LAND POWER 1 UKR Headquarters ROU RUS BGR GEO

GRC ARM Izmir Allied Land IRN

SYR Command IRQ

1GNC Soldıer partıcıpatıng ıng Exercıse Noble Ledger, conducted at Table of contents Wıldflecken,

6 Preparing To Be A JTF HQ - RRC FRA 22 Center of Gravity Concept - NRDC TUR 8 NRF Ready - 1 GE NL 24 SACEUR on The New NATO 10 Cooperative Security 28 Announces FOC 12 MNC NE Takes a New Course GF #,141+062'4#6A105jxk 14 Evolution of Information 34 CREVAL: Ensuring Readiness Management - ARRC 36 Be Wise – Standardize! NATO 16 True Interoperability Challenge 38 TRIDENT LANCE 2014 18 Broad Spectrum 40 Operating under Article 5 - NRDC GRC Dedication - EUROCORPS 42 Deterrence in the New Security Environment 20 Legal Element Of Warfare 44 Future Challenges - NRDC ITA 46 VJTF New Challenge - NRDC ESP 48 Valued Engineer Collaboration 52 Visits 54 LANDCOM Campaign Plan

SACEUR, durıng a recent vısıt to MNC NE

The LANDPOWER Magazine is a bi-annual publication produced by Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) dedicated to the promotion of actions and ideas contributing to the improvement of the NATO Force Structure (NFS) efficiency and effectiveness. Most of the authors belong to the command but the views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the LANDCOM Commander, SACEUR, NATO or its member nations and none can be quoted as an official statement of those entities. An electronic version that includes additional links to in-depth articles, supplementary articles and an ability to provide online comments is available from the LANDCOM website (www.lc..int). All articles are edited for content.

To contact The LANDPOWER Magazine staff and/or publish an article in the The LANDPOWER Magazine TEAM AT LANDCOM HQ: next issue (Fall 2015 – Deadline for submission: July 15, 2015v), please use the Lieutenant Colonel (USA) Koné Faulkner, Senior Editor following contacts: Captaın(TUR) Serdal Özyılmaz Asst Content Coordinator E-mail: [email protected] Sergeant Fırst Class (ESP) Fernando Ruiz, Design Editor Postal: Public Affairs Office, Master Sergeant (DEU) Lars Gohl, Asst. Design Editor General Vecihi Akın Garrison Ms. Figen Ünsal (TUR), Content Editor 35148 Izmir / Ms. Elif Işık (TUR), Asst Content Coordinator Special thanks to the commitment of the staffs at both Allied Land Command and each of the Graduated Readiness Forces for their contributions to this edition.

Cover: Multinational Soldiers conduct radio checks during Exercise Saber Strike. Courtesy 173ABN (USA) Back: Soldiers participate in the NCO Intermediate Leadership Course, hosted by the Swiss Armed Forces college. Courtesy Markus Rauchenberger (Winner of the 1st LC Photo Competition) The Allied Land Command 2015 - A Comprehensive Focus

