SAF CHOD Visit to NATO Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence
On 18 February 2026, the NATO-accredited Mountain Warfare Centre of Excellence (MW COE) hosted the Chief of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF), Major General Boštjan Močnik, accompanied by Command Sergeant Major Robert Rotar. The visit marked one of the first official engagements of the newly appointed CHOD within national and international military institutions.
The programme commenced with an introduction of the Senior National Representatives (SNRs), highlighting the multinational composition and governance framework of the Centre. Colonel Leon Holc, MW COE Director, delivered a comprehensive briefing on the Centre’s mission, vision, organizational structure, and core outputs. The presentation covered the historical development of the MW COE, key milestones since NATO accreditation, and its contribution to NATO transformation through doctrine development, education and training, concept development, experimentation, and lessons learned integration.
Particular emphasis was placed on the main features of the current Programme of Work, including ongoing activities supporting mountain warfare capability development within the Alliance and adaptation to multi-domain operational requirements.
In his address to the staff, Major General Močnik expressed appreciation for the Centre’s professionalism and strategic relevance. He emphasized that “boots on the ground” will remain decisive in future operations, particularly in mountainous terrain where human performance and tactical leadership are critical.
The visit concluded with a tour of the MW COE Wargaming Laboratory, including presentations of the MDO, WDA, and DDA components and their role in supporting analysis, experimentation, and capability development.
