CIOR US VP Col. James R. Sweeney II (right) represents the US during the council meeting in Helsinki, June 26. Behind Sweeney are CIOR US Assistant Secretary General Lt. Col. Milt Houghton, USA (Ret.), PhD. Col. Judi Davenport, USA (Ret.), past national ROA president, is to his left. Click
image above for ROA 2023 CIOR Summer Congress album and caption information on Flickr.
Against the backdrop of Russia’s nearby aggression against Ukraine—the brunt of which has been borne by Ukraine’s reservists—nearly one hundred U.S. delegates and delegates at large descended upon Helsinki, Finland, for the 2023 Summer Congress of the
Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR), the Interallied Confederation of Medical Reserve Officers (CIOMR), and the Interallied Confederation of Non-Commissioned Officers (CISOR).
Newest and thirty-first NATO member Finland and the Finnish Reserve Officers’ Federation, assisted by the Finnish Defense Forces, along with the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Association, hosted the Congress. Estonia currently holds the CIOR presidency.
This Congress, during which CIOR celebrated its 75th and CISOR its 60th anniversaries, focused on contemporary warfare, national resilience and will in the face of prolonged crisis, best practices, and a reservist-based model for national defense.
The U.S. delegation was led by the VP US, Col. James Sweeney, USMC (Ret.). In attendance were ROA’s national president, Capt. Bob Carmack, USCG (Ret.) and immediate past president, Col. Judi Davenport, USA (Ret.). Following the Congress, Davenport will
begin serving her term as the CIOR VP US, followed by Carmack.
While last minute issues prevented the attendance of Chief of Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, she was ably represented by Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew Lombardo, by Maj. Gen. W. Scott Lynn, commanding general of the Army Reserve Medical Command, and by
others.
The delegates, from some thirty-three member and partner countries, enjoyed a video greeting from honorary “CIOR President for Life” Maj. Gen. Evan “Curly” Hultman, USA (Ret.). CIOR president, Lt. Col. Toomas Luman, of Estonia, later presented Hultman
an honorary CIOR badge, and the 75th Anniversary Medal with accompanying certificates, which Sweeney accepted on Hultman’s behalf.
President Luman also presented VP US Sweeney with a 75th Anniversary Medal and the gold President’s Medal. Six teams represented team USA in the 30-team Military Competition (MILCOMP), comprising shooting, NATO land obstacle course, utility swimming and
orienteering (including a surprise paint-ball shooting component), as well as graded combat medical assistance and law of armed conflict exam; and surprise events including carrying land mines and cross-country skiing (on rollerblades).
Notably, the ROA Department of New Jersey, led by its president and national Executive Committee member Lt. Col. McKinley Williams, USA (Ret.), supported team USA during their training at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in May.
In addition to hosting a BBQ for the team, the department donated $500 for team shirts, which were proudly worn during the competition held on Santhamina military island located near downtown Helsinki. The congress was visited by tragedy when long-time
CIOMR medical observer Col. Walter Henny, of the Netherlands, died after falling off a platform while judging MILCOMP. His death was mourned with a moving tribute at the closing gala, and ROA adds its deepest sympathy and condolences to Walter’s family
and many friends in CIOR and CIOMR, including close friend and CIOMR VP US Col. Lewis Neace, USAF (Ret.).
The 13th annual CIOR Civil-Military Exercise (CIMEX), organized by the CIOR Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Committee was another highlight. This CIMEX was a two-day tabletop exercise focusing on war fighting and field issues, international and non-governmental
organizations operating in Ukraine.
More than seventy-five young officers from eleven countries, including twenty-two from the US, spent the week receiving lectures and participating in workshops at the Young Reserve Officers Workshop (YROW) plan and led by members of CIOR’s Young Reserve
Officer Committee. Hundreds of participants attended the annual CIOR Symposium, which focused on reducing vulnerabilities.
Despite informative presentations from members of the European Parliament, flag and general officers, and leading academicians, the highlight was the presentation from Ukrainian Lt. Col. Vladyslav Tychyna on the cooperation between civilian and military
personnel in his war-torn country.
In addition to observing the opening ceremony and joining in the opening reception and closing gala dinner, the delegates and delegates-at-large were treated to guided tours at the Suomenlinna historic fortress and the picturesque town of Porvoo.
Summer Congress 2023 served the CIOR/CIOMR purposes of forging links between reserve officers, sharing best practices, developing viewpoints on reserve issues in support of NATO, and fostering reserve officer professional development.
Hard work remains as CIOR continues to strengthen its ties with and support of NATO, including the National Reserve Forces Committee, to advocate for Sweden’s full membership in NATO, and to strengthen CIOR’s membership and streamline its structure during
these tumultuous times.
Next up will be the annual CIOR Language Academy—a two-week immersive study of operational English and French—in the UK in July, followed by the CIOR in-between meeting in Stockholm in November.