Lieutenant General John W. Nicholson Jr. Commander

llied Land Command’s and the United States thus clearly mission is 2-fold. In demonstrating Alliance commitment A crisis, this command to this important Alliance member provides Mission Command to NATO and responsiveness to threats from this Land Forces in support of the Joint strategic direction. Force Commands to accomplish the LANDCOM is also central to Allied level of ambition. In peace, the Adaptation of Land Forces within this command provides land expertise the Readiness Action Plan. The in support of Alliance Land Forces’ revitalization of the NATO Response capabilities, readiness, interoperability Force, through creation of a Spearhead and standardization. At all times, we Force built around the Very High focus on ensuring that NATO Land Readiness Joint Task Force with faster Forces are effective, interoperable and response times will enable the Alliance successful in full spectrum operations at to respond rapidly to re-assure Allies all levels. and deter potential aggressors. To this At the Wales Summit in September of 2014, our NATO end, LANDCOM is dedicated to the conceptual design of these heads of state expressed a unified concern about Russia’s adaptations and to the organizing, training, and standardizing aggressive activities in the Eastern portion of the Alliance. NATO Land Forces to counter conventional, strategic, and In response, they committed to enhancing our readiness and transnational threats while maintaining regional security and responsiveness through the Readiness Action Plan. A key part stability. of this plan are a series of Assurance Measures in our eastern In December of 2014, LANDCOM conducted NATO’s first members nations which include increased exercises, enhanced multi-Corps Article V collective defense exercise since the end air policing and maritime patrolling, establishing reception of the Cold War, TRIDENT LANCE. This established our full bases for command and control, looking at the pre-positioning of operational capability within the NATO Command Structure. supplies and equipment, and possible improvements to national In 2015, LANDCOM will conduct numerous Combat Readiness infrastructure. All of these actions are defensive in nature, Evaluations (CREVALs), evaluating 2 corps headquarters, and represent a proportional and appropriate response to the assisting two others and monitoring 19 other exercises. potential threats we face while simultaneously demonstrating LANDCOM will also have a key role in Exercise TRIDENT our Alliance resolve and commitment to collective defense. JUNCTURE 2015 (TRJE15), which will advance Alliance We are also closely monitoring the southern flank of the readiness and showcase NATO capabilities. With over 25,000 Alliance. NATO is undertaking a comprehensive study of the troops, it will take place in multiple locations including , southern strategic direction which includes the Middle East, and Spain and the surrounding air and sea space. North Africa and the Sahel. A broad range of security challenges This will be an important year for the Alliance in which from extremism, mass migration and the ongoing conflict in we deliver on the Wales Summit Declaration and enhance our Syria and Iraq all impact our member states. At the request readiness and capabilities. So in advance - thanks, to each of of Turkey, NATO is defending Turkish airspace with Patriot you, for your steadfast support and commitment to the Alliance missiles units from Allies such as , the , and our Soldiers! The Allied Land Command Striving to Improve Interoperability

Major General Uğur Tarçın Chief of Staff

LANDCOM, with growing capacity, has finally declared Full Operational Capability (FOC) December 10th, 2014, and completed its second year since its activation on 30 November 2012 successfully. FOC was announced by L COM, Lt. Gen. Nicholson during Exercise TRIDENT LANCE 2014 (TRLE14), which was conducted at the Joint Multinational Training Center, Grafenwoehr, Germany. TRLE14 also marked the completion of our final steps of this two-year journey to FOC. In this regard, I thank all staff members for your great contribution and outstanding support. LANDCOM is now recognized as the authority of the Land community, focused on ensuring land forces interoperability, capability and synchronization in support of full spectrum Allied operations; promoting land doctrine development; facilitating land and joint interoperability; synchronizing NATO Land Forces training through CFI and LTRP and integrating training environment and events; maintaining the oversight of evaluation and certification of the NFS; as well as maintaining relationships with Partners, IOs and NGOs in coordination with SHAPE, ACT, and the HQ JFCs. LANDCOM will now concentrate on the training process in order to explore additional training opportunities in NATO and assist in prioritization and distribution of resources. We are becoming a more responsive, adaptable, and flexible in the face of ever changing and challenging world of today. By working and training together with our many Allied headquarters around the world, NATO strives to improve interoperability, so that when the time comes our soldiers will be able to fight together and win that should be required. We have a busy period coming up. Proper understanding, management and planning will lead to LANDCOM’s full implementation and smooth functioning as always. Teamwork and management is essential for continued success and we need to manage our resources more efficiently. Finally, our core ethos are; Responsiveness, Readiness, Credibility, Coordination, Cooperation and Comprehensive approach for solving problems as it could be formulated by R2C4. The Allied Land Command NCO Corner: CSM Focus Areas

Chief Warrant Offier Daniel Moyer,Command Senior Enlisted

hen I first arrived at Land Command last summer, one of our great young NCOs asked me what I would focus Won while I was in this billet. It was a great question. As a CSM, there are always many areas that deserve attention but it has to be narrowed down to what you consider as key areas for your given formation/command. Given its multi-national characteristics, NATO is a unique environment to work in. However, the main focus areas outlined on these pages could be used within a national environment as well. The Commanders vision and end state are always supported. The HQ staff is integral in putting these words into action, and as NCOs, we support both of these areas. CSMs are custodians of the NCO Corps within any Army. The Soldiers participate in the NCO Interme- last two bullets pay attention to our NCO Corps, and the professional and diate Leadership Course, hosted by the leadership development of its members. Two very important pieces that will Swiss Armed Forces college ensure the health and well-being of the Alliance in the future. I share these points and I ask that all of our NCOs focus on these main areas as well.

