Global Programming – NATO’s education and individual training management system
NATO Education and Training (E&T) activities ensure the preparedness of the NATO Command Structure (NCS) and NATO Force Structure (NFS) for current and future missions. These activities adhere to established doctrine and standards, supporting NATO’s strategic objectives and integrating new concepts and capabilities. A structured management system ensures alignment with quality and effectiveness requirements.
Education and Individual Training (E&IT) is governed by the Global Programming (GP) framework, which provides a governance structure, development methodology, and production planning process for NATO’s Education, Training, Exercises, and Evaluation (ETEE). GP aims to deliver tailored training efficiently, addressing NATO Defence Planning Process inputs, capability development needs, and Lessons Learned.
The Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT) oversees the overall management of NATO E&T through the Multi-Domain Force Development (MDFD) Branch. Within the governance framework of each discipline, a Requirements Authority (RA) and a Department Head (DH) facilitate the centralized coordination and decentralized execution of NATO E&T activities and events. Notably, within the Intelligence discipline, various “sub-disciplines” (also referred to as “areas”) are organized, with the HUMINT area benefiting from the services of the NATO HUMINT Centre of Excellence (COE), which has served as the DH since 2015.
NATO HUMINT Centre of Excellence – Department Head for HUMINT education and training in NATO
On May 29, 2015, the Military Committee approved the NATO HUMINT COE to serve as the Department Head (DH) for Human Intelligence education and training within NATO (document IMSM-0264-2015). This formal approval was marked by a ceremony held on September 2, 2015, at HQ SACT in Norfolk, Virginia, where the HUMINT COE officially assumed the title of “Department Head for Human Intelligence Education and Training” in NATO. During this event, Colonel Eduard Simion, then Director of the NATO HUMINT COE, and Vice Admiral Javier Gonzalez-Huix, representing HQ SACT as the head of the Joint Force Trainer, signed a Memorandum of Agreement formalizing this appointment.
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A DH is a voluntary entity formally appointed by HQ SACT to oversee a Discipline or Area’s E&T program. This role encompasses translating requirements into actionable solutions and coordinating the portfolio of these solutions to ensure efficient and cost-effective delivery to stakeholders, including NATO, Allied Nations, partners, and non-NATO entities (NNEs) as appropriate. |
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The NATO HUMINT COE has over a decade of experience in E&T, actively engaging in NATO GP and exploring new opportunities in human capital development. It contributes with experts to key NATO E&T boards, including the DH Forum, the NATO Individual Training and Education (IT&E) Planning Boards and the NATO IT&E Conference. The Centre also supports intelligence-related conferences and revises NATO Intelligence E&T standards, particularly the HUMINT chapter of AIntP-11.
To coordinate HUMINT training, the Centre established the HUMINT E&T Community of Interest, serving as the HUMINT Annual Discipline Conference. As a result, the DH produces the HUMINT Discipline Alignment Plan, guiding stakeholders. The Centre also analyzes best practices and innovations, ensuring continuous improvement in NATO HUMINT education and training.