YROW Committee

1
YROW Committee

• Report to CIOR Council
• Lieutenant Adam Slonecki RNR
• 8th August 2009

2
YROW 2009

• YROW Participants
• 43 serving young reserve officers
• 15 nations represented
• 7 have been deployed on operations
• 10 considering or intend to be deployed within
  the next two years
• 4 Facilitators provided all returning YROWS

3
YROW Objectives for 2009

• To consider recruitment and retention issues
  within NATO and the impact of this theme on
  current and future NATO and national operations.
  
• To provide the foundation work for the CIOR
  Symposium.
• To focus discussions and learning on operational
  delivery and capability.

4
YROW Process for 2009

• 43 Officers split into 3 Groups under the
  instruction of a facilitator.
• Group objective to provide written and oral
  support to a specific symposium panel within 12
  working hours.
• Each group sub divided in two smaller working
  teams for speed and constructive discussion.
• Two key note speakers outside of the symposium

5
YROW Questions for 2009

• What should NATO members consider when developing
  recruitment strategies to meet the current
  operational challenges that NATO faces?
• What should NATO member countries consider when
  developing retention strategies to meet the
  current operational challenges that NATO faces?
• What is the added value for the reserve officer
  to work in both the military and civilian work
  market?

6
YROW 2009

• YROW Process for 2009
• Facilitators role crucial
• Kept groups focused
• Key point of contact between YROW and the
  committee with split locations
• Good knowledge of the topics and previous
  experience of working with recruitment and
  retention.

7
YROW 2009

• YROW 2009 physical Product
• Written a concise speaking note and background
  briefing paper for the Symposium this product
  has been used!
• A formal briefing paper will be written by each
  facilitator within 6 weeks and submitted to the
  CIOR Presidency

8

• but there is more
• First hand international negotiation
• Received lectures from an experienced
  international field on current reserve and
  international issues.
• Personal motivation to deploy enhanced through...
• Sharing of operational experience.
• Understanding of other command structures , NATO
  operations.
• Building self confidence to deploy in
  international operations.
• Improved briefing skills to non-native tongue
  audiences.
• Understanding and appreciating other military and
  social cultures.
• Achieved specific objectives within tight time
  frames.
• Finding the middle way/common ground and seeking
  to build on it
• Adapt to changes in circumstance
• A unique opportunity for Junior officers to work
  in a international environment

9
YROW Initial Assessment

• YROW (CIOR) room for improvement
• Continue to rely upon participants to provide
  their own computer equipment.
• Program timings of National Delegations and CIOR
  must be mindful of the impact of YROW lift and
  move - this impacts on work time and
  reputation!
• Last minute changes to the Symposium we adapted
  and over came but.
• Contact with more senior officers during the week
  only in social environments Council
  participation .?

10
YROW Committee 2009

• YROW background for 2009
• YROW Committee is focused on not only providing a
  safe international forum for discussion and
  exchange of views.
• Our work has to be operationally focused and
  justifiable in the current economic and military
  climate.
• Our work MUST remain RELEVANT

11
YROW Committee 2009

• Offers of facilitatation of a Seminar/YROW
  Platform event by Czech Republic and Switzerland
  Thank you!
• Improvements for 2010 we have Norwegian liaison
  officer!!
• Discussed initial requirements
• Evaluated the revised YROW working structure
  throughout this years YROW.
• Remain motivated to deliver YROW products but are
  well aware of the economic climate.

12
YROW Committee 2009

• Moving forward
• The YROW Committee wants to remain relevant to
  CIOR and for our products to form the foundation
  of your own recruitment and retention.
• However the work of our committee and its
  products must remain OPERATIONALY relevant to our
  individual nations and NATO.
• We must clearly define what the benefits of YROW
  are and justify these- we are unique in concept
  but not in effect..

13
And finally

• We started with 43 young officers who had had
  very limited international and staff work
  experience.
• 10 intended to deploy within the next 2 years
• They attended YROW
• 35 now say that they are more motivated to deploy
  where possible.
• All would feel more confident deploying on an
  international operation or working with their
  fellow NATO and international colleagues
• Operational Objective achieved? MODs
  decide..above my pay grade!