CSOC 26.1 (C-IED Staff Officers Course) gathers 23 students from 12 nations

The C-IED COE conducted the first iteration of the C-IED Staff Officers Course (CSOC 26.1) from 2 to 6 March 2026 in Hoyo de Manzanares, Spain (two more iterations will be conducted this year, one in June and one in October).

Opened by the C-IED COE Director, colonel Javier Sanz Maldonado, the course was attended by twenty-three participants from twelve countries (Belgium, Canada, Germany, Spain, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Türkiye and the USA).

The course began with the academic foundations of C-IED during the first two days. From the second day onwards, participants were divided into three syndicates tasked with solving operational problems and supporting the commander’s decision-making, both during the planning process and throughout the conduct of operations.

To carry out this programme, their preparation was supported not only by the C-IED COE staff but also by external SMEs from Romania and Hungary.

CSOC aims to bridge the gap between national training and the preparation required to serve in a C-IED-related position within the NATO Command Structure (NSC) or the NATO Force Structure (NFS).

After completing the training, our purpose is that attendees are better prepared to facilitate, manage and lead the C-IED effort by coordinating and integrating the expertise and activities of other staff branches, and serve as the Commander’s primary C-IED subject-matter expert and operations advisor.