Baltic Amber Magazine
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BALTIC AMBER MAGAZINE NATO’S ENHANCED FORWARD PRESENCE ESTONIA PREPARED TO DETER AND DEFEND MARITIME-LAND INTEGRATION IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION Photo by Sgt. Timothy Hamlin Cavalry / 2d Regiment / US ARMY / via DVIDS ALLIED FORCE INTEGRATION: THE APPROACH OF THE LATVIAN MECHANIZED INFANTRY BRIGADE TABLE OF CONTENTS COMMANDER’S FOREWORD LIFE IN EFP BATTLE GROUP LITHUANIA / page 5 BARRACKS / page 28 COMMAND SENIOR ENLISTED LEADERS’S FOREWORD IRON SPEAR 2020 / page 7 / page 30 ALIGNING THE EFFORT BATTLE GROUP POLAND WORKS INTERVIEW WITH GEN JÖRG VOLLMER TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN THE / page 8 ALLIANCE / page 34 MULTINATIONAL DIVISION NORTH EAST IN ELBLAG INFRASTRUCTURE RECCE PROJECT IN A YEAR OF GROWTH ESTONIA / page 10 / page 38 HQ MULTINATIONAL DIVISION NORTH A MAN OF MANY FACETS MOVES TOWARDS FULL OPERATIONAL INTERVIEW WITH LTC KÁROLY SZÁVAI CAPABILITY / page 42 / page 12 NATO FORCE INTEGRATION SUPPORT YOU CANNOT DO WITHOUT UNIT LITHUANIA / page 14 EVOLVING AND ADAPTING / page 46 ALLIED FORCE INTEGRATION THE APPROACH OF THE LATVIAN 5 YEARS OF NATO FORCE MECHANIZED INFANTRY BRIGADE INTEGRATION UNIT LATVIA / page 16 THE COMMANDER’S PERSPECTIVE / page 48 MARITIME-LAND INTEGRATION IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION MULTIDIMENSIONAL EXPERTISE EFFORT / page 18 OF NATO FORCE INTEGRATION UNIT POLAND NATO’S ENHANCED FORWARD / page 50 PRESENCE ESTONIA PREPARED TO DETER AND DEFEND RECERTIFICATION OF NATO FORCE / page 22 INTEGRATION UNIT SLOVAKIA / page 52 The Baltic Amber IMPRINT / NOV 2020 – FEB 2021 MAGAZINE PAPERS FOR THIS ISSUE WERE WRITTEN IN NOV AND DEC 2020 The Baltic Amber is the authorized magazine of PUBLICATION MANAGEMENT Graphic Designer & Photo Editor ul. W. Łukasińskiego 33 Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast Public Affairs Office Headquarters Karol Sito 71-215 Szczecin, Poland (HQ MNC NE) which shall be a fruitful source of Multinational Corps Northeast CPL Heiko Mueller information on Corps-related issues for members CPL Peter Alzner tel. +48 91 811 5888 of the Headquarters, assigned formations as well Editorial Board +48 91 444 5888 as international visitors and other individuals. LTC Robert Habermann Special thanks to Veit Rauen The name “Baltic Amber” is derived from the fossil resin Marta Karpińska and Manfred Freuding from [email protected] amber that can be found on the beaches of the Baltic Sea. LTC Alexander Strauss MNC NE Linguistic Branch mncne.nato.int It is well known in Poland, the host country of HQ MNC NE. CPT Simon Hofmann Opinions expressed in the Baltic Amber are Editorial Coordinator those of the writers and do not necessarily Marta Karpińska reflect official HQ MNC NE or NATO policy. LIEUTENANT GENERAL (POL A) SŁAWOMIR WOJCIECHOWSKI Commander Multinational Corps Northeast 4 It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the new edition of “Baltic Amber” magazine. This issue came to fruition through the hard work and perseverance of those who have been involved. The COVID-19 pandemic has rocked nearly every facet of our life. Editing a volume for publication is an accomplishment in normal years; in the circumstances of 2020, it was an incredible feat. COVID-19 has forced “Baltic Amber” to adapt in many ways, requiring new ways of communication between authors and editors. I cannot thank them enough. What I am particularly proud of is that these challenges served as a motiva- tion to conceive innovative ideas and concepts. As you will notice, this issue contains sixteen papers, far exceeding our previous year’s contributions. The works by numerous authors from across Multinational Corps Northeast focus on cooperation between our subordinate units. And there is no better way to underline the important fact that the Corps does not only mean the Headquarters. Today it stands for much more – the Headquarters and its forces on the ground. This “Baltic Amber” encompasses a variety of topics, analyses and arguments for you to engage with. I have to give special thanks to our friends from the Allied Maritime Command and the Latvian Mechanized Infantry Brigade, who both offered their substantial input and knowledge. I strongly encourage all of our Allies and Partners to do the same. “Baltic Amber” is a forum for you to generate and disseminate understanding of the security environment in the north-east of NATO. Let us make this our common journal! So please, read the articles that catch your eye or the issue in its totality. This is a space of discussion and exchange. 