CIOR - Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers

05/08/2026

Live Now: Winning the War of Narratives – Part 2

The conversation continues! Join us now for Part 2 of our high-level symposium on "Winning the War of Narratives." Hear from NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) officers, academics, experts etc, as they dive deeper into strategies for countering disinformation and strengthening Allied cohesion.

04/08/2026

Summer Congress opened yesterday with a ceremony at Romania's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Carol I Park, Bucharest, bringing together delegates from CIOR, CIOMR , and CISOR .

The ceremony was a fitting reminder that the strength of our Alliance is measured not only by the forces we maintain, but by the unity of those who stand together in service to our shared values and collective security.

Over the coming week, reserve officers, medical professionals, and NCOs will strengthen professional relationships, exchange ideas, and deepen the cooperation that makes our Alliance stronger.

Our sincere thanks to the Romanian Armed Forces ces and the Asociația Ofițerilor în Rezervă din România (Romanian Reserve Officers Association) for their outstanding partnership and hospitality.

Strong reserve forces. Trusted partners. A stronger Alliance.

19/05/2026

Unlock new opportunities with the CIOR Language Academy!

A key CIOR committee initiative, the CIOR Language Academy helps reservists and officers enhance their language skills, build international connections, and contribute to NATO’s shared goals.

Learn more: cior.net/activities/cior-language-academy
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Débloquez de nouvelles opportunités avec l’ADL de la CIOR !

Une initiative clé de la CIOR, l’Académie des Langues aide les réservistes et officiers à améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques, à créer des liens internationaux et à contribuer aux objectifs communs de l’OTAN.

En savoir plus : cior.net/activities/cior-language-academy

18/05/2026

26/02/2026

A New Chapter for Reserve Integration in NATO

During CIOR’s 2026 Mid-Winter Meeting in Norfolk, Virginia, CIOR President Colonel (R) Jørn Buø and Brigadier General Overmaat, Chair of the NATO Committee on Reserves (NCR), formally signed the termination of the historic Memorandum of Understanding between CIOR and NATO.

This is not a separation — it is a milestone.

CIOR is now formally integrated into NATO’s new Policy on Reserves as part of the Advocacy Reserve Organisations (ARO), alongside CIOMR and CISOR. Within this framework, CIOR has been entrusted with coordinating the activities of the ARO, ensuring strong collaboration and a unified voice in support of NATO’s objectives.

Why this matters

The NATOPolicy on Reserves, approved in 2024, represents a significant evolution in how the Alliance views and employs Reserve Forces. Reservists are no longer seen as supplementary assets, but as essential contributors to deterrence, resilience, and innovation.

The policy highlights the role of reserves in:
• Strengthening strategic communications and public trust
• Enhancing operational flexibility through dual military-civilian expertise
• Supporting whole-of-society defence and workforce sustainability

CIOR’s role going forward

As the coordinating platform of the ARO, CIOR’s mission is now directly aligned with NATO’s strategic framework. From advising on reserve structures to supporting interoperability, civil-military cooperation, and resilience initiatives, our responsibility has grown alongside our integration.

This step reinforces a shared direction: closer coordination, stronger dialogue, and better alignment between NATO institutions and national reserve forces.

One policy. One direction. One collective commitment.

20/02/2026

CIOR at the Munich Security Conference

During a side event of the Munich Security Conference, organized by the German Reservist Association and moderated by Col. Sensburg, CIOR President Jørn Buø addressed a key question for Europe’s future: what role do reservists play in today’s security environment?

His message was clear: reservists are not a backup force — they are a strategic asset.

In a world shaped by hybrid threats and rapid technological change, reservists bring something unique. They connect military structures with civilian expertise — especially in areas such as AI, cyber, and emerging technologies. They strengthen societal resilience and contribute to a modern Total Defence approach. And beyond readiness, they reinforce democratic cohesion across our nations.

Defending Europe is not only about capabilities. It is about coordination, innovation, and people who bridge both worlds.

Reservists do exactly that.

12/02/2026

In Memoriam: Brigadier General Walter G. “Gibby” Vartan, USAF (Ret.)

