Stages
- Putting the ”O” in NATO
Date: 20.02.2019, 1430-1630
Moderator: Isabela Dragomir
Venue: "Cuza" Lecture Hall – LFA - NATO as a Personal Experience. My Time as the JALLC Commander
Date: 26.02.2019, 1600-1730
Speaker: BG. (R) Mircea Mindrescu
Venue: "Cuza" Lecture Hall – LFA - NATO’s Culture and Values
Date: 28.02.2019, 1600-1730
Speaker: Eng. Valentin Lupu, PhD
Venue: "Cuza" Lecture Hall – LFA - A Feminine Face of NATO
Date: 12.03.2019, 0930-1130
Speaker: Alina Coca, Deputy Head of Media Operations, NATO PDD
Venue: LFA Auditorium - The Promise of Alliance: the Enlargement Rounds
Date: 14.03.2019, 1630-1800
Moderator: Virgil Nistor
Venue: "Cuza" Lecture Hall – LFA - NATO in the 21st Century
New Challenges and Concerns after the 2018 Summit
Date: 19.03.2019, 1010-1145
Speaker: LTG. John Thomson
Venue: LFA Auditorium - NATO and Multinational Initiatives on the Territory of Romania. Evolution, Role and Contribution to Promoting Transatlantic Cooperation, Peace, Stability and Security.
Date: 19.03.2019, 1020-1135
Speaker: MG. Daniel Petrescu
Venue: "Cuza" Lecture Hall – LFA - Romania and NATO: 15 years of Enduring Membership
Date: 21.03.2019, 0930-1100
Speaker: LTG. (R) Virgil Balaceanu
Venue: "Cuza" Lecture Hall – LFA - NATO in the 21st Century. The Revolution in Military Affairs in the post-Cold War Period. NATO’s Transformation
Date: 25.03.2019, 0930-1100
Speaker: MG. Catalin Tomita-Tomescu
Venue: "Cuza" Lecture Hall – LFA - NATO summit before and after the Invasion of Crimea
Data: 25.03.2019, 0930-1100
Invitat: Gen.(r). Stefan Danila
Locul desfasurarii: "Mihai Viteazu" Lecture Hall – LFA
The first stage consists of a coherent series of 7 academic seminars held in English and/or Romanian and designed to increase knowledge, awareness, and understanding of NATO. This stage is designed in the form of plenary meetings and the activities will range from general informative sessions to dialogues, question-answer sessions and clarifications between the experts and the participants.
Academic seminars schedule:
The project “The aNATOmy of an Alliance”, supported by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division, started on Wednesday, February 20, at “Nicolae Balcescu” Land Forces Academy of Sibiu. The introductory session, entitled “Putting the O in NATO”, reunited the target group of 40 cadets who challenged their knowledge about the Alliance by taking a quiz which highlighted important aspects related to NATO. The session continued with a presentation focused on the foundation of the Organization and its development throughout the 70 years of its existence. The cadets analyzed the Washington Treaty and engaged in active discussions about relevant issues, such as collective defence, cooperative security, crisis management, values promoted by the Alliance, and the current role of NATO as a promoter of peace and security.
On Tuesday, February 26, 2019, the Land Forces Academy “Nicolae Balcescu” Sibiu hosted the first presentation of the “70 years in 7 topics” stage of the project “The aNATOmy of an Alliance”. During their meeting with BG (r) Mircea Mindrescu, guest speaker of the event, the LFA cadets had the opportunity to learn more about the history and structure of the Alliance in general, and about the mission and role of the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre – JALLC, located in Portugal, a NATO structure which was under the command of BG Mindrescu for 3 years, between 2013 – 2016.
The series of seminars "70 years in 7 topics" hosted by the Land Forces Academy "Nicolae Balcescu" as part of the project "The aNATOmy of an Alliance" continued on Thursday, February 28, 2019 with the presentation conducted by Eng. dr. Valentin Lupu. The interaction between the students and the guest speaker focused on a minute analysis of the core values of the Alliance, as well as on a deeper comprehension of the culture of the organization. The sessions ended with an engaging quiz session which tested the students' acquired knowledge.
On Tuesday, 12 March, the seminar sessions of “The Experts Train the Young” stage of the project “The ANATOmy of an Alliance” continued with a fourth meeting, in which the cadets welcomed Mrs. Alina Coca, deputy head of media operations at NATO. The speaker addressed the cadets on “a Feminine Face of NATO”, developing issues on the role and contribution of women to the Alliance. “Communication as a soft power” was another aspect highlighted within the framework of the interaction focusing on practical examples on becoming aware and combating manipulation and fake news.
