What is a COE:
A COE is a nationally or multinationally sponsored entity, which offers recognised expertise and experience to benefit the Alliance, especially in support of Transformation.*
* Reference: MCM-236-03 MC Concept for Centers of Excellence, 04 December ‘03
Relationship with NATO:
There is no command and control relationship between COE-DAT and any of the other NATO organizations. The Centre acts as an advisory body to Allied Command Transformation (ACT) on terrorism and CT related issues. Relations with Allied Command Operations (ACO) are typically coordinated by ACT. Additionally, COE-DAT establishes relationships with numerous NATO bodies and Non-NATO Entities as well.
Who we are:
COE-DAT is a NATO accredited multi-national sponsored entity located in Ankara, Turkey, whose membership is open to all NATO members. Centre has 8 *eight* nations. Türkiye is the framework nation, and Sponsoring Nations include Albania, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, the UK, and the US. The Centre is focused on providing key decision-makers with realistic solutions to terrorism and Counterterrorism (CT) challenges. Like the other accredited COEs, COE-DAT is designed to complement NATO’s current resources while also serving as NATO’s Department Head in Education and Training for CT. As such, COE-DAT is charged with ensuring synergy, coordination, and collaboration across this discipline.
Mission:
COE-DAT’s mission is to provide key decision-makers with a comprehensive understanding to terrorism and CT challenges, in order to transform NATO and Nations of interest to meet future security challenges. This transformation is embedded into NATO’s three declared core task of collective defence, crisis management, and cooperative security.
Vision:
An internationally recognized and respected resource for Defence Against Terrorism expertise for NATO, the hub of a wide network of international military, government, non-government, industry and academic communities of interest.
Functions and Activities:
COE-DAT, within its capacity and typically through our Programme of Work , supports the Sponsoring Nations, NATO, Partners, Non-NATO entities, and other stakeholders in their Defence Against Terrorism and CT efforts with emphasis on military effectiveness and interoperability amongst assets, forces, and capabilities.
COE-DAT will continue to:
1. Serve NATO, nations and partners’ long-term interests by combining efforts, increasing interoperability, standardisation and effectiveness in support of capability development to prepare, predict, prevent and respond to terrorist activities;
2. Facilitate the comprehensive approach and make the best use of combined experience and capabilities of all Sponsoring Nations and Partner Countries;
3. Provide subject matter expertise and advice on requests pertaining to the Defence Against Terrorism and CT;
4. Contribute to concept and doctrine development or related documents in the Defence Against Terrorism and CT areas;
5. Provide Defence Against Terrorism and CT focused education and training to individuals from senior military and civilian leadership to staff level, as well as units and teams;
6. Provide mobile training teams and subject matter experts to facilitate education and training of national and multinational military and civilian units;
7. Provide support to the planning and conducting of NATO, Nations, and Partners’ Defence Against Terrorism and CT exercises and experimentation, including the development and validation of scenarios;
8. Provide a repository for International, National and NATO shared information, analysis and lessons learned in Defence Against Terrorism and CT in close cooperation with Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC) COE.
9. In order to perform these functions, COE-DAT will plan, organize and conduct the following activities:
10. Courses, seminars, conferences and workshops;
11. Concept and doctrine development workshops and working groups meetings for NATO, Nations and Partners;
12. Participate in Defence Against Terrorism related committees, boards and working groups;
13. Lessons Learned evaluations and analysis;
14. Academic research and projects;
15. Produce Defence Against Terrorism and CT related publications;
16. Other activities as requested and approved by the Steering Committee.