NATO MARITIME INTERDICTIONOPERATIONAL TRAINING CENTER

HELLENIC NATIONAL DEFENCE GENERAL STAFFPUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

JULY 2008

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NATO MARITIME INTERDICTION OPERATIONALTRAINING CENTER (NMIOTC)

Operational EnvironmentAfter the dramatic increase of terrorist acts, new forms of threats have appeared, whereas the

old ones have changed. These new forms are mainly cross-border threats (proliferation of weapons of massive destruction, drug smuggling, illegal immigration, smuggling, terrorism, kidnaps, weapon smuggling, etc.). Therefore, they require col-lective efforts of the member-states.

NATO, responding to this situation and attempting to meet its requirements, has developed new training activities. In this attempt, it has also developed security issues for maritime environment which are carried out through Maritime security Operations (MIO). MIO include measures of maritime force which are implemented to prevent cer-tain sorts of burdens from being imported or exported from a defined maritime area.

They usually include preventing and, if necessary, inspecting ships in order to certify, change the route of or take posses-sion of burdens in an attempt to support the implementation of economic or military sanctions.

NMIOTC has been founded to fill in the training «gap» that has been created by this new situation.

BackgroundThe decision to found NMIOTC

was taken during the meeting of Defence Ministers of the member-states of the Alliance on 12 June 2003.

As a result the Hellenic Navy General Staff (HNGS) created the NMIOTC Foundation Coordination Office, in November 2005. Its aim is to found the Centre and obtain its definite operational ability from SACT by December 2007.

The main memorandum of cooperation which defines the functional relationship of the cen-tre with the Strategic Commanders of the Alliance (SACT - SACEUR) was signed on 15 November 2005.

Image 1 : Training of Personnel in Topics of Asymmetric Threats

Image 2 : SACEUR - Chief of HNDGS - SACT Sign the Main Memorandum

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MissionThe mission of NMIOTC is to conduct combined training in NATO units in order to increase their

ability to conduct operations of surface, air and submarine surveillance and special operations to support similar operations of Naval Deterrence.

What is NMIOTC?

NMIOTC:

• Although it is not within the structure of NATO Command, it is however related/subordinate to SACT in exactly the same way as all other training institutions/facilities which have been ceded to NATO.

• It is a recognized NATO training Centre

• It is a joint and multinational cen-tre, since its personnel includes staff offic-ers and trainers coming from all branches of the Armed Forces, Port Police Corps and Hellenic Police. Its commander is an officer of the Hellenic Navy in the rank of Commodore.

• It is funded by Greece

• It is located in Souda

• It accepts personnel of all NATO mem-ber-states at a percentage of approximately 40% of the totally provided 115 places.

• It is certified by the SACT

• It supports not only the objectives of development of SACT but the train-ing requirements of current operations of SACEUR as well, within the framework of MIO.

• It certifies the Command groups, the Ship Inspection Detachments and the Capture Detachments of warships regarding their capability to conduct MIO safely and successfully.

• It uses the experience and knowledge which has been obtained from the successful conduct of Olympic Games of 2004 and employs trainers not only of the Armed Forces but of Port Police Corps and Hellenic Police as well.

• It trains not only ships of NATO member-states, but ships of member-states of Partnership for Peace (PfP), Mediterranean Dialogue(MD) and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative(ICI) as well.

Image 3 : Training of Personnel in Topics of Asymmetric Threats

Image 4 : Training in martial arts

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RolesNMIOTC, according to NATO deci-

sions, fulfils the following roles:

• It improves the specialisation of naval units within the framework of MIO.

• It develops skills, interoper-ability and cooperation among naval units.

• It supports SACT to develop MIO doctrines, directive orders and instruction books, as well as research, experimentation, modelling and simulation activities within the MIO framework.

LocationThe dockyard of Souda

was chosen as the location to host NMIOTC. The bay of Souda has proved its strategic importance and serves many allied ships in current opera-tions in many ways. Moreover, the great number of facilities provided in the dockyard of Souda make its use inevitable and indisputable.

CrestThe recently founded service of NMIOTC has its own

crest which has been approved by the Supreme Naval Council. The map of Greece represents the country which funds and hosts the Centre. The anchor symbolizes its naval nature, whereas the naval sword and the sheath symbolize its main mission, that is to improve special operations. The characters of the English alphabet symbolize its interna-tional use and participation in its personnel.

The anchor and the sword with the sheath of the same colour are crossed to inspire the symbol of «Maritime Force».

Image 5 : Debriefing after ship inspection

Image 6 : Geostrategic Position of NMIOTC

Image 7 : Crest of NMIOTC

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The motto of the Centre is an extract from Thucydides’ History (Book 2, verse 43) and is directly related to the above symbols:

“Since you considered that happiness means freedom and freedom means bravery, do not fear the dangers of war”.

