Opportunities
Young Reserve Officer’s Workshop (YROW)
An annual, week-long workshop, during the Inter-allied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) Summer Congress, designed to be a young officer’s first international exposure to Reservist colleagues from NATO and its partner PfP nations. It is a unique professional development opportunity for junior officers. Young Reserve officers of the rank of Captain and below come together to work in an international setting, while learning and discussing current defence issues that pertain to NATO and its Reserve Forces.
Participants also attend CIOR’s two-day Summer Symposium at the Summer Congress. YROW is an enriching experience for young officers, who are the future of NATO, providing them with an opportunity to establish professional relationships that often last throughout their careers and offering a strong foundation on which to build their confidence in their NATO partners.
Selection for members of the UK YROW team takes place annually in March at Chilwell Garrison, Nottingham. For an application form, contact your local Reserve unit or the UKRFA Secretariat.
International Junior Officer Leadership Development Scheme (IJOLDS)
IJOLDS is organised annually by the Professional Development Center at US Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command. It offers junior Reserve officers an opportunity to develop their leadership skills together in an international environment. IJOLDS offers command, leadership and management training using a combination of action based command tasks and desktop scenarios.
Selection for IJOLDS takes place annually in March at Chilwell Garrison, Nottingham. For an application form, contact your local Reserve unit or the UKRFA Secretariat.
Military Competition (Milcomp)
Over 250 athletes participate in CIOR’s military pentathlon (Milcomp) each year. Established in 1957, it is an internationally recognised competition focused on a range of military skills that truly challenge the leadership and physical robustness of Reservists from across the Alliance and its Partners.
The Military Competition provides the opportunity to practice and develop advanced military skills, leadership, physical stamina and courage, incorporating the benefits of intercultural experience and friendship through the CIOR annual competition.
CIOR Milcomp is a team competition throughout all events. The three-day competition consists of pistol, rifle shooting, Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) and first aid on the first day. A land and water obstacle course on the second day, and an orienteering event on the third day. Some of the highlights are detailed below:
- Pistol and Rifle Shooting
The competitors fire the standard infantry weapon of the host nation at targets located from 25 to 200 metres from the firing line. The shoot consists of a precision fire phase at a sport-rings-target and a rapid-fire phase at 3 silhouettes. For the pistol, the rapid fire stage includes a change of magazines within the time. - Land Obstacle Course
A standardised 500 metre land obstacle course. The course requires strength, stamina, coordination and a high standard of fitness. It is run in military uniform with a free choice of footwear. The teams can assist each other over the obstacles. Times are recorded against the last team member. - Water Obstacle Course
A 50 metre water obstacle course with five demanding obstacles requires good swimming skills, strength, coordination and flexibility. Competitors wear the host nations military uniform without boots. The teams can assist each other over the obstacles. Times are recorded against the last team member. - Orienteering
Teams must complete a 12 to 14 km cross-country course on unknown terrain, using only a magnetic compass and various maps. The dress is combat uniform with hand weapons. This requires both, teamwork and leadership under physical stress. In addition, the teams have to perform range estimation, map reading, hand grenade throwing and additional tasks.
Competitions
UKRFA gives Reservists the chance to compete in national and international military competitions and events. A wide range of events are supported, both within the UK and in most NATO and PfP countries. A broad mix of military skills are practiced from shooting, endurance marching to equestrian events.