OVERVIEW

This module introduces military and civilian personnel assigned to serve within a NATO Headquarters or its national equivalents to the concept and function of NATO Strategic Communications. The focus of the module is to develop and enhance the student’s understanding of Strategic Communications as a key component in the conception, planning and conduct of military activities.  While the focus is on the strategic, operational and upper tactical levels, it is equally applicable to all levels of the NATO Command and Force Structure and their national equivalents down to divisional level.

AIM

The aim of the NATO Advanced Joint Staff Strategic Communications module is to provide senior (1*/OF5/OF4) personnel assigned to the staff of NATO and National headquarters with a baseline understanding of NATO Strategic Communications and its relevance to the conceiving, planning and execution of military activities. The course will prepare students for assignment to, or liaison with, NATO military headquarters in accordance with ASCP-01: NATO StratCom Training Standards, Annex F, and the NATO StratCom Training Requirements Assessment Review dated January 2023.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The primary training audience for this module are individuals of 1*, OF5, and OF4 rank – or civilian equivalents – assigned to a NATO Headquarters or its national equivalent.  It is particularly relevant to those personnel assigned to J2, J3, J5, J7, and J9 roles. It is also open to senior personnel assigned to planning roles within Defence and Security institutions of NATO Allies and Partner nations.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

a.     Explain NATO StratCom principles and and the purpose of StratCom direction and guidance.
b. Explain the role of the StratCom in the context of NATO Joint Doctrine.
c.     Explain the role of the StratCom function in the planning of military operations and activities.
d.     Explain the role of the StratCom function in the execution of military operations and activities.
e. Assure the integration of StratCom direction, guidance, and principles into the functions of the headquarters.

STRUCTURE

This is a 5 day residential module consisting of interactive lectures, case studies, and moderated panel discussions.  The emphasis is on understanding the NATO concept for Strategic Communications, the role of the StratCom function, and enabling multi-national interoperability.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:

a.     Understand the principles of NATO Strategic Communications.
b.     Understand NATO StratCom policy, doctrine, and structure, and their relationship to Political-Military
direction and guidance.
c.     Understand the role of J10 Strategic Communication and its relationship with other branches in a
NATO HQ.
d.     Understand the contribution of behavioural science and narrative thinking to the conception,
planning and execution of NATO military operations and activities.
e.     Understand the current security environment in the context of strategic competition, hybrid
threats, and the role of strategic communications within it.
f.      Understand the nature of the information environment, and the contribution of information
environment assessment (IEA) to the conception, planning and execution of NATO military operations and
activities.
g.    Understand the role, function, utility and limitations of the NATO J10 StratCom functions and
capabilities.
h.    Understand the application of StratCom direction and guidance to the Operations Planning, Joint Effects,
and Joint Targeting processes.
i.     Understand the application of StratCom direction and guidance at both strategic and operational levels to
support decision making.
j.     Understand the integration of StratCom direction and guidance into the overall effort of the staff.

PASS/FAIL CRITERIA

Attendance and participation in interactive lectures and syndicate work.

NATO CERTIFICATION REMARKS

The module is registered within the NATO Allied Command Transformation e-ITEP training catalogue under course code STC-ST-36912. It was developed based on the CCD2 developed during the ADVANCED NATO StratCom Familiarisation Course for Senior Joint Staff Officers TNA workshop. It delivers the NATO training requirements for personnel assigned to non-J10 Directorate, Division & Branch Head positions set out in ASCP-1: NATO StratCom Training Standards, Annex F Para 4b, and the StratCom TRA Review dated January 2023.

COURSE DATES

Portuguese Defence Academy, Lisbon, Portugal

JS24/1    22-26 January
JS24/2    4-8 November