19th NATO M&S Basic Course – 2nd Session 2025
Strengthening NATO’s training landscape through cooperation, innovation, and the growing global M&S community
The NATO Modelling & Simulation Centre of Excellence (M&S COE) successfully concluded the 19th NATO Modelling & Simulation Basic Course, held in Rome from 17 to 21 November 2025. Nineteen civilian and military participants from across NATO and partner nations took part in this edition, confirming once again the course’s decisive contribution to strengthening the Alliance’s training and readiness through Modelling & Simulation.
This session was marked by an extraordinary level of cooperation across the international M&S community. For the first time, students from Luiss Guido Carli University joined the course, inaugurating a new cooperation framework between the M&S COE and the academic institution. This partnership sets the stage for future initiatives of mutual interest, aimed at cultivating innovation and fostering the next generation of M&S specialists.
The quality of the programme was further enhanced by the contributions of several NATO commands and institutions. Subject Matter Experts from the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC), the Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC), the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) and the Italian Army Evaluation and Innovation Command (COMVIE) contributed with focused operational and technical inputs. COMVIE also provided a concise demonstration of VBS4 and showed how Simulation is embedded within their own Exercise Management System, offering a clear snapshot of current simulation capabilities in the Italian Army.
Academic excellence was ensured through the involvement of the University of Defence in Brno, University of Genoa and the University of Rome Tor Vergata, while industry perspectives were represented by Leonardo, whose participation enriched discussions on technology development and future capabilities.
As in the previous edition, the course employed state-of-the-art multimedia and NATO simulation systems. These tools enabled a unique learning experience, bridging theoretical foundations with practical demonstrations and reinforcing the role of Modelling and Simulation in today’s operational context and in supporting the decision-making process.
Reflecting on the evolution of the M&S Basic Course, Col. Francesco Pacillo, Director of the M&S COE, underlined how the programme has become a stable and strategic asset within NATO’s training ecosystem, sustained by the expertise and commitment of instructors, partners and the wider international M&S community. “The NATO M&S Basic Course has consistently proven to be our most popular and highly demanded programme,” he stated. “Its relevance and steady success over the years are the reason we now deliver two sessions per year, ensuring wider access and continuous support to NATO’s training needs.”
Written by Cdr Dino D. Tropea NATO M&S COE
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M&S Courses and Training Activities
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The NATO Modelling & Simulation Centre of Excellence is dedicated to the promotion of Modelling & Simulation in support of operational requirements, training and interoperability. The Centre act as a catalyst for transformation through the involvement of NATO, governments, academia, industry, operational and training entities, by improving the networking of NATO and nationally owned Modelling & Simulation systems, the cooperation between Nations and organizations through the sharing of Modelling & Simulation information and developments and serving as an international source of expertise for transformation in the related domain. https://www.mscoe.org
NATO Centres of Excellence are nationally or multi-nationally funded institutions accredited by NATO. They train and educate leaders and specialists from NATO member and partner countries, assist in doctrine development, identify lessons learned, improve interoperability and capabilities, and test and validate concepts through experimentation. They offer recognized expertise and experience that is of benefit to the Alliance and support the transformation of NATO, while avoiding the duplication of assets, resources and capabilities already present within the NATO command structure. Although not part of the NATO command structure, they are part of a wider framework supporting NATO Command Arrangements. [source https://www.act.nato.int/centres-of-excellence]
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