Introduction
The Artillery Club’s 2018 Foreign Field Trip will take place in Vienna, with Sunday, 07 October and Thursday, 11 October the travel days. The trip centralises on a visit to the Austrian Land Forces College, including the Artillery School, in Zwölfaxing, on Tuesday, 09 October.
The Field Trip is open to members of the Artillery Club and their respective spouses. As in the successful trips in 2015 to Madrid and Segovia, in 2016 to Granada and Malaga, and in 2017 to Lisbon, Comdt Michael Flood (Retd) is the Tour Coordinator.
This CONOPS is iterative in nature, and will evolve into Coordinating Instructions, in due course. Already, some personnel, including spouses, have indicated their intention to participate in the Field Trip.
Some Participants may be arriving in Vienna before 07 October, and remaining in Vienna after 11October for individual programmes.
Programme
At this stage of the planning process, a tentative programme of events has been prepared, which facilities scope for alternative activities, if so desired.
Participants are free to organise their own activities in Vienna, such as the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, St Stephan’s Cathedral, Belvedere Palace, Vienna State Opera, and the Naschmarkt.
Recommendations regarding the tentative programme will be welcomed by the Coordinator – Commandant Michael Flood (Retd).
Preparations
Participants are encouraged to timely organise their respective flights to and from Vienna, and book their hotel accommodation in Vienna.
Participants are advised to check their passports, to have appropriate travel insurance, and to have in their possession a current European Health Insurance card.
Participants are also encouraged to bring appropriate dress, including Club Tie, for the visit to the Embassy and Land Forces College.
Recommended Hotel
Hotel accommodation in Vienna is at a premium. Whereas Participants are fee to select their own hotel, for obvious reasons, it is desirable that everyone uses the recommended 4 Star hotel, subject to available rooms. The hotel is providing a special rate for the Field Trip.
The recommended hotel is NH Wien Belvedere, Rennweg 12A, A-1030 Vienna.
With 141 rooms, the Art Nouveau style hotel is centrally located within the diplomatic quarter. Belvedere Palace, Rennweg train station and tram stops are close by. The building itself is the former State Printing House, which appeared on the city’s skyline in 1888. The Hotel’s fitness centre includes a sauna.
- Phone: 00 43 1 20611.
- Website: nh-hotels.com/hotel/nh-wien-belvedere
The hotel is holding 15 rooms for the nights of Sunday 07 through Wednesday 10 October.
Commandant Michael Flood (Retd) has secured a special rate for Bed and Breakfast and free wifi of €144.20 for a Single Room, and €164.20 for a Double Room including VAT, each night for 4 nights for these 15 rooms.
The Hotel has provided a personalised booking micro-site, which was activated on 06 June, for those Participants wishing to avail of the Hotel
The link to the micro-site is: www.nh-hotels.com/event/arty-club-michael-flood
Participants are responsible to make their required bookings direct availing of the assigned micro-site.
When the 15 rooms have been allocated, the special package will expire and normal rates apply for any available rooms bookable directly with the hotel.
Costs
All costs will accrue to Participants as they occur: Flights, Hotel, Internal Travel, Tours, Entrance Fees and Meals. The All Arms School is hosting the lunch on Wednesday.
Coordination
Participants are requested to advise Commandant Michael Flood (Retd) by email mike5555@gmail.com of their travelling dates, flight times and hotel reservation number, copy to Club President ppakenham@eircom.net
After Action Review
Participants are encouraged to make observations on the Foreign Field Trip which will inform the Committee’s After Action Review.
Annex A. Tentative Programme as at 06 June.
Annex B. Proforma: List of Participants.
Annex A
Tentative Programme
[Timings are for Planning Purposes only]
Sunday 07 October
1400hrs: Check in Recommended Hotel: NH Wien Belvedere
1930 hrs: Coordination Brief in Hotel Lobby.
2000hrs: Depart Hotel for Dinner, Name of Restaurant – To be Confirmed .
Monday 08 October
0900hrs: Spanish Riding School.
1500hrs: Visit to the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the OSCE to include light refreshments.
1530hrs: Introduction by H.E. Ambassador Kevin Dowling, followed by briefings from Colonel Michael Kiernan OSCE Military Representative, and Lieutenant-Colonel Harry O’Connor Staff Officer High Level Planning Group.
Tuesday 09 October
0900hrs: Depart Hotel for Zwölfaxing.
1000hrs: Austrian Land Forces College, Artillery School including lunch,
Wednesday 10 October
0900hrs: HGM-Kliege, Austrian Military Museum, including Lunch. The Museum is the leading museum of the Austrian Armed Forces.
1400hrs: UN International Atomic Energy Agency. The Agency works with the UN Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies, contributing to international peace and security and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
2000hrs: Hail and Farewell, Name of Restaurant – To be Confirmed.
Thursday 11 October
Return to Ireland.
Annex B
Artillery Club’s Field Trip – Vienna – 07 to 11 October 2018
List of Participants
| Number
|
Name | Date to Vienna
Flight Details |
Date from Vienna
Flight Details |
Hotel
Reservation Number |
Remarks |