March 14 marked the fifth meeting of the cadets involved in the project "The aNATOmy of an Alliance" hosted by "Nicolae Balcescu" Land Forces Academy Sibiu. The seminar highlighted the evolution of the North Atlantic Alliance, pointing to some crucial historical, military and political aspects. The topic "The Promise of Alliance: the Enlargement Rounds" moderated by teacher Virgil Nistor also had cadets analyze NATO's enlargement policy as well as the accession process.
19th March 2019 marked the sixth meeting from the series of seminars dedicated to the section „The Experts Train the Young”, an integral part of the project „The aNATOmy of an Alliance” organized by the „Nicolae Balcescu” Land Forces Academy from Sibiu. During the event, the cadets of the Academy met LTG John C. Thomson III, Commander of LANDCOM (NATO Allied Land Command), whose presentation “NATO in the 21st century” focused on the evolution and transformation of the North Atlantic Alliance, highlighting the current challenges pertaining to a dynamic security environment characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
The afternoon session of the sixth seminar of "The Experts Train the Young", stage of the project "The aNATOmy of an Alliance", welcomed Major General Daniel Petrescu, from MND-SE Bucharest, whose intervention highlighted key issues pertaining to "NATO and Multinational Initiatives on the Territory of Romania. Evolution, Role and Contribution to Promoting Transatlantic Cooperation, Peace, Stability and Security". The cadets were exposed to a thorough comprehension of the evolution, role and contribution to promoting transatlantic cooperation, peace, stability and security.
Thursday, March 21, the cadets of “Nicolae Balcescu” Land Forces Academy welcomed LTG (R) Virgil Balaceanu, President of the Romanian Reserve Officer’s Association, whose intervention on “Romania and NATO: 15 years of Enduring Membership” had the cadets consider, analyze and assess the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities of the Alliance as well as Romania’s as a NATO member. This seventh seminar of the project “The aNATOmy of an Alliance” was a preview to Romania’s 15 year anniversary of NATO membership which our country celebrates on March 29.
On Monday, March 25, „Nicolae Balcescu” Land Forces Academy hosted the last presentation of the series dedicated to „The Experts Train the Young” stage of the „aNATOmy of an Alliance” project. The cadets of our institution benefitted from the national and international experience of the guest speaker, MG Catalin-Tomita Tomescu, Deputy of the Secretary General of the Romanian Ministry of Defense. During his presentation, MG Tomescu discussed the topic of revolution in military affairs, with particular emphasis on the transformations that the Alliance has gone through after the end of the Cold War.
On Monday, March 25, the cadets of „Nicolae Balcescu” Land Forces Academy Sibiu had the honor to welcome Gen.(R) PhD Stefan Danila during the final seminar of the project “The aNATOmy of an Alliance”. The topic of the seminar, “NATO Summits before and after the Invasion of Crimea”, launched a close analysis of aspects pertaining to NATO summits in Chicago, Newport, Warsaw and Bruxelles.
During this second stage of the project, the outputs of the cadets’ training resulting from the 7 seminars will be disseminated to the larger public, in Romanian and in English. Five open house exhibitions will be dedicated to NATO’s 70-year anniversary and organized in five major cities in Romania: Alba-Iulia, Sibiu, Craiova, Cluj-Napoca si Brasov.
On Tuesday, April 2, 2019, started the second phase of the educational/public diplomacy project “The aNATOmy of an Alliance”. The first meeting of the second stage, entitled “The Young Train the Younger”, was hosted by the National College “Horia, Closca si Crisan" Alba Iulia. The activity was organized in partnership with the Alba County School Inspectorate and involved students from the National College “Horia, Closca si Crisan" and from “Dionisie Pop Martian” Economic College. An exhibition promoting the North Atlantic Alliance, moderated by the cadets of “Nicolae Balcescu” Land Forces Academy in Sibiu, was followed by open discussions on NATO topics aimed to facilitate the dissemination of NATO culture from the military to the civilian world, by widening the students’ knowledge and encouraging positive attitudes towards the role and relevance of the Alliance in the 21st century.
