International Staff Officers’ Course – ISOC 33 started on September 28th, 2026, at the premisses of International Courses Department of the Armed Forces Academy of general Milan Rastislav Stefanik (SVK AFA). Twenty-two personnel from the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and SVK AFA are participating in the course.

Participants were welcomed by Colonel Roman Kráľ, Director of the Professional Military Education Centre (PMEC), who has personal experience with the course as both a graduate and a former instructor. In his address, he emphasized that ISOC is not only a place for acquiring professional knowledge and practical skills but also creates an opportunity to build professional relationships and friendships - connections that can benefit participants long after the course concludes.

Colonel Kráľ also encouraged the participants to actively engage in syndicate work, share their experience, and maintain a positive attitude throughout the training. He noted that, alongside the rigorous professional training, the course offers the chance to create lasting memories that participants will carry with them into their future careers.

The ISOC program focuses on the progressive acquisition of the knowledge and skills required to serve in staff roles within a multinational environment. During the first week, participants focus on developing English communication skills and mastering military terminology. In subsequent weeks, they familiarize themselves with unit capabilities and the doctrinal framework for their employment at the tactical level. The final part of the course focuses on the fundamental knowledge and practical skills required for military planning and decision-making processes.

Lectures and practical exercises prepare participants for collaboration across the individual phases of preparing and planning operations at the tactical level. The course aims to develop their ability to participate in staff planning in English, in accordance with NATO standards and within a multinational environment.