Joint Stars, the most important inter-force defense exercise, with the participation of students from Sant'Anna School and LUISS: the first training phase is drawing to a close
In Civitavecchia, at the Army's Simulation and Validation Center, the meeting of the Armed Forces leadership with military and university students involved in the most important inter-force defense exercise
Military authorities and operational commanders of the Armed Forces gathered at the Army Simulation and Validation Center (CESIVA) in Civitavecchia to take stock of the first training phase of Joint Stars 22 (JOST). There, military personnel met with university students from Sant'Anna School and LUISS, who, from December 13, 2022, are engaged in what is the planning phase of the most important Defense exercise.
During the meeting, chaired by the Inter-Forces Summit Operations Commander, Army General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, the outlines and purposes of this first phase of JOST were explained, focusing on the military planning process that, for the first time, also involved the new domains of military operations, namely space and cyber.
General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo congratulated all the staff who, during the briefing, explained the work done in a clear and concise manner, without, however, leaving out any area or branch of planning a truly conducted military operation, including the legal, cultural, political, gender perspective and press relations aspects. "Having an audience here today that is composed not only of Armed Forces personnel, but involves other entities close to Defense, such as the Guardia di Finanza, Red Cross, Port Authorities, Fire Brigade, Civil Defense and the world of Universities, provides us with an opportunity to share, implement and put into practice all those lessons that will be useful to us in the future when dealing with the onset of a crisis," COVI Commander concluded.
Joint Stars is DOD's most important annual training event. It is an inter-force and inter-agency exercise ordered by the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, planned and directed by the Joint Force Operational Summit Command (COVI).
This first phase of Joint Stars, which ends on Jan. 27, 2023, consists of a Command Post Exercise (CPX)-type activity prepared to test the planning capabilities of a national interagency staff in air, land and maritime space defense, cybersecurity and space operations, defense against chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear contamination, and countering threats from emerging technologies including those involving the use of drones including submarines.
This year, the Defense wanted to strengthen the already strong ties existing between the Armed Forces and the academic world by involving in the exercise activities eleven students from Sant'Anna School and LUISS, framed in the planning staff, coordinated by Joint Force Headquarters. Here, they worked together with military personnel by working alongside the Commander's so-called advisors or consultants in the political, legal and public information fields.
For the students of the two universities, the exercise scenario and work dynamics typical of a military staff provided a valuable opportunity to increase their experience and knowledge of the missions and tasks that the instrument of National Defense guarantees in its daily work in defense of citizens, state territory, national strategic objectives and those of the Atlantic Alliance.