5 CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER (CAN A) MICHAEL HAMILTON Command Senior Enlisted Leader Multinational Corps Northeast 6 Happy New Year to all and welcome to those who enthusiasm and meritorious service. As part of have recently rotated into the Baltic Sea Region the ongoing adaptation of MNC NE, the honours land domain. While the past twelve months have and awards system of the Command has been brought unforeseen challenges, our mission of broadened to now include the entirety of our AOO. deterrence and, if needed, defence has not changed The awards have been expanded to specifically and has not suffered. These ongoing successes are recognize, with the concurrence and support of a testament to the professionalism that marks local chains of command, those whose actions have Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) as the positively impacted the mission and development Regional Land Component Command. of the Corps. For leaders and supervisors at all levels, should you determine that your followers or At all levels, units and formations adapted to, peers deserve recognition for exceptional perfor- mitigated and overcame the significant impedi- mance, I encourage you to take full advantage of ments posed by the pandemic. The four enhanced all the mechanisms available, to include not only Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Groups integrated MNC NE honours and awards but national and into the national home defence force brigades internal systems as well. continue to rise to the challenge with outstanding drive and under expert leadership, demonstrating As leaders we must always be cognizant and NATO’s resolve to stand together and deter unwar- informed regarding the health of our forces. This ranted and unwanted aggression. Fundamental to includes all aspects of well-being, both physical supporting national-level efforts, our NATO Force and mental. It is no secret that the previous twelve Integration Units (NFIUs) have shown the indispen- months, during which we had to deal with isolation, sable nature of the effects they can bring to any stress/risk of infection, concerns of our families conflict or crisis. Last but not least, Multinational and the like, have been difficult for some. Ensure Divisions North East and North reinforce strong all your soldiers are aware and informed of where command and control of their specific Areas of to seek mental health assistance when needed. Operations (AOOs), all while juggling flexible Conduct regular checks by getting out from behind staffing levels and maintaining effective commu- the computer and safely engage with your people nications up and down the chain. though dialogue and feedback. Integration of so many different capabilities, skill Realistically, we all have several months of sets and backgrounds into a single cohesive unit continued vigilance and COVID-related hygiene requires efforts from all members, regardless of measures to follow and enforce before we begin rank or trade. We at the Corps HQ see the positive to envision our transition to an environment where results of these efforts daily and realize that our COVID is not as prevalent. Leadership is crucial mission would be impossible to accomplish without to ensure we don’t lose focus and maintain the them. The recognition of outstanding profession- measures in place to prevent large-scale infection alism through honours and awards is one method and a negative impact on the operational effect. of acknowledging those in the MNC NE AOO who Stay safe and healthy! have demonstrated exceptional commitment, 7 MARTA KARPIŃSKA ALIGNING THE EFFORT INTERVIEW WITH GEN JÖRG VOLLMER Like everywhere else, in military there is nothing more important than being able to communicate effectively Name: Marta Karpińska while working towards a common goal. This is when Rank: Civilian a leader’s vision is espoused by team members, so that Unit: HQ Multinational they perform to their greatest potential. For that reason Corps Northeast alone, the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) Country of origin: Poland Commander’s Conference occupies a prominent place amongst other recurring events in the Headquarters’ calendar. “This conference serves as an effective tool to share our detailed expertise of the region,” is how GEN Jörg Vollmer – the meeting’s guest speaker – under these challenging conditions. In all circumstances, summarized its fourth iteration, which took place on the MNC NE Commander’s Conference is a great enter- 8-9 December 2020. prise and provides a unique platform to demonstrate our common commitment. This conference offers During the two-day online symposium, commanders a broad overview on the most relevant developments from across MNC NE explored ways in which they could across the Baltic Sea region. further strengthen the links between troops in the Baltic. To serve the broadest objectives of regional secu- rity, the conference also included numerous officials representing the Corps’ framework nations and higher headquarters. On this very occasion, the Commander Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS), who attended the meeting virtually, talked with us about his current and upcoming plans. He also expanded on the role of MNC NE in bracing the structure of European security. Sir, from your point of view, what is the main value of the Multinational Corps Northeast Commander’s Conference? How can Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum benefit from it? First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for the dedication of the MNC NE staff. On top of that, I sincerely appreciate the hard work of MNC NE together with all sub-units down to the enhanced Forward Presence Battle Groups.