Transformation Through Training • Issue No: 10 • September 2017 • 7 would use in real operations. We are also expanding our office space to accommodate current and new staff members in order to increase JFTC’s capacity up to 1000 workplaces, for both the training audience and exercise control staff at a time. Two areas where JFTC is using training to implementtransformationareSTEADFAST PINNACLE and STEADFAST PYRAMID, and the NATO-Georgia JTEC Mentorship program. In STEADFAST PINNACLE and STEADFAST PYRAMID, of which JFTC will become ODE starting in 2018, SHAPE intends to use this high level staff training venue to rehearse new operational and strategic concepts, and harness the knowledge of senior leaders assigned to NATO. Mentoring the Georgian Joint Training and Evaluation Centre (JTEC) is a Partner Development mission that will improve the capability and capacity of the Georgian Training Centre and allow it to function within NATO Guidelines for future use by NATO members. What do these changes mean for the Centre? Will its priorities change? I would not say “change” – we will still be focusing on Resolute Support mission pre-deployment training. We will also continue testing, experimenting and building NATO’s interoperability during CWIX. And additionally, we will stand ready and are fully prepared for new training needs defined by SACT, SACEUR and the outcome of the NATO Exercise Program Review, which is related to MJO training. These are the reasons JFTC is transforming and remains in close coordination with our higher headquarters, the Allied Command Transformation. Wearefocusedontwomainareas–training and innovation. The JFTC transformation aims at reorganizing and thus enhancing our training capacity on one side. On the other, we are working on increasing our innovation abilities, including experimentation as well as capability development that will also support the Allied training. For example, the Battle Lab that is now being implemented at JFTC is a useful tool in conducting exercises and experimentation. What the changes will bring, is JFTC’s enhanced ability to act as Officer Directing Exercise for Multinational Brigade up to Joint Force Command level exercises, to fully support NCS/ NFS commanders in Collective Defence training, and development of new, innovative capabilities. Therefore, our current second and third priority will gain momentum. JFTC will be more capable – in terms of manpower, structure and infrastructure, while being flexible enough to provide ad hoc training and to respond to the needs of Commanders, and thus the Alliance. Big changes and significant development of capabilities and capacities will certainly result in a heavier workload for the Centre. How do you envision the upcoming months at JFTC? These will be very intensive months. Developing our new structure, adjusting to a new reality will require a high level of flexibility, understanding and dedication from the staff. However, the people at JFTC are very committed and I am sure the transition will be smooth and successful. It will not be easy, but to achieve more we have to intensify our efforts. And we are ready for that. Thanks to all the improvements, our support to the Alliance will be even more streamlined. We will be more efficient in responding to NATO’s changing requirements. JFTC is a reliable, flexible training provider for NCS and NFS, and will become the primary location for Land Centric training. JFTC is a first class venue for training and will maintain a state-of- the-art platform for experimentation. JFTCwillremainattheveryheartofNATO’s training aspirations and transformation. As the importance of both training and testing will undoubtedly grow, JFTC will remain on the cutting edge of enhancing NATO’s ability to defend the Alliance, deter adversaries and project stability. ■ Questions asked by JFTC Public Affairs Office