EC EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SUMMER PROGRAMS: NATO missile firing installation

Thursday, June 30, 2016

NATO missile firing installation

Today we visited a NATO missile firing installation. This rage is a testing facility funded by Greece, the Netherlands, and Germany. I found it interesting how enormous the missile launch zone is. Before every launch, the entire zone has to be cleared of all aircraft and marine activity. The image below is of the radar which detects all sea and air traffic in the launch zone all hours of the day.

I was most fascinated by the cooperation between the missile firing installation and European countries who wish to use the facility. A non NATO member is allowed to test their missiles and air defense systems with the approval of the installation. I find this to be a method of globalization through collaborating new innovations in defense systems.

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EC Eastern Security Studies Program

In the summer of 2011, as the "Arab Spring" was unfolding and the "Eurozone Crisis" was entering its second year, the Emmanuel College Eastern Mediterranean Security Studies Program was established in Crete, as a way to make the location the classroom. Beyond the grand theoretical, historical and political understanding that can be achieved through reading and classroom discussion and exchange, a more immediate, intimate and truer appreciation of the complexities can only achieved by experiencing the cultures, languages of personal interaction.

Since 2012 students have been able to combine an intensive curricular study, with the experience of immersion and living in a local setting. The geopolitical and geoeconomic forces that have acted in the region for centuries, can be identified in the classroom, but they can only be understood by being there. This year's EC EMSS Program will add a fourth week of study, experience and exploration and will also travel to the islands of Rhodes, and Cyprus. In Rhodes we will be partnering with the Prefecture of Southern Aegean and the Aegean University, while in Cyprus we will be hosted by the University of Nicosia.