26TH INITIAL JOINT TARGETING COURSE CONCLUDES

At the Italian Joint Air Operations School, new operators trained to manage the iterative assessment processes of the "Targeting Cycle" at the strategic and operational levels

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The 26th edition of the "NATO Initial Joint Targeting" course has successfully concluded for 23 attendees, 9 of whom came from various allied Nations and NATO Organizations. The training activity was organized and conducted by the newly established Joint Targeting Department, a new structural element that marks a significant evolution in the Institute's educational framework.

To ensure the highest training standards, the Italian Joint Air Operations School (Ita-JAOS) also relies on the valuable contribution of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from the NATO SHAPE and AIRCOM Commands. Their specialized support integrated and enhanced the skills of the internal teaching staff, consolidating the Institute's role as a leading training hub for the Alliance.

The course, delivered entirely in English and certified as "NATO Approved," is included in the NATO Allied Command Transformation's (ACT) Education and Training Opportunities Catalogue (ETOC). It constitutes the fundamental pillar and baseline for training the modern "Targeteer." By combining doctrinal rigor with operational requirements, the program aims to train "ready to operate" personnel capable of applying the learned principles in national and international operational contexts. The objective is to ensure full awareness not only of the procedures but also of the future evolutionary lines of Joint Targeting doctrine and the criticalities of a particularly sensitive discipline, where methodological rigor, responsibility, and strict adherence to decision-making processes are indispensable.

Among the qualifying elements of this edition was the dynamic teaching approach: theoretical lessons were conducted while maintaining a constant parallel comparison with today's operational reality. The syllabus was further enriched by specific modules dedicated to Multi-Domain and Multi-Dimension operations, analyzing the relevance of the targeting function across the five operational domains (Air, Maritime, Land, Space, and Cyber) and their interactions with the physical, cognitive, and virtual dimensions. This angle provided an advanced perspective on the challenges of digital transformation and the complexity of modern conflict scenarios, ensuring an adaptable and resilient preparation.

In his greeting address, the Commander of the Ita-JAOS, Brigadier General Francesco Donato Rizzo, emphasized how "...the establishment of the Joint Targeting Department represents a necessary and decisive step in the Institute's evolution. This initiative fully responds to the desire to increase national educational and training capabilities in a sector of strategic relevance, in line with the training needs and governance guidelines in this specific field issued by the Joint Effect and Targeting Division of the Italian Joint Operations Command (JOC). From an educational and training perspective, cooperation and the sharing of knowledge and concepts—from both a national and NATO viewpoint—along with the joint presence of Italian and Allied instructors, are vital elements for the development and affirmation of security and a force multiplier for the Alliance."