NCO PME NCO Advocacy The HQ Unit PD The Commander NATO School GRF(L)s Swiss School NCO Community National Education The Staff The NCO Council The Mission NCO Employment NCO Recognition Outreach Unit Cohesion LC Promotion Operations Training Our leadership acad- emies and Centers of Excel- We seek every opportunity lence form the cornerstone to promote the NCO Corps at all The physical headquar- of NATO NCO Professional levels. NCOs bring a unique set ters also deserves attention. Military Education (PME). First and foremost we of experiences, amassed over a Supporting the staff in all phas- We will support these insti- support the Commander, his career, and are capable of advis- es of the planning and the con- tutions as Keynote Speakers, vision and the mission. We do ing the most senior of officers. duct of operations is essential. Mentors, and Students. We this through a strong network We set the example for all Allied NCOs are capable of staff work will ensure that our NCOs of NCOs both within and with- and Partnered NCOs to aspire to. and will be seen as the tech- have the requisite training out of the command. Each and We must be seen as a capability nical experts wherever they required for their position. every NCO is a spokesperson that enhances our organization’s work. We are ready to step up Working in conjunction with for LANDCOM. We will seek capacity. We seek out opportuni- and carry out duties above our Senior National Represent- out opportunities to promote ties to showcase these skills and rank level in order to achieve atives and the Nations, we LANDCOM’s capabilities, in the skills of all NCOs. We will the mission. NCOs are Leaders will seek out education and order to solidify our role within continue to develop and grow every day and we will do all that training opportunities for the NATO Command Struc- the NCO Council and make it we can to create unit cohesion our NCOs. ture. more inclusive. Finally we will and promote a professional recognize our Soldiers for spe- work environment. cific achievements both through internal and external awards programs. HEADQUARTERS NATO RAPID REAC- TION CORPS : Preparing To Be A Joint [email protected] or visit https://www.facebook.com/RRCFR Task Force Headquarters

By RRC France Public Affairs Office

RRC-FRA’s TOLL14 opening ceremony

s of 1 January 2014, Rap- Rapid Reaction Corps-France will Forces. id Reaction Corps France indeed be in stand by period for JTF (HQ) During exercise, ROCHAMBEAU A(RRC-FRA) began its trans- alert in 2017 and 2020, to hold the theatre conducted in May, RRC-FRA experiment- formation phase into an Integrated Com- command capability. ed the ICC-L structure. This multinational ponent Command-Land (ICC-L) structure The two main exercises conducted by major training opportunity gathered more in order to master the responsibility at the- Rapid Reaction Corps-France in 2014 de- than 3.000 soldiers and offered RRC-FRA atre level and has adapted, like its partners signed the HQ as an ICC-L, commanding the necessary lessons identified in order to of the NATO Force Structure, a versatility the operations on field with the full support build its next trainings as a JTF Headquar- concept: a permanent Joint Task Force- JTF. of Air, Maritime and Special Operations ters.

6 LAND POWER Preparing To Be A Joint Task Force Headquarters

During TOLL14, multiple aviation assets conducted maneuvers in participation.

The last exercise, TOLL14, set up in achieving JTF full operational capability Support Group, Counter-insurgency/secu- October, was based on a NATO high in- (FOC) in 2016 and achieve NATO certifi- rity and Reception, Staging, Onward Move- tensity operation scenario and consisted cation in the spring of 2017. ment and Integration (RSOMI) operations a Command Post exercise combined with As such, this exercise is linked to two within a complex environment. live fires and manoeuvring. Exercise TOLL others (CITADEL BONUS 2015 and CITA- Rapid Reaction Corps-France is liter- DEL JAVELIN 2016) that enable the trans- ally on its way of becoming a JTF HQ, in the formation. The aim of CITADEL KLEBER benefit of NATO by 2017. 2015 is to conduct Smaller Joint Operations to include Crisis Response, Joint Logistic

French Land Forces conducted maneuvers during TOLL14

TOLL14 is indeed a French Forces joint and com- bined exercise set up every three years that aims at practicing joint fires, targeting, air coordination and air defence. Here again, RRC-FRA designed an ICC-L HQ that commands the operations on the field. Next exercise to be conducted by Rapid Reaction Corps-France is CITADEL KLEBER 2015, in March. This exercise is designed to bring the HQ to initial opera- tional capability (IOC) as a JTF level head- quarters, as part of the larger objective of

LAND POWER 7 NRF: Ready with 1 German Netherland Corps http://www.1gnc.org/ Comprehensiveness in our Genes

