“SEESIM 12” international simulation exercise

Exercise SEESIM 12 has a regional and international character, and this year Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy, Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine and SEEBRIG Command take part in the exercise. Observer countries in the exercise are Georgia and Moldova, and the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and representatives of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Sweden provide technical, operational, financial and advisory support. According to the pre-established plan, the implementation of the simulation exercise began on 15 October 2012 at the main command post in Charalitzi, Republic of Bulgaria, and on the remote command posts in the capitals of countries members of SEDM process (Forum of Ministers of Defence of South East Europe) and in the South-Eastern Europe Brigade Headquarters (SEEBRIG) in Larissa, Greece. Exercise ends on October 22 with the analysis and lessons learned.

The purpose of the exercise is to maintain the mechanisms for development and coordination of civil emergencies scenarios through simulation of the events, for verification of civil-military interdepartmental and inter-agency cooperation, and for training NATO and EU standard operating procedures.

The mission of the exercise is to develop, standardize and train national, regional and SEEBRIG processes to response to accidents and disasters and to promote regional security, stability, peace, transparency and to build mutual trust. The exercise also develops, enhance and improve the nation’s capabilities to respond to a crisis situation.

Scenarios related to natural disasters and catastrophes caused by human factor are trained. The exercise involved all levels in providing the response: military headquarters, senior officials of civil ministries, individual rescue teams, special forces, forces for the preservation of the public peace and order, etc.