The NATO@70 Caravan at "Lucian Blaga" University
The NATO@70 Caravan continued in Sibiu, April 5, with an open house dedicated to high school and faculty students, who discussed contemporary as well as historical aspects of the Alliance. The event celebrated 70 years since the signing of the Washington Treaty. The action, which was enthousiastically hosted by the Faculty of Letters and Arts of „Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, was backed by Sibiu School County Inspectorate and attracted students from „Octavian Goga” high school and students from the Faculties of Letters, History, Social Sciences and Journalism from the university. The activity targeted the intergenerational promotion of NATO’s culture and values, through a face-to-face interaction between the Academy students and the young public who attended the event
The NATO Caravan arrived in Craiova
The NATO Caravan stopped in Craiova on April 8, thus continuing the MIL-CIV and intergenerational dissemination phase of the project "The aNATOmy of an Alliance". Here, the cadets of "Nicolae Balcescu" Land Forces Academy, assuming the role of "dissemiNATOrs", met the students of the University of Craiova, Faculty of Letters and the younger students from the International French Language High School "Voltaire" in Craiova - the "resoNATOrs". The transfer of NATO knowledge, culture and values was ensured through direct interaction, dialogue, presentations, sessions of discussions, deliverables and a knowledge comprehension quiz.
The NATO Caravan arrived in Cluj
The fourth halt of the NATO@70 Caravan brought the cadets of “Nicolae Balcescu” Land Forces Academy in Cluj-Napoca, on April 10. The County School Inspectorate in Cluj facilitated the interaction between the cadets and the younger high school students, ”Gheorghe Sincai” National College being the enthusiast host of the event. The cadets acted as “dissemiNATOrs” and presented their achievements in an open house event with information and free discussions on their posters, NATO informative materials, and an interactive knowledge achievement competition. High school students from “Gheorghe Sincai” National College, “Nicolae Balcescu” Theoretical High School, “Avram Iancu” Theoretical High School and “Emil Racovita” National College, members of the Debate Club in Cluj Napoca assumed the roles of “resoNATOrs” and engaged in a debate on Romania’s role and importance in NATO.
Last halt of the NATO@70 Caravan
Friday, April 12, the last halt of the NATO@70 Caravan brought the cadets of "Nicolae Balcescu" Land Forces Academy in Brasov. The Military Reunion Center in Brasov welcomed the reunion of the cadets and the younger high school students from the National College "Andrei Saguna", the National College "Ioan Mesota", and the National College "Unirea". The closure of "The Young Train the Younger" stage of the project "The aNATOmy of an Alliance" engaged the high-school students of the three colleges debate such issues as the defense of NATO values and the Europe’s preparedness to ensure its own defense. An open house event followed the two debates and the cadets presented their achievements during the project.
- 1. Cristian Budala, high-school student,11 grade, Brasov
- 2. Patricia Porutiu, student, Cluj-Napoca
- 3. Mihai Mara, LFA student, Sibiu
“What does NATO mean to you” essay competition collected a number of invaluable contributions from various publics where the project “The aNATOmy of an Alliance” reached. Among participants we can highlight the following categories: high-school students, military and civilian university students, civilian and military adult students in the lifelong learning language training within the Foreign Language Center, as well as the online students of the same institution, teachers, etc.
After a careful reading and assessment of the personal compositions submitted to the virtual space of the project aNATOme.sibiu@gmail.com, the board of selection agreed the following contributions stand out:
- 1. In 1762, Jean Jacques Rousseau shocked the world with an innovative and controversial theory: “the social contract”. It regulated the relation between the state and the citizens in the most prolific way possible – maintaining the limits of both state organs and citizens in fair, just limits. The citizens would obligate themselves to respect the laws by paying taxes, not committing crimes and respecting cultural customs, while the state would respect their rights, assuring their safety, equality and a constant developing environment.
In the 20’s and 30’s, during the Gold Rush, the concept of “globalization” was first said and seriously considered possible. It amazed the world initially when presented as a thesis but, when it started happening, it simply surprised everybody. No one was able to predict the size and the impact it would have – and it keeps growing every day, amazing people still. Although initially the globalization was meant for economic trading, it became much more: political unions, military alliances and cultural exchanges trough means of tourism or simply – over the Internet.
How do I look at NATO?
It is Rousseau’s social contract taken to its next step. As globalization grew, the notion of “state” became weaker. Once the strongest entity, deciding the entire life of its citizens, when democracy started proving itself, it was clear there was a huge need for an entity, stronger than the state, making sure the rights of the individuals are respected. And so, NATO, UN, EU and many more were born. For me, NATO is the one looking over the right to safety, representation and equality.
Why is NATO so important to me?
