1st "Virtual Officers' Mess" (VOM)

Why Navy?

from:
AG JuMOV

The MOV has added a new event format: on Thursday, 24 September, the so-called "Virtual officer fair" took place, in short: VOM. 17 officer candidates and Officersfrom sea cadets to flotilla admirals, gathered at completely different locations in front of their home devices such as PCs, tablets or smartphones and discussed the question "Why? Marine?".

Although the topic is a perennial favourite in the German-speaking security policy discourse, Flotilla Admiral Wilhelm Tobias Abry, in his role as commander of the Mürwik Naval Academy and guest speaker at the first VOM, comprehensively highlighted why it is currently more important than ever to deal with one's own identity and the associated professional ethos. The geopolitical changes of recent years, which have not yet come to an end, provide a reason for this. Abry derived his thesis from strategic considerations and critically reflected on defence policy decisions of the past decades.

It was clear from the concentrated faces of the participants watching on camera that his presentation was not just dry theory. At the end of Abry's introduction, the question then arose as to what contribution each individual could make to equip their own branch of the armed forces for the future. The temporary distance to the fleet during studies, training courses and interim assignments was identified as a major challenge. This is also nothing new, but in view of the permanent digital availability of maritime content, it is all the more painful to be on the periphery instead of at the scene of the action, not to say on board.

Under the moderation of Lieutenant Captains Helge Adrians, Fabian Dilly and Caroline Wegener, a lively and - using microphones and chat - multi-dimensional debate quickly developed among the participants, which, although it clearly exceeded the originally planned time frame of one hour, produced multi-faceted perspectives and was thought-provoking. In addition to this substantive aspect, the cross-distance networking of different generations of the German naval officer corps can certainly be considered a success.

In order to cement this and lend validity to the ideas discussed, the VOM must now be continued and established as a permanent meeting place, as the regional Naval officer fairs (MOM) already are. Further dates are therefore already in the pipeline. Monthly intervals are planned for the time being, usually on Wednesday or Thursday evenings from 7 pm. Thanks to the "Webex" video conferencing programme, which is also officially used by the German Armed Forces, it will even be possible to use company computers. Further details will follow soon via the usual channels such as social media and e-mail.

Author: Adrians / Dilly / Wegener