December 2016 NATO Skywatch 1
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21 December 2016 NATO Skywatch 1 Volume 32, No. 12 • 21 December 2016 21 December 2016 NATO Skywatch 3 COMMANDER’S CORNER With the Commander’s Corner, our NAEW&CF Commander and E-3A Commander give the opportunity to wing and squadron commanders, and branch and division heads to share their thoughts about current topics taking place at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen. Every month a different writer will highlight a specific topic concerning their discipline. Governments around the world are operating and manpower costs and interoperability with less familiar driven by the need to build resilience face the fact that in the short to partners. Common doctrine, tactics, to protect their people and their medium term the scope for additional techniques and procedures and ways of life, their economy, their platform procurement may be limited. combined and joint training are a infrastructure and their territory. That means looking for better and great starting point. They also recognise that in an more affordable ways of doing our increasingly globalised world they business rather than defaulting to More and more of the world’s crucial especially as we conduct more must act to reduce any threat to their potentially unaffordable equipment population live in sprawling urban and more operations across traditional interests. These interlinked objectives options. Nations must continue to areas near the coast. These congested, environmental seams. call for a flexible security posture invest in the critical foundation densely populated regions are subject and few elements of the defence capabilities such as logistics, mobility, to the most acute sources of stress Against this backdrop, the importance instrument are more flexible than air communications, command and and instability. The urban operating and relevance of NATO AWACS to the power. Air power is not only one of control and intelligence. They must environment is a complex joint and Alliance has never been greater. At the best ways of protecting against also embrace emerging technology for multi-dimensional challenge. Such an the Wales Summit in 2014 and at attack, but it also offers the most example distributed simulation and environment is easy to hide in and the Warsaw Summit this summer, rapid and responsive way of projecting expanded networks. And procurement targets are difficult to acquire and the NATO Heads of State reaffirmed power to secure national and multi- processes must be better able to track. And as we have seen in Syria their commitment to the NAEW&C national interests across the globe. In harness things like spiral development there are few, if any, neutral spaces; Force. We welcome this commitment short, air power offers our politicians and modularity. hospitals, schools and places of and going forward the NAEW&C a broad range of options that can worship are all part of the operational Force will continue to be a flag- be implemented at easily scalable The shifting balance of power also landscape. This places a premium on bearer for the Alliance. Of course, increments of political liability. means that the technology gap gathering and sharing information our aircraft are hugely important, between ‘the West and the rest’ is rapidly and widely. Precision, time- but the greatest attribute of the Traditionally, it has been western narrowing. Yes – future breakthroughs critical decision-making and attack Force are the men and women powers who have taken the most in areas such as micro-processing, capabilities must combine to compress within it. We have an outstanding active and influential role in world software engineering, data storage, the sense-to-shot cycle. Persistent team here at Geilenkirchen and affairs, but this precept is being semi-conductors and nanotechnology sensor coverage is one of the keys to everyone connected, either directly or challenged by the shift in the balance may be innovated in the West but cutting through the clutter. indirectly, with our mission should be of global power away from the they are more likely to be exploited in justifiably proud of their contribution West towards the world’s emerging the Asia-Pacific region. But it is not only on the ground to this unique and vital NATO economies. And despite the green where we will see congestion – the capability. shoots of economic recovery across This relative decline also makes sheer number of manned and remotely western nations, the strictures of partnerships and alliances even piloted air systems operating over Air Commodore financial austerity will remain for more important. NATO remains the these confined areas will congest Paddy Teakle some time to come. This means that West’s primary Alliance, but western the available airspace. Effective western nations must bear down on nations must also work towards better battlespace management will be HQ NAEW&C Force Commander Atlantic Treaty Organization. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including Maj. Gen. Dawn M. Dunlop inserts or supplements, does not constitute an endorsement by NATO of the products or services advertised. Submissions are due seven days before publication and may be edited Volume 32, No. 12 21 December 2016 Chief, Public Affairs for style and space. Email articles and classified advertisements to [email protected]. Maj. Johannes Glowka NATO Skywatch is an authorized, unofficial For paid advertisements call Hub Durlinger Media at +31 (0)46 4529292, commercial enterprise newspaper published Editor cellphone +31 (0)6 5472 6473, [email protected] or Houx Digiprint under exclusive written agreement with the Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow at +31 (0)46 4582111, [email protected] NAEW&CF E-3A Component by HOUX DIGIPRINT, Arendstraat 3, 6135 KT Sittard, +31 (0)46 4582111. Opinions expressed by contributors are Articles may be reproduced after permission has been obtained from the editor, provided their own and do not necessarily reflect the official views of, or endorsement by, the North mention is made of NATO Skywatch. 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On December 15, 2016, Dunlop and Teakle handed out candy canes to individuals coming through the Main and West Gate. On behalf of the commanders at NATO Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, they would like to wish you a happy holiday season and a great New Year. Be Safe. German Christmas Market marks three years Story by Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. The Christmas Market offered typical Longfellow German ADVENT drink ‘Glühwein’, other Photo by German NSU traditional Christmas drinks and food in a peaceful atmosphere. There were The German National Support booths with handcrafted items for sale. Unit held their third German Christmas Market at NATO Air Base With the friendly support of MWA and Geilenkirchen, Germany on Dec. 8, NATEX, the German NSU and DUK were 2016. able to open this event to all base personnel. 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