CIOR President adds spontaneity to ROA US National Cenvention
Capt(N) Carman McNary addressed the US ROA National Convention in San Francisco, California, on June 28th. Following on the opening session's keynote speaker, George Friedman, CEO and President of Strategic Forecasting, Inc. (right), who in looking ahead to potential global conflicts in 2020 said NATO was irrelevant, Capt McNary responded "I respectfully contend that NATO is more relevant than ever."
"Looking forward at the challenges Dr. Friedman predicts, if there was ever a time for greater engagement with friends and allies across the Atlantic and around the world, that time is now. NATO provides a platform for that engagement that, while not without challenges, has an unparalleled history and track record," McNary added.
Capt(N) McNary went on to describe how CIOR, fitting within the NATO umbrella, works to present advice on shared challenges affecting Reservists, to improve communications among the allies, and to use conferences and meetings among CIOR members to improve understanding of thought processes and military operations. He pointed to CIOR's Young Reserve Officer Workshop program, very similar to ROA's Joint Officer Leadership Development Training Seminar (JOLDTS), as the kind of "no-risk professional development opportunities" CIOR is pursuing to prepare the next generation of Reserve leadership for the national and international challenges that 2020 will bring.