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Being part of the YROW program was energizing and deeply rewarding. As a university representative without any military background, I entered the program feeling excited yet uncertain about what to expect. It quickly became clear that my participation was welcomed and encouraged in all activities, and the learning curve was steep in the best possible way.

I was impressed by the breadth of experience represented, with participants from 15 countries of varying ages and ranks and civilian occupations ranging from lawyers and railway operators to software engineers and startup investors. Each conversation brought a new perspective on what it means to be a reservist across NATO member states.

Two key insights stand out from the week. First, Ukraine’s defense against Russia continues to offer unparalleled lessons in societal resilience, showing both the compression of innovation cycles from years to weeks in active conflict and the practical necessity of multimodal transportation to keep supply chains moving when primary routes are disrupted.

Second, the Maghreb and Sahel regions deserve far more attention than they currently receive. Interconnected challenges of governance failures, jihadism, migration pressures, and Russian influence through the Wagner Group directly threaten cohesion within NATO and the EU. From a European perspective, treating the east and south as separate strategic concerns is a mistake. Here, decision-makers can look to successful civil-military cooperation efforts in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire as useful reference points.

With workshops, discussions, simulation exercises, and social activities filling each day from morning to evening, the week was intense and highly memorable. I left with a better understanding of NATO’s strategic challenges and useful frameworks for continued learning. I am grateful to have been part of this program.

Sam Elfström