Training «Mentality»According to NATO, every member-state ought to train its units to participate in opera-

tions. However, the Alliance recognizes that provided units need to achieve interoperability and standardization, so that command and control will be possible, in order to achieve their opera-

tional mission. The Alliance takes advantage of Strategic Commanders in order to achieve the required level of interoperability and standardization. In more details:

• The SACEUR is responsible for the “group training of provided units, by con-ducting exercises through which the skills of the personnel and the condition of materiel is assessed”.

• The ACT is responsible for the per-sonal training of the personnel. This train-ing contributes to the assessment of the knowledge with the use of training facilities offered by NDC (NATO Defence College), NS (NATO School) and NCISS (NATO Computer Information Systems School).

• At present the Alliance is being trans-formed and, according to the results of NATO operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, there is an imperative need to reconsider the training work of Strategic Commanders.

Moreover, it has been confirmed that ACO has assigned military units, but not training facili-ties, whereas ACT has training facilities, but not assigned units.

NMIOTC trying to fill in this gap provides group training to the Command Group, to the Ship Inspection Detachment and to the Capture Detachment of a ship in order to certify the Alliance that the material is kept and the personnel is trained according to standardization and interop-erability, as defined in the existent NATO texts. This group effort of trainees provides the centre with effectiveness of the train-ing level. Moreover, he may develop training courses which cover a training spectrum from ship to squad level.

The centre often invites honoured lecturers in compli-ance with other NATO training Schools. These lecturers ana-lyse/present topics related to MIOs but also topics of general interest.

Image 8 : Beginning of Ship Inspection

Image 9 : Tactical Scanning of Ship Inspection Detachment

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Moreover, the responsi-bility to create the Maritime Operational Language Course is considered especially impor-tant and honorary for the school. This school, control-led by SACT, addresses mainly to non-NATO personnel and in fact imparts terminology knowledge which are neces-sary to make possible the par-ticipation in combined mari-time operations/exercises with-in the framework of NATO. The school is conducted on an annual basis.

At last, a part of NMIOTC training «mentality» is the creation of Mobile Training Groups. These groups have the possibility to provide personnel of ships which cannot sail into Souda with training on certain topics.

Training analysisThe provided training courses are

divided into 3 phases. Trainees gradually advance to the next phase, only after it has been ascertained that they are able to conceive and implement the rules/secu-rity orders and, of course, that they have achieved the necessary level of knowledge on every training subject. Therefore, every school is divided in:

• Training in classroomsDuring this phase, trainees are informed

on the current NATO doctrine of conduct-ing MIO. Trainees are examined/certified, on the one hand, on their knowledge of security rules/orders and, on the other hand, on the doctrine itself.

• Training on simulatorDuring this phase, trainees are exam-

ined on their ability to implement security rules/orders and also on their ability to work as a team, e.g. covering each other, cooperation, division of labour, focus on objective, organization, execution etc.

Image 10 : Deployment of Detachment while Conducting Ship Inspection

Image 11 : Trainees in NMIOTC

Image 12 : Training Inside the Ship

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• Practical trainingDuring this phase, trainees will be examined on their ability to conduct successful and safe MIO

operations.

The Risk Assessment (RA) is a very important factor of the whole train-ing. This assessment is important for the General Staffs, which propose the participation of trainees of their countries in schools, to know the assessed risks of this training. Provided that NMIOTC has mainly multinational and joint trainees, it is necessary to implement severe and clear security criteria.

Certification oftraining

The schools function according to SACT direc-tions, whereas their internal and external assessment fol-lows the same directions.

The training infrastructure and training procedures have been certified by SACT during the demonstration of the initial and final operational ability of NMIOTC.

Middle trainingIn order to keep the capability of

NMIOTC, its Command has decided to conduct a series of practical lessons which will constitute the basic training course con-tributing to the improvement of the Initial Operational Ability. This capability has been called «Middle Training».

It is ascertained that a number of training means is required to support these courses, such as: practical training ship, abseiling tower, containers and RHIBs.

The practical training ship permanently anchored near the NMIOTC provides a number of practical courses (e.g. tactical scanning, close combat in limited area, methods of ship inspection, documents and burden inspection etc) in which the detachment is assessed. The first training ship «ARIS» has been transformed for this reason.

Image 13 : Inflatable Boat used in Training

Image 14 : Containers used in Training

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A 16-meter tall abseiling tower that has been constructed is used for the assess-ment of ship inspection detachments on «Fast Rope» and «Rappel» techniques before the courses of infiltration and sortie by helicop-ter. The tower provides the possibility to con-duct «Fast Rope» from 3 different heights (6, 12 and 15 meters).

Moreover, one side of the tower is covered by wood with two win-dow openings in every

floor for “rappel” exercises. In order to improve the reality of the training a number of containers is provided to con-duct the “Container inspection” lesson.

