Annual exposition of the Partnership Training and Education Centers (PTECs) "Marketplace 2013" was organized in NATO HQ in Brussels on 6^th – 7^th February 2013. PTECs including ISOC from Armed Forces Academy – Slovakia presented their institutions and demonstrated common cooperation. The project was launched in 1999 under the Partnership for Peace program to develop training and education activities among Euro-Atlantic partners.

    The increasing importance of the activity was highlighted during the opening ceremony by Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, NATO, James Appathurai and NATO School Commandant and Chairman of the PTEC Community Colonel Mark Baines.

    Majority of the PTECs were present also this year from following countries: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Egypt, Finland, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.

    International Staff Officers’ Course (ISOC) instructors Major Jozef Kuchta and Captain Roman Kráľ, which is an integral part of the Lifelong Education Center of the Armed Forces Academy (AFA), traditionally participated during this event. They introduced a training system of military personnel and the possibility of further enhancing their career skills throughout different courses. The emphasis was put on education in ISOC, which aim is to prepare not only Slovak but also foreign staff officers for work in multinational environment in the area of planning of military operations according to NATO standards.

    During main exposition days 6th – 7th February were the PTECs expositions including ISOC (AFA) visited by delegations of countries that are present in NATO HQ, representatives of Political Military Steering Committee and also František Kašický – the Permanent representative of Slovak Republic in NATO. After the exposition day Mr. Kašický invited both member from ISOC from Slovakia for a short meeting where he was informed about changes in military education system in Slovakia and he stressed the importance and legitimacy of the presentation of our military education in international environment. He and the other member of the Permanent delegation of Slovak Republic in NATO are every year from the start of this event a great help for the members of ISOC coming to Brussels.