The Qatar Armed Forces have joined the Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) Evaluation and Feedback Programme for the partner countries with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).
The decision to join the OCC was made following the completion of the evaluation process under the patronage of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and in the presence of HE Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces, Lt Gen (Pilot) Jassim bin Mohammed al-Mannai.
The State of Qatar is the only country from the Middle East to join this programme, having successfully completed all evaluation levels in a record time, in comparison to other Nato partner countries, which can take a period of up to four years to obtain the recognition certificate.
In a statement, the Directorate of Moral Guidance announced that the Qatar Armed Forces successfully completed the evaluation process for joining the OCC within 18 months, after the 101 Air Transport Squadron of the Amiri Air Force successfully passed all evaluation levels and was granted the OCC certificate of accession.
The Qatar Armed Forces participate in this programme with seven units according to levels as follows: the Qatar Amiri Land Forces (Self-Evaluation Level 2 — SEL2), the Qatar Amiri Air Forces (Nato Evaluation Level 2 — NEL2), the Qatari Amiri Naval Forces (Self-Evaluation Level 1 — SEL1), the Qatar Amiri Air Defence Forces (Self-Evaluation Level 1 — SEL1), the Military Police Forces (Self-Evaluation Level 2 — SEL2), the Joint Special Forces (Self-Evaluation Level 1 — SEL1), in addition to the Defense Unit Against Weapons of Mass Destruction.
The OCC programme is due to be initiated in 2026.
