European Partnership Task Force

EPTF Conference Logo

The EPTF is designed from top to bottom, left to right to embody the concept of Partnership.  That's why we selected the image to the right and the motto, Give Way Together for the conference.  We're all in this together and need to work as a team to make progress.  And that we did during the conference.  I know this spirit will carry forward as we start to implement the EPTF.

We designed the conference to answer the Information Requirements (IR) that support the Mission Analysis phase of EPTF Decision Support Template (DST).  Sounds a like a mouthful, but it's really pretty simple:  the DST gathers the information we need to know to make an informed, effective decision and provides some structure the decision making process.  The EPTF DST has three phases that lead to a successful stand-up.  Each phase has one or more key decisions that support the successful conclusion of the phase.

To answer the IRs, we invited representatives from NATO, DoD, the Joint Staff, our components, CENTCOM, US Forces-Afghanistan, the states in our SPP and the USAR and USNR.   We discussed issues ranging from the requirements in Afghanistan to how to conduct partner train and equip programs and from the right funding sources to getting the right people involved in the processes.