About the framework
The Sectoral Qualification Framework for the Military Officer Profession (SQF-MILOF) defines the knowledge, skills, autonomy, and responsibility required of military officers throughout their careers, ensuring they are prepared for complex and rapidly evolving security challenges. It provides EU Member States with practical roadmaps to implement consistent training and education standards, enhancing interoperability and fostering a shared security and defence culture.
Although education and training are national responsibilities, achieving interoperability requires transparent and coordinated development of military training systems. SQF-MILOF, developed under the ESDC with support from the EU Military Staff, offers a platform for Member States to align performance and learning expectations for military officers. Completed in 2020, it underwent rigorous validation by independent experts and national authorities.
What is SQF-MILOF?
Aligned with the European Qualification Framework, SQF-MILOF facilitates recognition of equivalent training across Member States, enabling exchanges and strengthening a common security culture. It includes:
- Competence Profile: Core competences for military officers;
- Learning Profile: Links the SQF-MILOF with the MILOF Core Curriculum (MILOF-CORE);
- Quality Assurance: Encourages adherence to European standards;
- Military Qualifications Database: Ensures transparent information sharing.
The SQF-MILOF supports lifelong learning, professional development, and cross-border cooperation in military officer education.
Benefits and Use of the SQF-MILOF Package
The SQF-MILOF Package equips Member States with tools to:
- Harmonise military officer competences with national occupational standards (via the Competence Profile).
- Align national military qualifications with the SQF-MILOF, National Qualifications Frameworks, and European Qualifications Framework levels.
- Standardise learning outcomes across Member States, aiding curriculum development and individual learning (through MILOF-CORE).
- Compare qualifications to facilitate the exchange of military students and participants (using the Military Qualifications Database).
- Ensure national military qualifications meet European quality standards (via Quality Assurance Principles).
The SQF-MILOF package is published in two volumes.
Volume 1 describes the SQF-MILOF rationale and context and the development, validation and roadmaps for implementation. It has both historical and documentary value.
Volume 2 is more technical, where interested practitioners can find useful information such as the Competence Profile or the taxonomy of learning outcomes in the tabular format of the SQF-MILOF and MILOF-CORE.
SQF-MILEG (Executive Group)
Established in December 2021, the SQF-MILOF Executive Group (SQF-MILEG) supports Member States in implementing the framework at the national level. Meeting quarterly, it:
- Reviews national reports on implementation.
- Develops guidelines for SQF-MILOF use at all levels.
- Monitors the publication of National Military Qualifications in the Military Qualifications Database.
- Organises peer-learning activities to assist Member States.
- Supports the development of service-specific frameworks upon request.
Chair and Configuration Support
Chair - Dr Alin BodescuCol. (ret) Alin Bodescu, Ph.D. is assistant professor with the Land Forces Academy, Sibiu, Romania. He served with the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) as Action Officer (2011–2016), where he coordinated EU military training and education, co-drafted the EU CSDP training policy-related documents, and developed internal training programmes for EUMS personnel. Between 2017 and 2021, he was seconded as Training Manager with the European Security and Defence College, where he led the development of the Sectoral Qualifications Framework for the Military Officer Profession (SQF-MILOF) and the Advanced Modular Training Course. His operational experience includes a tour in Irak, with Italian Joint Task Force (2004) and a mission with the USCENTCOM HQ (2006), contributing to planning and coordination efforts of the multinational coalition.
ESDC Coordinator - Stanislava KraynovaStanislava Kraynova is a Bulgarian civilian expert with many years of experience in Training, Education, Project Management, and Resilience through Civil Preparedness, seconded to ESDC by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence since March 2023. She is handling an extensive ESDC course portfolio in the fields of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), by implementing project plans, managing project stakeholders and the related budget. She actively contributes to the co-ordination, organisation and implementation of the Pre-deployment training for CSDP missions and operations. She is in lead of the implementation of the Sectoral Qualification Framework for the military profession, being also the coordinator of the Executive Group (SQF-MILEG).