NATO’s National Reserve Forces Committee hands over chairmanship from Canada to The Netherlands
By Lt. Col. Richard van Eijsden (NL)

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.

Directed by the NATO Military Committee since 1996, with representation from 22 NATO countries, with Australia participating as an observer, the NRFC meets regularly to exchange information on reserve matters.

The handover of the NRFC chairmanship from Canada, represented by Major General D. Tabbernor, to The Netherlands, represented by Brigadier General H.G. Oude Lohuis, took place at the end of the formal meetings on July 11, 2008.
NRFC meetings are facilitated by a chairmanship team from one of the NATO nations for a two-year duration. The NRFC stimulates the optimisation of reserve capabilities of the member countries by exchanging views on different national approaches and reviewing the current status of the different systems for reservists. The NRFC supports the NATO School in Oberammergau and has provided guidance in creating a new course for senior reserve officers.

The former chairman praised the delegations for the committee’s accomplishments and expressed his gratitude for the support and trust provided to the Canadian chair during their tenure.

The new chairman assured the members that The Netherlands will follow the Canadian initiative to focus on deployment support for reservists and will do its utmost to maintain and further develop the high level of cooperation, exchange of thoughts and educational efforts in achieving the strategic goals of NRFC. He concluded by thanking the outgoing chair, on behalf of all delegations present, for their excellent contribution.