MONS, Belgium – The NATO CIS Group Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Luigi Carpineto presided over a ceremony, at the NCISG HQ on 8 March 2023, marking the International Women’s Day.
On International Women’s Day, 8
March 2023, the NATO CIS Group recognized that military operations in today’s world require a diversity of qualifications and resources, including active contributions of women, to ensure that peace and security are achieved and maintained. During the ceremony the NCISG Communicating Equality Pledge ‘To make a difference’ was signed by the Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Luigi Carpineto, Lieutenant Colonel Sheri R. Lattermore, ACO Gender Advisor, Chief Master Sergeant Andreas Merz, CSEL and Sergeant Major Chiffon Hazewood, NCISG Gender Advisor.
Chief Master Sergeant Andreas Merz, CSEL NCISG, opened the ceremony by welcoming the assembled staff members and invited guests.
Lieutenant Colonel Sheri R. Lattermore, the ACO Gender Advisor, also attended the event.

NCISG International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023, Chief Master Sergeant Andreas Merz, CSEL NCISG.

NCISG International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023, Lieutenant Colonel Sheri R. Lattermore, ACO Gender Advisor.
NCISG Gender Advisor, Sergeant Major Chiffon Hazewood, conducted part of the ceremony and emphasised the collective activism that drives the change. Sergeant Major Hazewood said:
To embrace equity means to understand the journey required to achieve women’s equality
After her brief introduction, the Deputy Commander/Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Luigi Carpineto addressed the NCISG staff members. He mentioned the cultural change that has progressed through the military environment during the last 22 years since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). He underlined that the leadership is fully committed to integrating the gender perspectives at all levels of work and that this is becoming an important part of military organizations, such as NCISG, in the 21st century. The General said:
Let me assure you that all the leadership in the Group is really focused in assuring that EQUAL means EQUAL