STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING FOR CRISIS RESPONSE OPERATIONS COURSE - (NATO APPROVED; NATO ETOC CODE: ETE-CM-41879)

Date: (16-11-2026)
City: Sofia
Location: CMDR COE
Duration: 5 days
Classification: NATO UNCLASSIFIED
Depth of knowledge: Level 300

The CMDR COE NATO APPROVED Strategic Decision Making for Crisis Response Operations (SDMCRO) Course will take place on 16-20 November 2026. The course will be conducted RESIDENTIAL - at CMDR COE premises, 34A Totleben Blvd, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Methodology:
The course is a blended learning solution. Part 1 is a mandatory asynchronous Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) package of approximately 3 hours 30 minutes, completed before arrival and verified by an individual threshold knowledge assessment. Part 2 is a residential executive-level course delivered at the CMDR COE premises, using short interactive lectures, senior practitioner panels, SME-led workshops, guided discussion, case studies, peer learning and syndicate work based on a realistic, evolving strategic-level scenario.

Aim:
To enable senior military officers and civilian equivalents to independently analyse the needs, capabilities, relationships and coordination mechanisms of relevant international stakeholders, and to develop strategic recommendations that harmonise NATO’s activities and avoid duplication of effort during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR), within the context of a Comprehensive Approach.

Training Audience:
OF-4 through OF-6 and civilian equivalents. Exceptions may be approved for personnel whose current or prospective duties directly match the course requirement.
Personnel serving, or preparing to serve, at NATO and Allied national political, political-military and military-strategic levels. The principal audience includes personnel at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, including staffs supporting the North Atlantic Council, the NATO International Staff and the International Military Staff; Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe; Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, particularly Strategic Plans and Policy; and equivalent Allied national ministries of defence, general staffs and other strategic-level governmental bodies. Participants should have responsibilities in policy formulation, political-military advice, strategic planning, crisis management, civil preparedness, resilience, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, or interagency and international coordination. Partner-nation personnel are excluded from the 2026 iteration.

Learning Objectives:
- Describe the international HA/DR stakeholder and coordination environment.
- Analyse NATO’s strategic coordination requirements during an HA/DR response.
- Develop strategic recommendations to harmonise NATO activities with the international HA/DR response.
 
Prerequisites:
- NATO Crisis Management Fundamental Knowledge (COPD, AJP-01, AJP-3, AJP-3.24, AJP-3.26, AJP-5 and NRS 2024).
- Completion of the mandatory ADL package and the individual threshold knowledge assessment before arrival. Residential attendance is conditional upon successful completion.

Language:
The command of English language should be at a professional level, according to the criteria stated in STANAG 6001- 3-2-3-2 or B2+/C1 in CEFRL. 

Attendance:
Participants are expected to attend all course activities as the intense programme does not allow for absences during the course.  Certificate for successful completion shall not be awarded in case absences are recorded.

Registration:
Mandatory on-line registration should be completed as soon as possible, but no later than 30 OCT 2026. The required minimum for course conduct is 15 participants, and the maximum – 24.

Course Fee:
The course fee is € 300. Enrolled learners / their organisations are to cover the course fee latest one week before course start. The fee can be paid online (a payment link will be provided) or via bank transfer (further details will be provided). In case of no show past the cancellation deadline (two weeks in advance of course start), the course fee is non-reimbursable. 
No fees will be charged to military personnel, governmental employees and governmental educational institutions from Sponsoring Nations (Greece, Hungary, Poland and Romania) and the Framework nation (Bulgaria).

Course assessment and certification: 
Each learner must demonstrate an ability to perform in accordance with the course objectives. Formative assessment runs throughout the course through learner-produced analytical products, guided discussion and facilitator observation and feedback during syndicate work. The summative assessment is an integrated capstone consisting of a syndicate strategic recommendation and briefing with panel questioning, and an individual one-page decision note. Products are assessed against completeness, accuracy, soundness of judgement, application of the Comprehensive Approach, feasibility, risk awareness, avoidance of duplication of effort and clarity of strategic advice. There are two types of certificates depending on overall performance: Certificate for Successful Completion and Certificate for Participation. The Certificate for Successful Completion is awarded only where the learner demonstrates the critical standards of the course performance objectives.

Cancellation:
Cancellation of participation is only possible with a 2-week notice prior to the start date of the course. The entire course fee is due past the afore-mentioned period.

Dress Code: 
Smart casual, business casual or military uniforms. 

POCs:
- Course DIR: 
COL Orlin Garkov, Exercise Section Head, e-mail: orlin.garkov@cmdrcoe.org
Office telephone number: +359 2 92 24 736
- Course OPR:  
LTC Milen MIRCHEV, Operational Laboratory Expert, e-mail: milen.mirchev@cmdrcoe.org
Office telephone number: +359 2 92 24 759