Non-Commissioned Officers Invited to CIOR Military Competition in Riga

by Major Lynne Chaloux

For the first time in years, non-commissioned officers will participate alongside their reserve officer counterparts in the grueling CIOR Military Skills Competition (MilComp) to be held during CIORπs annual congress in Riga, Latvia, between July 31 and August 4. 

The MilComp is a first class event within military competitions in NATO and challenges a wide range of military skills through seven different events, both physical and professional.  The MilComp provides a unique opportunity for reservists to demonstrate their skills and abilities, while at the same time sharing an outstanding international exchange opportunity.  

As part of CIORπs efforts to reach out to complementary organizations and countries of interest, it was decided during CIORπs winter meeting in Brussels that 10 teams of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) will be invited to participate in MilComp on a trial basis.  Although they will not compete to be the overall victors of the 2007 competition, their effective participation (leading to a successful trial) would allow CIOR to create a permanent NCO category in ensuing years. 

The official invitation is being extended to NCOs through the national delegations of all CIOR member nations as well as the ≥Association EuropÈenne des Sous-Officiers de RÈserve≤ (AESOR), known in English as the ≥European Reserve Non-Commissioned Officersπ Association≤, an NCO organization with broad European membership.  However, AESOR membership will not be mandatory for NCO teamsπ participation in MilComp.

 ≥We feel itπs important to build connections with like-minded organizations who may share similar goals to CIOR,≤ said Capt(N) Carman McNary, Canadian President of CIOR.  ≥Having non-commissioned personnel participate in the Military Skills Competition is a natural first step in establishing a relationship with AESOR,≤ he added.

As their premier association, AESOR represents NCOs who are affected by the very same issues that our reserve officers face. ≥We in CIOR are studying issues that will be relevant to both organizations over the next two years -- the post-deployment care of reservists as well as employer support – so we can only benefit from enhanced dialogue with AESOR on these issues,≤ Capt (N) McNary added. 

There are also other advantages to allowing NCOs to participate in the competition, as this better reflects military operations.  In addition, with the rebalancing of reserves and the reduction in their numbers in many member nations, this will create the opportunity for better cohesion and the development of leadership skills. 

This is particularly significant since participation in MilComp has proven to be relevant and beneficial to military operations.  As Major David van de Bunte of the Royal Netherlands Air Force recently attested, ≥During my four-month mission in Afghanistan and my six-month mission in Iraq, I thankfully used a range of military skills I learned during the CIOR MilComp. The MilComp had made me physically fit, and I learned to work together as a team in a demanding environment where international cooperation is critical for your own and othersπ safety.≤

As CIOR sees it, this is a benefit that must be shared with NCOs to advance all reservist issues as well as to improve operational readiness throughout NATOπs reserves.