From September 2023 until February 2024 I have been a full-time intern at the Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence in the Training & Education Branch under the supervision of LtCl Ralf Baur. 

I am just finishing my Bachelors in International Relations and Management in Germany and absolved my internship as part of a mandatory semester abroad. The main focus during my time at the CCOE has been the support of the third iteration of the Analysis & Assessment Course. I assisted with the preparation phase of the october iteration and played a double role as support and active participant in the course execution.

After wrapping up the course and the follow-up, my focus of work shifted towards Open Source Intelligence tools. As the Analysis & Assessment concept incorporates a chapter on how Open Sources can be used for Analysis, I focused my research on which Open Source tools are available to facilitate Intelligence Analysis. This research was then summarized in a repository as a supplementary document to the course. Besides those two main projects, my work at the CCOE incorporated countless other tasks which made my internship a truly valuable time. Sometimes it was just being stuck on the method of an analysis technique that drove you crazy for weeks. So much, that we turned to an Austrian guy with a heavy dialect on YouTube, who finally made sense of it – from then on, we referred to the technique exclusively as the "Ösi-Methode" (Germans will understand it).

But honestly, working in this extraordinary setting got me to dive deep into topics that I otherwise would not have touched. Being an intern at the CCOE for five months made me grow professionally and personally and introduced me to new topics of passion for me. Not only did I gain insights into working in a multinational centre but I also had the privilege to encounter so many interesting and experienced people who enriched my work, making my internship a time I always look back on fondly.

My name is Lena Brandl, and I study International Relations and Management. I completed a six-month internship at the Training and Education (T&E) Branch of the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Centre of Excellence (CCOE). My experience at the CCOE was outstanding, as I had diverse tasks that allowed me to grow both professionally and personally.

My responsibilities ranged from updating important documents and the website to helping organise webinars and courses, as well as contributing creatively to the development of a simulation game. Throughout all these tasks, I always received support whenever I had questions and was encouraged to express my opinions. My mentor was always there for me and listened, took me seriously, and treated me as a valued team member. Although I was still a student, I was entrusted with tasks of great responsibility, which helped me develop my skills and confidence.

Beyond my daily work, I genuinely enjoyed going to the CCOE every day. In addition to the varied tasks, I was always welcome to join courses that fostered my personal growth and deepened my understanding of CIMIC. The CCOE provides strong support for its interns, treating them as full members of the team. I found myself in an international and welcoming atmosphere, surrounded by people who helped me grow and broaden my horizon.

Additionally, the location of the CCOE in between Delft and The Hague is perfect to explore South Holland. This can be a great opportunity for anyone who wants to learn more about the dutch culture and the Netherlands.

I highly recommend an internship at the CCOE to anyone who is hardworking, motivated, and eager to learn more about CIMIC, particularly from a military perspective, while also building valuable connections.

As part of my Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Management, I had the opportunity to complete a six-month internship at the NATO Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence (CCOE) in The Hague. 

From day one, I was fully integrated into the Training & Education (T&E) Branch. My main project was the rework and redesign of the NATO Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Awareness Course, an online course that serves as the foundation for all in-house courses. I also contributed to the preparation, execution and development of the NATO CIMIC Analysis and Assessment Course (NCAAC), was involved in the preparation, execution, and post-event documentation of two CCOE webinars and played an active role in the Annual CIMIC Foresight Conference.

One of the biggest highlights was being able to attend the NATO CIMIC Analysis and Assessment Course (NCAAC) as a student, refining my analytical and critical thinking skills in a highly interactive setting. I also had the opportunity to participate in the Common Effort Seminar in Amsterdam, engaging in discussions on contemporary security challenges while networking with professionals from diverse backgrounds. Another unforgettable moment was a visit to the Port of Rotterdam, where I got first-hand insights into critical infrastructure operation and the role of civil-military cooperation in a complex logistical environment.

The working culture was structured and efficient, yet always welcoming and respectful. The team was incredibly open, everyone was always willing to answer my questions, and I was taken seriously from the start. Beyond the professional setting, the social environment at the CCOE was just as engaging. The presence of other interns and young staff members created a strong sense of community, extending beyond office hours.

Overall, my internship provided me with a unique combination of theoretical and practical knowledge, professional development, and intercultural experiences. This internship was far more than just gaining work experience - it was about growing in an international, intercultural, and highly specialised environment.