By Jos Hoenen 1 (GE/NL) Corps’ civil advisor

1(GE/NL) Soldier participating in Exercıse Noble Ledger, conducted at Wıldflecken, Germany

n 14 January 2015, the formal 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps (1 (GE/ some of the best units in NATO”. While hand-over / take-over of the NL) Corps). In his address, Halbauer 1 (German/Netherlands) Corps will Otasks and responsibilities referred to the attack on innocent civilians command the Land Component, the of the NATO Response Force (NRF) in Paris in January as an attack on the free Immediate Response Force Brigade, which Land Component Command (LCC) took media and the freedom of speech; “These is the main quickly deployable element, place in Münster (Germany). Lieutenant freedoms are core values within all NATO is formed around the Dutch 11 Air General John Nicholson, the Commander member states. These events do not weaken Manoeuvre Brigade, supplemented with of Allied Land Command, represented us. On the contrary, they strengthen our elements from various NATO member NATO at this ceremony and relieved his will to defend these freedoms together”. states, especially Norway and Germany. By French colleague Lieutenant General In support of France and out of respect the way, the 11 Air Manoeuvre Brigade is Eric Margail, the Commander of the for those who died in the terrorist attacks, a perfect example of Dutch and German Rapid Reaction Corps in Lille of his NRF the Band played the French cooperation and could be a role model for duties. He praised Margail for his vision, national anthem, the Marseillaise. future cooperation for other partners as leadership and performance over the past well. Since 2014, this Dutch Brigade has year. Subsequently, Nicholson passed Ready to Lead Military Operations – been integrated into a German division, these duties on to the German Lieutenant Together Strong even during peacetime. Another Dutch General Volker Halbauer, Commander of According to Lieutenant General brigade will follow this year. Let’s not Nicholson, the “NRF is composed of forget other contributors to the NRF Land 8 LAND POWER NRF Ready with Comprehensiveness in our Genes

Component. For example, the Czech 4th NATO Summit declaration of 2010. Rapid Deployment Brigade and units from Therefore, NATO works with other actors 14 nations. Actions meet words – we live to contribute to a comprehensive approach the Corps motto; “Together Strong”. that combines political, civilian and military crisis management instruments. In the face A Changing World with New Challenges and of the current security threats, this concept Adequate Answers has become even more valuable. Since 2011, Five years ago, when 1 (GE/NL) 1 (GE/NL) Corps together with civilian Corps was nominated to become the LCC partners has run the project, Common for NRF 2015, the world was different. Effort with the aim of starting cooperation As 1 (GE/NL) Corps was preparing before we meet in a crisis abroad. Common for this special task within NATO, we Effort includes all elements of mission witnessed a rapidly changing security preparation, especially common exercises environment. Eastern Europe, with its and training. The Ministries of Foreign special developments in the Ukraine; Mali, Affairs of Germany and the Netherlands, Nigeria, Africa in general, Syria, the so- together with 1 (GE/NL) Corps and more called Islamic State or more in general, than 150 representatives from more than the Greater Middle East are keywords for 30 national and international organisations COM LANDCOM, COM 1 (GE/NL) partic- this environment. Everybody will have ipates in 2015 HO/TO ceremony marking have worked and exercised together with noticed a series of security challenges and the take-over of NRF responsibilities from us on ways to improve cooperation at the their potential implications for us and our RRC-FRA. operational level. During various exercises nations. The Alliance agreed on a long- as well as the NRF 2015 and CREVAL term Readiness Action Plan to strengthen final concept of the VJTF. We will share preparation process, shortcomings in the NATO’s Collective Defence and to ensure our experiences during NRF 2015 and the concept itself were discovered. 1 (GE/ that the Alliance is ready to deal with results of the Testbed for VJTF with all of NL) Corps has reviewed the concept any challenge. NATO’s Readiness Action you at different forums. During the stand- and will conduct Common Effort 2015 Plan is a long-term project, but it already by phase, 1 (GE/NL) Corps will use every in the German capital of Berlin in order influences the revitalised NRF; without a opportunity to not only keep the standards to strengthen the coherence with our doubt the current LCC Package will have to we have achieved so far, but also to improve civilian partners. Harmonised mission- be a huge contributor to it. After the NATO even more in order to be “Ready for preparation planning, information sharing, Summit in Wales in September 2014 and Operations: Rapidly – Comprehensively – support to the security sector reform and the NATO Defence Minister Meeting on Decisively!” cooperation regarding disaster relief and 5 February 2015, the political guidance is gender issues will be the focus of this clear to us. One of the key decisions is to Operationalising a Comprehensive year’s exercise. Common Effort 2015 will increase the NRF responsiveness and to Approach – Project and Exercise Common be executed between 18-22 May in implement a Very High Readiness Joint Effort Berlin (Germany). Visitors, additional Task Force (VJTF). Depending on further “Our operational experience has participants and distinguished guests are decisions by our political and military taught us that military means, although appreciated. For more information, contact leaderships, we will support all interim essential, are not enough on their own 1 (GE/NL) Corps’ civil advisor, Mr. Jos measures as part of the NRF 2015 and the to meet the many complex challenges to Hoenen ([email protected]). related, so-called “Testbed” for the future our security” was stated in the

