Opening Ceremony for Advanced Courses at the Logistics Academy

Presiding speakers’ table at the opening ceremony for the courses (Photo:Logistics Academy)

Civilians and service personnel attended the ceremony (Photo:Logistics Academy)

The director general of Weapons and Materiel, Lieutenant General García Sieiro, on 11th January opened the 5th Advanced Course in Materiel Infrastructure Logistics and the 5th Advanced Course in Human Resources at the Logistics Academy. The lieutenant general arrived at the Logistics Academy at eleven o’clock in the morning, and after having received official honours he greeted the heads of the Centre’s sections and departments.

In the Aula Magna assembly hall, the director of the academy, General Sánchez Urbón, presented a historic review of the various Logistics courses that have been offered in the Spanish Army and highlighted 2006 as the key year when –already in Calatayud (Zaragoza)- a thorough revision of the contents was undertaken and the two Advanced Courses were differentiated,from that time being, offered separately. He also pointed out that those who successfully passed them could occupy posts at Brigade Headquarters or at top level governing bodies.

In turn, Lieutenant General García Sieiro began his address by explaining the objectives and missions of the Weapons and Materiel General Directorate. Subsequently, he affirmed that the upcoming future decade involved investing in sustainment and that R+D policy is fundamental. He also underlined the importance of the Advanced Course in Human Resources as well as how important it has been to offer it separately from the Materiel and Infrastructure Logistics one. To conclude, he explained the rule of three ‘H’s, which is appropriate for being a good leader: honesty, humility and humour.

In the case of both Advanced Courses, the distance phase has already finished, carried out from 15th September to 30th December, and the classroom phase is scheduled to conclude on 29th June. The Advanced Course on Human Resources is made up of 10 students; the Materiel and Infrastructure Logistics Course, 49 students. Among the total of 59 candidates, there is a lieutenant colonel from the Marines and two lieutenant colonels from Morocco.