17 July 1932 – 8 February 2026
CIOR mourns the passing of Brig. Gen. Walter G. “Gibby” Vartan, USAF (Ret.), who died peacefully at home on Sunday, 8 February 2026, following a multi-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

A proud Chicago native, General Vartan was commissioned in 1954 through Air Force ROTC, pursued advanced studies in management, and fulfilled his lifelong ambition to fly by earning his Air Force wings. Over a distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, he rose to Brigadier General, including eight years augmenting the Pentagon staff, before retiring from uniformed service in 1989.

General Vartan’s legacy is equally defined by his commitment to reserve service and international cooperation. He served the CIOR - Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers as Secretary General from 1992 to 1994, supporting the Confederation’s work to strengthen ties among reserve officers across NATO and partner nations and to advance interoperability through professional exchange and collaboration. His tenure as Secretary General reflected a deep belief that reservists - grounded in both civilian expertise and military duty -are a vital bridge between Allied societies and collective defence.

Within the U.S. reserve community, General Vartan provided decades of volunteer leadership through Reserve Organization of America(ROA), serving in numerous capacities and ultimately as National President. He remained a committed advocate for reservists and for sustained engagement between national reserve associations and CIOR, helping to keep international cooperation practical, people-focused, and enduring.

CIOR extends its sincere condolences to Mrs. Jane Vartan and the entire Vartan family. General Vartan will be remembered for steady leadership, generous mentorship, and a lifelong dedication to strengthening reserve forces through friendship, professionalism, and allied partnership.

Optional: Condolences and notes of sympathy may be sent to:
Jane Vartan
2758 Manu Ct
Glenview, IL 60026-1077

03/02/2026

As NATO continues to adapt for the future, the role of Reservists is taking center stage — not just as additional forces, but as strategic enablers of resilience, innovation, and civil-military cooperation.

At last week’s high-level meetings in Norfolk, Virginia, CIOR joined forces with our partner organizations CIOMR and CISOR, alongside NATO’s Committee on Reserves (NCR) and NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT), to shape the future of reserve integration across the Alliance.

These conversations are more than just updates — they’re about building real interoperability and aligning our diverse national reserve forces with shared NATO goals.

CIOR was proud to contribute directly to these discussions, bringing the voice of reservists from across 30 nations to the table. Together, we are ensuring that reservists are recognized not only as a support force, but as a vital link between NATO’s strategic direction and the societies we serve.

Learn more about NATO ACT’s work with the reserve community:
https://www.act.nato.int/article/ncr-support-alliance-transformation/

As NATO looks to generate usable capability faster and in greater volume, Reservists are becoming an indispensable part of the Alliance’s force structure, supporting deterrence, defence, and long-term resilience. The strength of reserve forces lies in a dual role. They bring civilian expertise into the military domain, strengthening the link between defence plans and the societies that support them.

As NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General Aurelio Colagrande stressed, “We need to move forward with speed and at scale and the Reservists can bring NATO dual credibility that is uniquely valuable to civil-military cooperation.”

Learn more about how NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) welcomed the NATO Committee on the Reserves in Norfolk, where discussions underscored that reserves are not just extra trained forces, but a vital bridge between NATO’s military objectives and the societies that sustain resilience: https://www.act.nato.int/article/ncr-support-alliance-transformation/
CIOR - Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers
CIOMR

28/01/2026

We are in Norfolk, Virginia in the United States — home of NATO Allied Command Transformation — for the CIOR Mid-Winter Meeting.

Alongside our partners at CIOMR, CISOR, NATO Committee on Reserves (NCR), and NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT), we’re spending this week working together to define how reservists can best support a safer, more resilient Alliance.

Why does this matter?

Because open dialogue across the Alliance, built on coordination and mutual understanding between institutions and reserve forces, is what enables true collective readiness and peace

CIOR proudly serves as the coordinating body of NATO Advocacy Reserve Organisations, and this meeting is about building trust, sharing expertise, and strengthening partnerships to meet today’s security challenges — together.