An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/1543182
| 7 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE T he 2025 Command Senior Enlisted Leaders' Course (CSELC) at the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) marked a pivotal advance in NATO and partner nations' professional military education (PME), equipping Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) with strategic competencies to confront Europe's evolving security challenges. Over three months, 28 participants from 18 nations including Ireland formed a diverse cohort that engaged with issues such as Russian aggression, hybrid warfare, energy resilience, and regional defence integration. More than an academic programme, CSELC served as a strategic enabler, strengthening multinational cooperation and readiness while embedding enlisted leadership within the broader framework of Baltic and European defence. This essay explores the course's structure, pedagogical approach, and strategic relevance, situating it within the wider context of European security dynamics and multinational defence integration. The Baltic Defence College: A Multinational Beacon Established in 1999 and jointly managed by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, BALTDEFCOL has evolved into a premier institution for multinational military education. Its mission is not only to train officers and enlisted leaders but also to foster strategic dialogue across NATO and EU member states. In 2025, the college reaffirmed its role as a hub for cultivating leaders capable of navigating the complexities of modern European security. The CSELC stands out as a flagship programme, designed to prepare SNCOs for leadership roles in environments marked by hybrid threats, technological disruption, and geopolitical volatility. By hosting participants from across Europe and North America, BALTDEFCOL reinforced its reputation as a centre of excellence for PME and as a platform for strengthening collective defence. COMMAND SENIOR ENLISTED COMMAND SENIOR ENLISTED LEADERS' COURSE (CSELC), LEADERS' COURSE (CSELC), BALTIC DEFENCE COLLEGE BALTIC DEFENCE COLLEGE www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 7 A STRATEGIC NEXUS FOR ENLISTED A STRATEGIC NEXUS FOR ENLISTED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE ARTICLE BY RSM DAVID O'REILLY ARTICLE BY RSM DAVID O'REILLY Moderated Panel on National Security, Elements of National Power (DIME)D H.E Laird Hindle, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Estonia. I Mr. Gints Amolins. Foreign News Editor/ The Latvian Television. M Maj Gen IImar Tamm, Comdr of the Estonian Defence League. E- Mr Louis Wierenga