Abstract
NATO faces operating environments that are increasingly dynamic, technologically advanced, and Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA). Through the NATO alliance, member nations and allies can respond to future operational challenges by building shared purpose and mutual assurance, by collaborating and sharing resources and risks, and by stimulating each other’s innovation and creativity. However, to realise these advantages, NATO will need leaders capable of crossing cultural as well as geographical boundaries to bring their organisations together. They will require highly developed social, cultural and ethical abilities to build the trust and understanding needed to succeed as an alliance. This report presents an integrated competency framework for NATO leader development that defines the key skills required for the effective leadership of multinational military operations. It is also intended to help align individual nations’ leader development programmes which independently engage in preparing their future leaders. Alongside the framework, this report identifies and examines key areas for effective multinational leader development. The challenges of managing and exploiting situational, technological and ethical complexity are explored alongside the skills required for enabling inclusive and creative cultures and building effective relationships to deliver and maintain an enduring NATO alliance for the future.
Executive Summary There has been a significant increase in the number of multinational military operations that have required member nations from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to contribute forces. This has been in response to a wide spectrum of crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic response to disaster relief and regional conflict. Indeed, the 21st century global security environment is a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) environment. Leaders are required to undertake challenges in multinational, culturally diverse environments with unique differences in operational practices, roles, authorities and doctrine that may impact their effectiveness as leaders of military operations. Therefore, there is a requirement to identify the key competencies required for military leaders that will ensure confidence, effectiveness and success when engaged in multinational operations. Research Task Group (RTG) 286 was formed to consider current and emerging challenges to leadership in multinational operations and the implications for ongoing military leader development across the NATO alliance. Its primary objectives were to provide guidance on future leader development needs and to produce a leader development framework designed to underpin the ongoing provision of leader education, training and experiences. RTG-286 brought together specialists in the fields of military education, leader development and training, cultural competence and social psychology from across NATO. The team drew upon summary reports from member nations on current leader development programs, academic scholarship and NATO publications such as the Framework for Future Alliance Operations (FFAO, 2015; 2018) to form an in-depth understanding of the likely challenges to be expected from operational environments by 2035. The leader development framework presented herein includes the critical competencies required for future military leaders across six domains: cognitive, social, personal, professional, technological and transformational. The range of leadership competencies are further broken down into their component parts for detailed examination, such as how future leaders will build the trust and relationships that are critical components of multinational military operations. Alongside the leader development framework, RTG-286 explored the future needs of multinational leaders thematically. The role of cultural competence and relationship building is examined, as well as approaches needed to manage complexity, leverage technology, foster creativity and develop ethical leaders. This report recommends that NATO reviews its leader development practices to address future multinational operational demands. It finds that there is a critical need to enhance multinational focused education and experience for military leaders in preparation for culturally diverse and technologically advanced operations. A combination of education, exercise-based experience and training is recommended, to be guided by this report and the leader development framework. This will enhance leader knowledge and competence across a range of domains including technical and cultural competence, communication skills and decision making and provide experience and insight for future military leaders of NATO multinational operations.