17ᵗʰ Joint CBRN Defence Capability Development Group Training and Exercise Panel Meeting

After two years of online meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Joint CBRN Defence Capability Development Group (JCBRND-CDG) Training and Exercise Panel (TEP) meeting could finally gather in person from 08 to 12 November 2021, in Olomouc, Czech Republic. The 17th TEP meeting was held in the historical building of the Garrison House in Olomouc. BG Pavel Kolář, the commander of the garrison of Olomouc, welcomed all participants on behalf of the 1st Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Jaromir Zuna.

The 17th TEP meeting was attended by 10 NATO nations (BEL, CAN, CZE, FRA, GBR, GRC, ITA, POL, ROU, NOR), 3 NATO Partner nations (AUT, CHE, SWE) and 4 members of the CBRN Medical Training Panel (GBR, USA). The TEP chairperson, LTC Radek Tomáš from JCBRN Defence COE, also invited a representative from Framework Nations Concept Initiative (FNC), NATO School Oberammergau (NSO) and USA Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). The 24 TEP participants welcomed the new Vice-chairperson, LTC Ciaron Dyer from Defence CBRN Centre, Winterbourne Gunner, United Kingdom. Ten more subject matter experts (CAN, CZE, DEU, GRB, SWE) attended the initial planning conference for the exercise CLEAN CARE 2022 during the TEP meeting.

On the first day of the 17th TEP meeting, the TEP chairperson welcomed the new members of the TEP (approximately one half of the delegates) and provided updates on the tasks received from the JCBRND-CDG which is the tasking authority to the TEP. Next, LTC Tomáš introduced the NATO Individual and Collective Training, in particular the exercises under the TEP umbrella (exercises TOXIC TRIP and CLEAN CARE) and the national CBRN exercises which are open to NATO nations participation (exercises BRAVE BEDUIN (DNK), PRECISE RESPONSE (CAN), TOXIC FJORD (NOR), TOXIC VALLEY (SVK) and YELLOW CROSS (CZE)).

On the second and third day, the TEP participants split into syndicates: initial planning conference for the exercise CLEAN CARE 2022, main planning conference for exercise TOXIC FJORD 2022, long-term planning of the CBRN exercises under the TEP, and formatting of the ATP 3.8.1 Vol III (CBRN Defence Standards for Education, Training and Evaluation) which was read and finalized during the spring online meeting (16th TEP Mtg). The outcomes from the syndicates are following:

  1. Exercise CLEAN CARE 2022 will be conducted from 13 to 24 June 2022 at the Military Training Area Tisa, Czech Republic.
  2. Exercise TOXIC FJORD 2022 will be conducted from 03 to 08 April 2022 at the Naval Training Establishment, Bergen, Norway.
  3. A long term planning matrix was developed. This matrix will be shared amongst the TEP Nations.
  4. The formatting of the ATP 3.8.1. Vol III (CBRN Defence Standards for Education, Training And Evaluation) will be finalized by the end of November 2021, and JCBRND-CDG will forward this document to the Military Committee Joint Standardization Board (MC JSB), and the promulgation process will be started.

One of the highlights on the TEP busy agenda was the official call at the Mayor of the town of Olomouc. All TEP members had the privilege to sign the chronicle of Olomouc. The next TEP meeting is scheduled for 06 to 10 June 2022 in Athens, Greece.

BG Pavel Kolář, the commander of the garrison of Olomouc and LTC Radek Tomáš, the TEP Chairperson. The 17th TEP meeting held in person in the military garrison house in Olomouc.
Mirek Žbánek, the Mayor of the town of Olomouc, hosted the TEP members in his office and showed them the city hall of Olomouc. All TEP participants signed the chronicle of the Olomouc town.
c_270_180_16777215_0_0_images_PICTURES_2021_20211118_A5_tisk.jpg

Author: MAJ Veronika Dočkalová, (CZE A)/p>

Photos: WO Pavel Skopal, (CZE A)