Firstly, because of the importance of the rights it preserves. The safety of the citizens is the most important right; without it, all the others would not exist. Moreover, the equality guarantees a healthy democracy in every member state and also the possibility of individual growth and finally, the representation stands for democracy itself as a direct consequence of many hard years under communist dictatorships.
Secondly, because of the way it acts. All decisions are made under a consensus, a very important characteristic of the principles it stands for. This way, NATO always takes the best decision, summing the best out of each member state.
This week, using multiple online threads, I asked people from all over the world “what does NATO mean to them?”. Initially, I was searching for inspiration but it didn’t take long before it became more like a research project for me. The answers were so different, unique I may say, but all had one thing in common: people were proud for their nation being a member of the alliance.Asking simple people, they would say it is the safety, the knowledge of someone looking over them day and night that made them appreciate NATO so much. Others would also congratulate the political impact it has over their nation. The strongest reactions though, came from ex-communist states like Romania, Albania, Croatia or Slovenia. People over there would not see NATO as a military alliance or political institution, they would see it as the safety of tomorrow, the safety of their children’s future. Those people went through wars, hunger and constant humiliation and they will always question tomorrow. What is NATO for them? The highest of all democracies, the one thing they fought for during revolutions, for which their friends and family members died honorably. It is part of their “everything” and with such a high level of responsibility, you are simply not allowed to make mistakes, and NATO doesn’t.
What does NATO mean to me?
It means all of the above and more. It means safety and diplomacy, it means democracy, it means tomorrow. On its 70th birthday, I wish NATO a “Happy Birthday” and, to all of us living in either member or allied states, a “Happy New Day”!
(Cristian BUDALA, 11th grade, Brasov) - 2. WHAT DOES NATO MEAN TO ME
We live in a globalized world, with everything that comes with it. The “bright” side of it means sharing information fast and at long distances, importing “know-how” solutions from countries that were out of our reach, getting to know cultures that we knew nothing about or learning from educational and economical models that proved to be successful. The “dark” threat of living “global” comes with not knowing how to handle the amount and the importance of all this data; it also gives birth to greed, danger of “borderless regions” or chaos in the decision-making process. Hence the conflicts. Conflicts are no longer conducted or resolved on a battle field with man-power due to technology challenges, but they are handled with “brain-power” and strategy. And here comes NATO.
NATO means Efficiency and Readiness. This alliance brought multiple member countries from all over the world looking in the same direction. It meant fast decisions taken in consensus. Fast, mutual acting brings expected, efficient results.
NATO means Strength. One power, no matter how great it might be, is no longer enough. NATO is the symbol of multi-powering several countries, regardless of their size or strength. Equal rights, equal responsibilities and the “one-for-all” commitment.
NATO means Safety. With the strength empowered by efficient measures and 24-hour readiness in acting where needed, it is clear that all member countries have a sense of safety, can focus on diplomatic measures meant to be active prior or post-conflict moment.
We are living in a time when humanity has to deal with this transition from closed borders to borderless countries, closed cultures to mixed ones, fenced national identities to reinventing the idea of “identity”. It is not an easy job to handle. We need rules, we need good principles behind these rules, we need “together”. This is what NATO means to me.
(Patricia-Osana PORUTIU, student, Cluj-Napoca) - 3. I see NATO as a friendship relationship. I think the best way to approach this organization is with this kind of relationship.
Firstly, we are talking about support. NATO supports every member country and shares its experience within the organization. Each country learns from the others and shares something with the other allies, in its turn. It is an exchange at a very large scale.
Secondly, we are talking about commitment. When I learned what the member countries must do for the others once they reach consensus, I thought it is amazing. They must be ready to fight for each and every of the other countries in the alliance and for their people, just to preserve peace and good relations. I think that is formidable.
NATO is friendship.
(Mara Mihai, LFA, student, Sibiu)
The stage is conceived as an invitation to all those involved to remember some key aspects of the activities of the project; at the same time, the document offers invaluable glimpses to all project stages for all interested.
The interval 11-16 December 2019 marked various special moments in which NATO related-topics were approached in the series of communications “Women in NATO”. The events focused on disseminating the knowledge accumulated during all previous stages of the project “The ANATOmy of an Alliance”. Feelings, memories, feedback, lessons learned and follow up directions were exchanged by all those involved in the staging and progress of the project. The communications were held under the umbrella of the Military ASTRA Association Sibiu. Special appreciation was given to the predominantly female public, particularly the female students from the Medical-Military Department for Training and Development Sibiu.
