Annual Partnership for Peace Training Centres (PTC) presentation called "Marketplace" was held in NATO HQ in Brussels 16^th -17^th February 2011.

    Traditionally this activity also involved members of the International Staff Officers’ Course (ISOC), which is an integral part of the Lifelong Education Center of the Armed Forces Academy (AFA).

    Officers from various PTCs advertised their institutions, presented the achievements and courses to delegations from NATO HQ. Twelve centres have represented their activities at the Marketplace this year from following countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, USA, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Currently there are 20 PTCs which provide education and training within NATO and PfP community.

    Armed Forces Academy as a recognised PTC was represented at the Marketplace by Capt Martin Chovanec, PhD. and Sgt Martin Kuziel. They introduced a training system of professional soldiers in the Slovak Armed Forces and the possibility of further enhancing their career skills throughout different courses. The emphasis was put on education in ISOC, in which the aim is to prepare not only Slovak but also foreign staff officers for working in multinational environment in the area of planning and conducting of military operations.

    Members of the Military Steering Committee and Heads of the Permanent Delegation of the Slovak Republic to NATO, H.E. Frantisek Kašický and Slovak supreme military representative to NATO LtGen Peter Gajdoš paid attention to ISOC exposure. During the interview with Capt Chovanec and Sgt Kuziel both Slovak high representatives appreciated the quality and professional presentation of the Slovak Republic and AFA in multinational environment and they stressed the importance of this presentation.

    The importance of the activity was highly appreciated also by NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai and Deputy Chief of Staff of SHAPE Military Cooperation Division Gen František Maleninský during the opening ceremony.