LAND POWER 9 Cooperative Security: The Foundation of Military Cooperation

By Capt. Mike Linnington (USA)

A Jordanian Super Puma Helicopter arrives inbound during MEDEVAC operations at the Zarka Training Center just outside of Amman, Jordan.

Cooperation (Mil Coop) Branch in coordi- tactics, techniques, and procedures are un- nation and cooperation with other LC Di- fortunately quite perishable in a post con- visions connects various, unified militaries flict environment and can easily be lost if together for future operations. Regardless not maintained through proper training if units are just beginning training in an ac- and assessments. Thus, forthcoming op- ademic environment or are participating in portunities to unify and collaborate with ou can’t surge relation- full, in-depth field training during a NATO partner nations must continue to be on the ships and you can’t surge evaluation, the process of interoperability forefront of NATO’s spectrum of operations trust,” a key catch-phrase starts with standards. as the alliance looks to the future. “Y To successfully work alongside one Allied Land Command’s Mil Coop mentioned numerous times over the last few years as nations continue to draw another, established and implemented strives to implement interoperability, oper- down forces throughout Europe and North standards are vital in a partnership and are ational readiness, and implication of stand- America. As our world continues to witness just as important as any type of skillset or ards to the fullest as a base foundation of fu- conflict in an ever changing environment, asset one may possess; a concept that was ture alliances and coalitions throughout the coalitions and alliances are paramount to readily observed and practiced during op- NATO Partner community. Through the the success of our militaries. More than just erations throughout ISAF over the last 10 connecting forces initiative, the Mil Coop a political statement, our militaries must be years. As nations worked hand and hand community unites NATO and its’ Partners able to work together, side by side, through during unified missions, interoperability through sponsored training, mentorship, a set of shared standards. The implemen- amid the ranks became the norm and fluid and evaluations. These training exercises tation and evaluation of these standards operations ensured, creating an ideal para- and evaluations are truly paramount to the is how Allied Land Command’s Military digm within the alliance. These acquired success of future engagements and collabo- 10LAND POWER The Foundation of Military Cooperation

opportunity to advise the Jordanian Mili- tary as NATO monitors, working with the unit’s evaluators to ensuring proper assess- ment of NATO standards was being con- ducted. This assessment focused on the interoperability of the unit, the first step in successfully operating and contributing within an alliance. As a unit demonstrates its abilities to adhere to NATO standards, the OCC E&F process continues through a 4 step evaluation process to confirm the units’ readiness for future operations along- side NATO members. The first 2 steps of this evaluation focuses on the interoper- ability of the unit while the final 2 steps judge the units’ capabilities. This process is fundamental on developing and maintain- ing interoperability between NATO, part- Members of the 28th Mechanized Infantry Battalion conduct MEDEVAC operations nered, and other various nations that look at the Zarka Training Area just outside of Amman, Jordan to join future coalitions. As future training opportuni- ties continue to present themselves, Allied rations between nations and thus, a top pri- other as we transition from a combat to gar- Land Command’s Mil Coop Branch togeth- ority for Allied Land Command. During rison environment. The value of these Mo- er with other LC divisions looks forward 2014 alone, Mil Coop conducted numerous bile Training Teams and workshops cannot to educating, mentoring, and assisting in evaluations to nations like Jordan, Moldo- be underestimated and is felt throughout the evaluation of NATO Partner nations. va, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Serbia, Allied Land Command as plans are being Looking at past engagements, NATO can , Bosnia & Herzegovina, and made to conduct 7 more in 2015. confirm that interoperability remains vi- Finland as well as deployed Mobile Train- Another aspect of interoperability tal to the success of our operations and ing Teams to both Armenia and Serbia. occurs in the first stage of the Operational that standards remain the benchmark for a In 2015, the level of ambition is raised as Capability Concepts Evaluation and Feed- prosperous future. These standards, as well over 23 events to 11 different countries are back process (OCC E&F). The Mil Coop as the coming together of joint, multina- planned throughout the year. Branch consistently works with various tional training events, will allow for a more Recently, members from the Mil Partner frameworks and recently had the secure, successful, and effective future. Coop Division in conjuncture with Allied Land Command’s G5 Plans Team deployed a Mobile Training Team to Belgrade, Serbia to instruct participants on NATO’s Opera- tional Planning Process. During this week long event, LANDCOM’s team instructed over 25 members of the Serbian Armed Forces on the combined efforts of NATO planning, as well as shared operational ex- periences with their counterparts. As joint, multinational operations begin to decrease as the alliance transitions out of ISAF, the opportunity to come together becomes more and more limited. This conjunction of aligned military organizations continues to allow for the sustainment of interoper- ability to prosper throughout the ranks, a key component for both NATO and part- LTC Emin Hasanov (AZB), SGM Jesus Palacios nered nations. These courses, as well as the (ESP), and members of the Jordanian Army over intermixture of lessons learned over the last watch a Cordon and Search at the Zarka Training decade from an experienced force, allow Area just outside Amman, Jordan for nations to continue learning from each

