Week 1 – Understanding contemporary strategic issues
The first week in Caen was devoted to exploring the main contemporary strategic issues. Participants were given an overview of national defence, French strategy and institutions through key presentations and visits to the FACTEM company and the Calvados Gendarmerie group, with a memorial ceremony in Bayeux.
Week 2 – Deepening knowledge of the armed forces and defence capabilities
The second week, spent at a boarding school in Cherbourg, enabled the students to strengthen their understanding of French military capabilities.
On the agenda: industrial visits, meetings with the armed forces, discovery of critical infrastructure and discussions on the operational preparedness of the armed forces.
A highlight that consolidated their overall vision of the defence tool.
Visits punctuated the week, notably to the Flamanville nuclear power plant, Naval Group, the Army Commissariat Specialised Training School, Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie, and the Jobourg Regional Operational Centre for Surveillance and Rescue (CROSS), a key player in maritime surveillance and rescue.
Week 3 – Cooperation, conflicts and openness to the maritime world
In Le Havre, attendees discussed international cooperation, current conflicts and geopolitical issues in Europe and Africa.
The maritime dimension was highlighted with a visit to the École Nationale Supérieure Maritime (ENSM), an immersion in the École du Service Public de la Mer (ESPMER) to understand the State's actions at sea, a discovery of the Port Centre and the role of dockers, and a study of the maritime security chain (maritime police, customs).
The week concluded with a visit to the Normandy BITD at the Honfleur Mechanical Construction Workshops (ACMH).
Week 4 – Crises, resilience and territorial anchoring
Last week, in Évreux and Rouen, crisis management and risk prevention were at the heart of the programme.
The auditors alternated between operational immersion at Air Base 105, a meeting with the Prefect of Eure, a tour of the Eure Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS), conferences on new areas of conflict (cyber, disinformation), and an immersion in the BITD with Arianespace, Thales Radar, and the DGA Hydrodynamic Techniques.
This week concluded with the presentation of the committee's work, summarising what they had learnt.
A month in the service of the spirit of defence
