The fourth and final week of the 230e session in the Normandy region of the IHEDN offered listeners a perspective on international cooperation and conflict through high-level lectures.
Mr Pascal AllizardSenator for Calvados and an expert on China, presented the major challenges facing this country in the current context. Lieutenant General (2S) Michel Yakovleff spoke about transatlantic relations and Mr Jean-Marie RippertFrance's former ambassador to Russia, on Europe's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The challenges of remembering the Second World War were also highlighted with Colonel Thierry NoulensDMD for Calvados and a doctor in modern and contemporary history, to the site of the Merville Battery and Pegasus Bridge, before laying a wreath in tribute to the men of the Kieffer Commando. A visit to the Caen Memorial and a meeting with its director Mr Kléber Arhoulwas another highlight of the week.
Friday 17 February saw the end of the session, after 4 weeks of training in Normandy, in the towns of Evreux, Cherbourg, Le Havre and Caen. On this occasion, the auditors of the 230e session had the honour of being welcomed in the lounges of the Hôtel Préfectoral by Mr Thierry MosimannPrefect of Calvados. The auditors from the four committees presented their findings to the audience and the various authorities present, Lieutenant General Laurent MichonOGZDS West, Sub-prefect Jean-Michel DelvertHead of Regional and Specialised Activities, representing Lieutenant General Benoit DurieuxDirector of IHEDN, and General Officers 2S Philippe Sidossession director, and Jérôme Pellistrandieducational consultant.
The 30 new IHEDN auditors then received the certificate that confers this quality on them and reinforces their desire to promote and disseminate the spirit of defence, in line with the Institute's mission.
To mark the 3e 230 weeke session in the Normandy region, listeners were able to discover the different strategic locations of the port of Le Havre and learn more about maritime issues.
Florian WeyerThe meeting focused on the major projects and the safety, economic and ecological challenges that HAROPA port, the merger of the ports of Paris, Rouen and Le Havre, must take into account.
The auditors also discovered the Ecole Nationale Supérieure Maritime (ENSM), the flagship of merchant navy officer training. It helps to strengthen France's strategic autonomy in the maritime field. After a reception in the salons of the Commandant de la Marine (COMAR) in Le Havre, Captain Frédéric JanciDuring their visit, the auditors met with the maritime gendarmerie and the regional customs directorate, major players in the State's action at sea. An embarkation on board the coastguard launch put the lessons learned into perspective.
Conferences on cybersecurity and the state of play in the war in Ukraine highlighted other strategic issues.
The week ended in the salons of Le Havre town hall, at the invitation of its mayor and former prime minister, Mr Édouard Philippe. He congratulated each of the auditors on the time they devote during this session to defence and national security issues, and encouraged them to continue this commitment beyond the training.
The second week of the 230e session in the Normandy region was marked by 4 major visits, in addition to the conferences.
Naval Group is building the new generation of nuclear attack submarines in Cherbourg, such as the Suffren, the first of which was launched on 6 November 2020. On 2 November, the audience had the opportunity to discover the immense naval halls of Cherbourg.e This class of ANS is nearing completion, and the next 4 are at various stages of construction.
Captain CarronThe Commander of the Cherbourg Naval Base, presented the major maritime issues to the audience before introducing them to an unsuspected aspect of submarine dismantling, which can be recycled to the tune of over 95 %.
The visit to Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie, a BITD company, once again highlighted a leading shipbuilding company.
Finally, the week ended with a visit to ORANO, a reprocessing site for French and foreign civil nuclear waste. Dressed in clothing appropriate for the environment potentially exposed to radioactivity, the auditors were able to access the monitoring and control station, the pools where radioactive waste is stored and understand the uranium reprocessing process.
The auditors now have a week off. They can take advantage of this to make progress on their committee work, before meeting again in Le Havre for the 3e week of the session.
To mark the 1re 230 weeke session of the IHEDN in the French regions, the students were immediately immersed in the Institute's unique educational triptych: lectures, committee work and visits to military and industrial sites.
On Wednesday 18/01, listeners were welcomed to Evreux Air Base 105 by Colonel Le Floch, the base commander. This day devoted to the airmen and airwomen of the French Air Force and space forces was an opportunity to discover what goes on behind the scenes and the specialities of a 'transport' base.
The following day, a visit to the DGA Hydrodynamic Technique site took the audience into a little-known world that brings together cutting-edge skills and expertise. Ship models are put to the test in various basins, including one 600 m long where swell and many other maritime conditions are reproduced. After a visit to the Thales Ymare site, which specialises in the construction of primary and secondary radars, the day ended in Rouen.
The auditors had the honour of being received at the regional prefecture, where they were shown the crisis management room. They then had the privilege of meeting the regional prefect, Mr Pierre-André Durandwho shared his experience of managing the Lubrizol fire on 26 September 2019.
The 30 auditors selected to follow the 230e session in the Normandy region met in Évreux on Tuesday 17 January 2022 for the opening day.
They were warmly welcomed to the Eure departmental council by Mr Xavier HubertVice-President for Security and Crime Prevention. Brigadier General Guillaume CouëtouxDeputy General Officer for the Western Defence and Security Zone and Lt-Gen Laurent Michon then congratulated the auditors on their commitment. They recalled how much the regional sessions of the IHEDN contribute to the link between the army and the nation. The Prefect Denis ConusThe Deputy Director of the IHEDN then gave the opening address of the regional session and launched the students into 4 weeks of intense training based on visits to industrial and military sites, high-level conferences and committee work. In the afternoon, the students got to the heart of the matter, thanks to an overview of the contemporary world provided by Mr Guillaume Lasconjariashead of the studies and research department at the IHEDN. The day ended in the lounges of the Eure prefecture, where the auditors had the privilege of being received by The Prefect of Eure, Simon Babre. The exchanges were particularly rewarding.
After a first week in Eure and Seine Maritime, where they had the honour of being received on 19 January by Pierre-André Durand, Prefect of the Normandy Region, Prefect of Seine-Maritime for a highly instructive conference on crisis management, listeners will be travelling to Cherbourg, Le Havre and Caen over the following weeks.
