Baltic Naval Intermediate Command and Staff Course

Objective of course:

To prepare Baltic Naval Intermediate Command and Staff (NICSC) and prepare them for the future service at the Naval Forces operations in the headquarters, including multinational headquarters.

Main task of the course:

To provide the latest officers with an insight into the development trends of NATO and Armed Forces of the Baltic States, the basic principles of operation of the Naval Forces, combat capabilities and standard procedures, various types of combat and crisis prevention operations, as well as the national security situation and guidelines of international and Baltic States.

Frequency: the course takes place once a year (January-June).

Course duration: 22 weeks.

Number of participants: the number of listeners varies annually and does not exceed 20.

Venue: National Defence Academy of Latvia.

Language of instruction: the official language of instruction is English.

Leading directives and ideas of the Baltic Military Committee and the Baltic Naval Committee played an important role in establishing the course, taking into account the real demand to supplement the education of Baltic Naval officers.

During the course, tactical and operational planning, as well as the working procedures of the headquarters are most emphasized, taking into account the specificities of the Baltic Sea Navy, i.e. participation in mine search operations. The theoretical knowledge acquired in the course in the planning of maritime tactical operations is developed in the annual practical marine training, i.e. “Sea-based Staff training Exercise” BALTIC FORTRESS. This training takes place in close cooperation with BALTRON Headquarters.

The course is conducted in accordance with NATO procedures and the methodology of the Baltic Defence College (“BALTDEFCOL”). The training is provided by highly qualified Latvian and foreign military experts from the Lithuanian, Estonian, US, French, German, Danish, Norwegian, Belgian, Dutch and Polish Armed Forces, as well as lecturers from the University of Latvia and BALTDEFCOL.

Throughout the course, each listener shall be assessed separately and the final report shall be drawn up taking into account not only the level of knowledge and skills displayed, but also attitudes towards training in general, the performance of the listener, the practical management (leadership) skills demonstrated during tactical training, as well as the ability to fit in and perform service duties at the headquarters. One of the most important evaluation criteria is the author's successfully written and defended research work (academic essay).

Officers who have successfully completed the Baltic Naval Intermediate Command and Staff (NICSC) receive a certificate of graduation, report on individual personality characteristics and the grade sheet. After a successful course graduation, Baltic Naval officers can continue their studies at the BALTDEFCOL Senior Staff Officer course (the Joint Command and General Staff course) without additional military training.
Baltic Naval Intermediate Command and Staff Course is an officer's career course, entitling Baltic graduates to receive a rank of a Lieutenant Commander or a Commander Junior Grade. 

Since 2007, there have been 12 training courses graduated by 160 officers: 25 Estonian, 46 Lithuanian, 1 Polish, 2 Swedish and 86 Latvian representatives.