The efforts for transforming Bulgaria into a full NATO member demand a new approach for maintaining the professional level of the military and civilian personnel within the Bulgarian Armed Forces. The opportunity to establish a Regional Logistics Training Centre at Rakovski Defence and Staff College shows the changing requirements of the MoD for the implementation of the new approach to keeping the target and professional qualification of the military and civilian personnel at a high level.

The need for such a center to be established for training is defined by the objective processes and regularities of the developing framework of national priorities originating from the NATO membership and it also depicts the practical steps towards this. Broadening the opportunities for a future participation in the common NATO defense system imposes the integration of the training and acquiring higher professional qualification of the personnel in a unified process of standardization, procedures and rules. At the same time, establishing a center of a regional importance for NATO will be a contribution of the Republic of Bulgaria to the pact as well.

Bulgarian – French cooperation in the military field has a tradition of more than ten years. On 30.07.1992 the MoD of the Republic of Bulgaria and the MoD of the Republic of France signed a bilateral agreement for cooperation in the military field . The cooperation is implemented throughout the formation and annual meetings of a mixed bilateral commission at MoD level and General Staff representatives. They carry out meetings and realize initiatives as the two countries exchange the hosting of these events.

At the 8 th annual meeting of the mixed Bulgarian –French commission in 1999 was taken a decision according to which France is to provide consultants in the field of Logistics who have to perform coordinating functions in the General Staff and the Commandment of 2 nd Army Corps . Since the same year the implementation of the agreed Logistics Project for supporting the Bulgarian Army in the process of transforming the Logistic system has started.

At the 12 th session of the Bulgarian – French mixed commission was agreed a regional Logistics training center, based in Rakovski Defence and Staff College to be established. The center should be certified in accordance with the NATO standards with the purpose of :

- optimizing the system of opportunities for training and target professional qualification of military and civilian personnel / Bulgarian and foreign / in the field of Logistics ;

- maintaining and enhancing the professional qualification of the military and civilian personnel, working in different logistic structures and establishing a full cycle of a NATO interoperable national military Logistics system ;

- bringing the theory and skills taught to the students up to the highest national and international Logistics standards and making them comparable to those in corresponding NATO centers ;

- providing expertise in the field of military Logistics to the countries in the region during the process of joining NATO and after their accession .

The objective of the training is to provide the Bulgarian and foreign officers and civilians with a target professional qualification and develop leadership competence in the field of common Logistics in accordance with NATO standards. This is achieved through:

- Enhancing the specialized training and further development of the students as logistic support experts ;

- Introducing the students to up-to-date theory and practice related software for optimizing the logistic support internationally ;

- Broadening the practical skills and ability for working in a team and international environment ;

- Forming a new logistic and management culture ;

- Promoting opportunities to exchange experience and establishing a multinational creative work environment.

Training is to be conducted according to programs approved by Chief Directorate LMS - General Staff, Logistic Support Command – Genera Staff and France, in timeframes and duration from 2 to 6 weeks , in two terms . The trainees are Bulgarian and foreign students preparing for their duties in CJTF and officers from directorates and departments of the services of the army, the General Staff and MoD .

The range of the students can vary including civilians from ministries, institutions and parties represented in the Parliament, involved in national defense and security.

The courses are taught in Bulgarian, French and English.

The programs for the different courses are designed to give an opportunity for upgrading students' knowledge, classes are organized in modules, combining theoretical and practical training approaches. Computer modeling and simulation models, developed as software are widely used.

The programs ensure training of logistic personnel for work with ADAMS, LOGREP, etc . systems.

Depending on the course specialization, there are different lecturers with relevant diplomatic status from France, specialists from MoD and the General Staff and the faculty of the Logistics chair of Rakovski Defence and Staff College .

Trainees : For each term there are about 20 to 30 trainees meeting the program requirements. Rakovski Defence and Staff College is responsible for the accommodation of the trainees.

The College provides training facilities including offices for the trainers and specialists, 2 specialized classrooms with 18 equipped workstations and consumables. The training facilities are provided in Command and Staff Faculty.

Expected deadline for the establishment of the Center :

Completion of training facilities – by the end of March 2005 ;

Overall completion of the center, certifying, issuing offers to foreign candidates – September 2005.