Welcome to the Introduction to NATO course.
Background Information
Authoritative Basis for the Introduction to NATO course
The Introduction to NATO course was collaboratively designed
by several training and educational institutions then converted into the
PfP Learning Management System (LMS) with the assistance of three
Cooperative Development Teams (CDTs). The Introduction to NATO
course is an important part of the Allied Command for Transformation
(ACT), (formerly SACLANT), led NATO Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL)
prototype initiative, was tested by NATO in 2002 and approved for operational
deployment in 2003.
Current CD-ROM version of the course is based on the online version
of content last changed in July 2003. To check for a newer version of the
content or work with online course version please refer to the PfP LMS
at http://pfplms.ethz.ch/p2lms/ . You may also consult new developments at the PfP Consortium
web site (http://www.pfpconsortium.org).
The NATO Defense College led the overall effort and provides
the authoritative basis for the accuracy of the course content. Other course
content contributors included experts in the Division of Public Diplomacy
(formerly
the NATO Office of Information and Press) at NATO Headquarters, the
United States National Defense University and the NATO School.
The Cooperative Development Teams were composed of ADL experts from
Switzerland (International Security Network - ISN), Canada (Canadian
Forces Training Development Centre) and the United States (United
States Joint Forces Command).
The course draws extensively on official NATO documentation and publications
issued by the Division of Public Diplomacy, which has authorised
the reproduction of all quotations, extracts from such documents, and photos
used in the course.
Course Purpose
The purpose of this course,
Introduction to NATO, is to provide
an introduction to NATO structures, policies and operations, as well as,
an overview of the current issues facing the Alliance. The course is primarily
designed for the benefit of newly appointed regular and reserve officers
from NATO and Partner Countries and civilian officials taking up national
or international responsibilities in the security field.
Students who complete this foundational course will acquire the level
of knowledge and understanding necessary to enable them to benefit more
fully from the advanced NATO courses offered by the NATO School,
the NATO Defense College, the National Defence Colleges and
training institutions of NATO and PfP
countries, and the PfP training centres.
Course Instructions for Self-Paced Learning
This stand alone course is designed to be completed at your own pace and
without an instructor. There are no time limitations to complete this course.
Comprehension Checks are provided at the end of each module for
your self-evaluation. If the school/college chooses to establish a class,
someone will contact you.
Viewing
Instructions
This
course is best viewed with a screen resolution of either 1024 X 768 or
800 X 600 and a browser version of Internet Explorer 5.5 or Netscape 6.0
and higher. For specific help to change your screen resolution or to change
your browser click, Specific
Instructions.
To
view some of the muliti-media elements in this course respective software
must be installed at your computer. You may download and install Real Media
(http://forms.real.com/netzip/getrde5_new_look.h) and QuickTime (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download)
for free from the mentioned URLs.
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Course Structure
The course is organised into nine distinct modules,
each with its own learning objectives.
Module 1, NATO Overview provides an overview of the membership
of the NATO Alliance, the Euro-Atlantic security structure with its mutually
reinforcing security organisations, the core functions and tasks of the
Alliance and NATO's relationships with Partner countries.
Module 2, History and Evolution of the Alliance will provide
a historical review from the founding of the Alliance to its on-going transformation
in responding to today's security environment.
Module 3, Evolution of NATO Strategy and the Alliance's 1999 Strategic
Concept will trace the evolution of the NATO strategic concept
from the Cold War to the unclassified NATO strategic concepts of the 1990s
until the present.
Module 4, NATO Structures and Decision-Making will provide
an overview of the civilian and military structures of the Alliance, of
the NATO decision-making process with its consultation and consensus mechanisms
and of NATO Defence Planning, including the PfP Planning and Review Process
(PARP).
Module 5, Key Political Issues will provide an overview
of the key political issues and initiatives facing the Alliance today.
Module 6, Standardization
in NATO will provide an overview of NATO Standardization and interoperability,
its history and development from the early days of the Alliance up to the
current time and implementing the decisions of the 2002 Prague Summit.
Module 7, Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC)will
provide a basic review of civil military cooperation (CIMIC) in NATO.
Module 8, Partnership for Peace (PfP) Programme will provide
a basic review of the PfP Programme, its history, functions and success.
Module 9, Civil Emergency Planning will provide an overview
of Civil Emergency Planning (CEP)
in NATO.
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