The Centre of Excellence for Cold Weather Operations (COE-CWO) has been established as an interim organisation from 1. August 2004. A permanent organisation will probably be established from 1. August 2005.

The intention with COE-CWO is to give a contribution to the NATO transformation. It is also important for Norway that our allies are familiar with operating in Norwegian terrain and climate, and that our military units can get valuable cross training together with allied units.

Landingcraft in action during a winter excercise in Northern Norway.

The interim COE-CWO is manned with 4 officers that during the first year will do some research among allies and PfP nations to reveal their needs for Cold Weather training, and already this winter COE-CWO will offer some new courses to our allies. In addition to COE-CWO, Norway has designated host nation units for allies who want to carry out their Cold Weather training in Norway. Allied Training Centre South at Voss, and Allied Training Centre North in Harstad are two garrisons dedicated as host nation units at full time.

A Puma helicopter operating during winterconditions.

Within January 1. 2005 interim COE-CWO are to finish a detailed statement about organisation and localization of COE-CWO. Various parts of the Norwegian military organisation will be vital contributors to the COE-CWO. This will be the Norwegian Defence Academy, the Norwegian Defence Research Institute, the Norwegian Defence Medical Organisation, the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation and the centres of expertise within the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Home Guard. In addition we also have civilian centres of expertise that can be valuable contributors to the COE-CWO.

Through our topography, climate, littoral and arctic waters, airspace and the Norwegian Armed Forces competence we can offer a wide variety of courses and consultancy within Cold Weather Operations. It is important for COE-CWO to point out that Cold Weather Operations are far more than ski marching Army units. Cold Weather Operations are something that all services have to deal with. Therefore all services have Cold Weather expertise that Norway can offer to allies already this winter.