Additionally, the NMIOTC has 2 RHIBs specially equipped to conduct MIO which are used in the course of “Infiltration and sortie by RHIB”.

OrganizationThe NMIOTC’s Commander is a Commodore of the

Hellenic Navy, whilst the 2IC is a Captain of a Member State of the Alliance.

The Centre’s organi-zation includes one Command Group and 3 Directorates. The primary mission of the Command Group is to command and to offer guidelines to the NMIOTC staff offic-ers, in order to promote the operational level of the combined and joint offered training.

The primary mission of the Training Directorate, whose Director is a Commander of the Navy, is to ameliorate the specialization to the MIO of allied ships through specific training courses. The Directorate plans, develops, executes and assesses training programmes focused at

Image 15 : Ship of Practical Training in NMIOTC

Image 16 : Abseiling Tower

Image 17 : Abseiling from Helicopter

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satisfying the predetermined training objectives. In addition, it is responsible for testing and cer tifying new doctrines, which it introduces in the training programmes. Finally, it is responsible for the evaluation of the training effectiveness, as well as for the constant improvement of the training programme.

The primary mission of the Training Support Directorate, whose Director is a Commander of a Member State of the Alliance, is to administer the NMIOTC’s contribution to the experimentation and interoper-ability programmes of the SACT, especially as far as the sectors of localization - coordination and development of experimentation programmes, doctrine development, deficiencies identifica-tion, analysis, standardization demands and databases development.

The primary mission of the Support Directorate, whose Director is a Commander of the Navy, is to provide logistics services to the NMIOTC Staff. It is responsible for providing the Commander, through the flag officer, with planning, management, coordination, completion and execution functions, as far as matters of Supply, Personnel, Finances, Security and Hosting Nation are concerned.

Finally, the NMIOTC is subordinate to the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff/with a total commanding relationship, the commanding relationship assigned to the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff.

Functional Relationshipswith NATO

The NMIOTC is connected/subordinate to the SACT, in exactly the same way as all the other training institutions /facilities assigned to NATO. («NDC», «NS», «NCISS»). It is in close cooperation with the SACT Staff, related to the «JWC» (Joint Warfare Center), the «JALLC» (Joint Analysis & Lessons Learned Center) and the “JFTC” (Joint Forces Training Center), the services subordinated to the SACT, as well as those subordinated to the SACEUR.

Image 18 : Techniques of Ship Inspection Detachment

Image 19 : Equipment Control Before the Beginning of a Drill

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MultinationalityAs already mentioned, the NMIOTC is a joint Training institution, functioning under the «SACT»

coordination. Therefore, it is instantly understood that one of its main «characteristics» is its multi-nationality. The quota between staff officers/trainers of the centre, as specified by a relative deci-sion of the CHODs Council, is 40% foreigners and 60% Greek staff officers/trainers, out of a total of 115 personnel.

Conclusions• The global security environment has led the Alliance to the development of new capabili-

ties and, consequently, to the definition of new training demands. NATO and Greece, recognizing this new reality, are led to Greece assuming the responsibility of becoming the host nation for the foundation of the NMIOTC.

• The proximity of Souda Bay to maritime communication lines of universal importance means that its use from Allied Navies is unavoidable. This leads to the result that the presence of warships to Souda Bay is constant.

• The NMIOTC is con-trolled / governed by the SACT, who certifies all its training “products”.

• The NMIOTC is the responsible agent who shall certify that the MIO groups of the Alliance’s warships concerned are trained and compatible to the NATO standards, resulting in having the capability to conduct MIO.

• Greece uses the experience acquired from the successful conduct of the Olympic Games 2004.

• The NMIOTC, as part of the “development net” of the Alliance, has got the potential, not only of training the war-ships at MIO, but also of providing the SACT with suggestions for changing the doctrines, tac-tics, methods, procedures and materiel to the constantly evolving framework of Naval Security cadre.

• The training offered at the Centre shall be considered “necessary” and not “desired”.

Image 20 : Training in Asymmetrical Threats Conditions

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Challenges• The NMIOTC is expected to play an important role to the training of the Member-States in

PfP, MD and ICI.

• The effective NATO reaction depends on the improvement of its military capabilities. In this framework, the training in a MIO is one of the components which, among others, will ameliorate NATO’s defense against a wide spectrum of maritime security threats. This has as a result the important influence of the NMIOTC on the maritime operations sector.

• The NMIOTC, aiming at the upgrading of the MIO groups training, which is considered of primary importance, develops Mobile Training Groups.

• The NMIOTC, using a high standard simulator, develops the infrastructure / capabilities neces-sary for the distance learning in chosen issues of interest.

Image 21 : Debriefing after the Ship Inspection

HELLENIC NATIONAL DEFENCE GENERAL STAFFPUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

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