From Battle Creek to Brno
Until then, they were provided mainly by the American Defense Logistic Information Service (DLIS) in Battle Creek. Then, at two-year intervals, this baton of international codification courses was taken over by the Czech Republic, specifically its National Codification Bureau and the University of Defence with the comprehensive support of the Brno-based company AURA, initially with methodological and monetary assistance from DLIS, later with the support of the NATO Codification Group AC/135 and the then NAMSA (now NSPA).
NCS College
Since 2018, NCS College has established itself within the codification community as the largest national training institution in the world. It has trained and prepared more than 170 students from 33 countries across 5 continents in courses tailored for managers, logisticians, and codifiers. Their training is conducted using a real codification software – MC CATALOGUE – developed and implemented by the aforementioned company AURA. This codification information system is currently the most widely used of its kind globally.
Genius loci
The training takes place at the University of Defence in the beautiful Moravian capital – Brno – which rightfully boasts a remarkable history and heritage, a vibrant cultural and student life, and charming surroundings. The genius loci of NCS College is framed by renowned lecturers and moderators, many of whom have spent the majority of their professional careers in prominent national and
international codification roles. Successful students receive a certificate of completion, signed by the Rector-Commander of the University of Defence, which is recognised in all countries participating in the NATO Codification System (NCS).
NCS College 2025
For this year’s NCS College, in addition to the usual participants from government institutions and organisations around the world, we are expecting a higher number of attendees from commercial companies, mainly multinational firms involved in the defence industry. Our lecturers will also partly address codification according to American standards. It is highly encouraging that representatives from the Property and Economic Section of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic are also taking part in the training, as their presence significantly contributes to a deeper
understanding of the links between acquisition processes and cataloguing of military production in our country.
This year’s course for managers and logisticians will be designed mainly for students who, through a proper understanding of the codification processes and NCS principles, will learn to understand cataloguing data and the purposes of codification, which includes also the establishment and operation of National Codification Bureaus. The course for codifiers is designed for students who require in-depth knowledge of NCS, including the International Data Exchange (NDER). Students
will learn how to accurately create NATO Stock Numbers (NSNs) on real codification software and understand the importance of codification in logistics. The course also aims to deepen their proficiency in maintaining quality codification standards.
Source: Review for Defence and Security Industry 2/2025