated wartime environment.

With hundreds of spectators in downtown Istanbul, Maj.-Gen. (retired) Riza Kucukoglu opened the 2008 CIOR, CIOMR and NRFC Summer Congress - an event set to highlight employer support for reservists.

For the Turkish Retired Officer Association (TESUD), hosting this year’s CIOR congress, is not only an honor, it is an opportunity.

Fifteen CIOMR officers traveled to the Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center and Care Center in Ankara to see how Turkey is caring for its wounded warriors. Most of the patients were victims of landmines.

A major incident can occur any time, anywhere. A large scale accident such as an explosion, flooding, or release of hazardous materials can lead to mass causalities. The skills of assessing mass casualties, triage and responding to these emergencies are vital to the official organization of medical officers in NATO’s Reserve Forces known as CIOMR, the “Confédération Interalliée des Officiers Médicaux de Réserve” (Interallied Confederation of Medical Reserve Officers).

The Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) honors its “diamond anniversary” by reflecting on 60 years of building, shaping, and maturing the professional enhancement of reserve officers to promote the best reserve policy development internationally.

LtCol Rob Peters has been forced to withdraw his name as President Designate due to serious and unforeseen circumstances beyond his control.  LtCol Peters had taken the decision at the earliest date he could so that appropriate planning could commence, and the Netherlands has identified LtCol Willem Verheijen, currently Vice President representing KRVNO to the CIOR, as the new President Designate.

This is a critical change in the plans for the Netherlands Presidency, who will assume the office effective July 12th in Istanbul.  However, given that the rest of the Netherlands team has been working hard over the past year to prepare for the assumption of their duties, and given the commitment of KNVRO and the Netherlands MoD to the Presidency, this change will not affect the Istanbul congress or the Netherlands' plans to effectively lead CIOR through the next two years.

In late May 2008, Dr. Luigi Sartori, former Italian President of CIOR from 1984 to 1986, died in Treviso, Italy, just short of his 89th birthday.  Known to many within CIOR circles as a distinguished officer who was personally generous with his time and hospitality to his international military colleagues, he will be greatly missed by the CIOR family. 

An excerpt from his obituary follows:
Dr. Sartori was not made for an office life, being born in the mountains at Casotto di Valdastico in the High Vicentino; lived in the trenches during World War II and in partisan camps of the Matteotti Brigade during the Resistance.  Graduating from Ca' Foscari University in Venice, he again would not settle in an office.  After one week, he established Fratelli Sartori, today the most well known Mercedes dealership in Veneto, Italy. 

Luigi Sartori remained a widower following the death of Caterina Savasta Caravaglios.  He dedicated most of his energy to raising Antonella, Giovanna, Maria, and Alessandro, and remained the President of his dealership.  His sons remember him as a private person keeping his distance from politics with a greatest passion for animals and nature.  His numerous honors, decorations, and designations were somewhat secondary to his private life.  However, it is worth remembering that he was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valor for having possibly saved Venice from allied bombardment and for his activities for peace and development of friendly relationships while serving as President of CIOR.

Young reservists from NATO recently participated in the Young Reserve Officers Seminar in the Capital of Bulgaria.

Due to operational commitments and an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan, Major Derek Cheff, the Canadian Presidency’s secretary general to CIOR from July 2006 until March 2008, has concluded his CIOR duties several months early. 

“We have the big stick, and we have the carrot as well,” said Group Captain Wayne Knight to officers at the CIOR midwinter meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Tzahal, the Israeli defence forces (IDF), are part of Israel’s security forces. The IDF includes a large number of reservists; citizens who serve when their country needs them, being deployed when necessary. NATO Outreach

Thirty-one delegates from 15 countries participated in the international CIOR PfP Workshop held in Berlin the 15th to 18th November 2007.  The CIOR PfP Committee organizes in alternating years either a seminar or a workshop.  The PfP Committee Chairman Colonel Peter Eitze (De) was overjoyed that he could welcome, not only the delegates of the well established associations of Albania, Bulgaria, FYROM*, Moldova and Romania, but for the first time delegates from Montenegro, Serbia und Ukraine.  Although expected, the registered Delegates from Georgia cancelled their participation shortly before the Workshop, for reasons relating to current events in Georgia.