The Reservist in the 21st Century
- Challenges and Threats -
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.
The participants had to absorb a very demanding program in three working groups. There were three foundational lectures; The history and structure of CIOR (Colonel Peter Eitze); The history and structure of CIOMR (Colonel Walter Henny, (N) and; The future of CIOR (SecGen CIOR Major Derek Cheff, CAN), which gave a complete overview about the goals and tasks of CIOR/CIOMR. Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia by its constitutional name.
Following the three introductory presentations, further information was provided as an introduction to the working groups themes; specifically; Education, support and career of reservists (Colonel G. St Peter Fischer, CH); Employers support and legal status (Captain (A) Stephan Schmidt, DE) and finally; Reservists in active mission: pre-deployment, deployment, post-deployment (Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Joachim Spross, DE).
The three speakers conducted the working groups very well and presented the results of the Working Group deliberations and solutions in the frame of a closing discussion. In some respects, there are very big differences in the status of reservists between the individual countries and they showed up in the synopsis. The contributions of the participants showed us also the very different experiences of the individual countries’ reserves. The different attitudes towards the actual missions of NATO were also discussed, as was the cooperation with CIOR. The program closed with a visit the “Reichstag und the Allied” Museum which chronicles the time between 19949 and 1989.
The workshop brought interesting recognitions and created new contacts amongst the participants, which will be consolidated and developed into the future. The participants agreed that they received much benefit from the Workshop and thanked the Committee for the very good preparation, organisation and realization of the event. A special vote of thanks was dedicated to the German Reservistenverband and the CIOR Presidency for financial support, the outstanding engagement of Lieutenant Colonel Volker Jung und Captain (A) Katrin-Isabel Krähling. Without these contributions it would have not been possible to stage this successful and fruitful workshop.