LAND POWER11 HEADQUARTERS MULTINATIONAL CORPS NORTHEAST- : MNC NE Takes a New www.mncne.pl Course By MNC NE Public Affairs Office

Baltic Region – In the spirit of Integration”. As a Forces of Lower Readiness MNC NE was established in 1999 and Headquarters, HQ MNC NE could only situated Baltic Barracks in Szczecin, Poland. fully fit in with the Alliance’s plans if the eadquarters Multinational The HQ MNC NE has had its readiness level was increased. The first Corps Northeast (HQ MNC primary focus on reaching Full Operational signals concerning a possible raise of HQ HNE) is currently undergoing Capability as a Corps HQ (obtained in MNC NE readiness level was sent in May significant changes. HQ MNC NE will 2006), the preparation for and contribution 2014. Since then the media has issued a transform from Forces of Lower Readiness to the ISAF missions (executed three times lot of information about HQ MNC NE’s to Forces of High Readiness in order to in 2007, 2010 & 2014), and simultaneously possible future role. support NATO collective defence activities on fulfilling its training obligations in The final decision was taken during related to the regional security challenges. north-eastern Europe. the NATO Summit in Wales on 4-5 HQ MNC NE will contribute to As the Alliance worked with assurance September 2014. A Trilateral Statement NATO prevention of insecurity, deterrence and adaptation measures, the unique outlining the way ahead for HQ MNC NE of aggression and demonstration of potential and geographical location of HQ was officially signed by the Ministers of preparedness to defend NATO territory. MNC NE came into play and the three Defence of the Corps’ three Framework Thus, HQ MNC NE will play a more visible Framework Nations (, Germany Nations. role in NATO’s NE Region in the future. and Poland) expressed their readiness to The Trilateral Statement aimed at From its very beginning, the motto of strengthen HQ MNC NE’s role in security supporting the implementation of NATO’s MNC NE has been: “NATO Corps of the in the NE Region. Assurance and Adaptation Measures in the NE Region of the Alliance and mentioned mid 2015 as deadline for up–manning of HQ MNC NE in order to generate a solid foundation for the headquarters transformation onto a High Readiness Forces Headquarters. In order to meet the new course HQ MNC NE is undergoing a transformation including various modifications of structure, procedures, infrastructure, logistics and personnel. All these changes determine the way to transform the current structure in a way that will allow HQ MNC NE to take on new tasks. The first changes will become apparent in mid-2015, when the new personnel, whose number is almost to double, start filling new posts in HQ MNC NE. Currently, the Corps consists of SACEUR, durıng a recent visit to MNC NE fourteen nations, including one non-

12LAND POWER MNC NE Takes a New Course

MNC NE leadership routinely host senior Baltic region leaders

NATO member, Sweden. Five new The Symposium was hosted by the Corps’ 2015 – in order to provide a platform to countries: France, Great Britain, , Commander, Lieutenant General Bogusław exchange opinions and knowledge on most the Netherlands, and Turkey have assigned Samol and attracted prominent military significant issues related to the Region, and personnel to HQ MNC NE. Thus, the and civilian guests, specializing in fields to contribute to an increasing role of the multinational character of the Baltic of politics, culture, science, military and Corps and its ability to reach new regional Barracks will increase. NATO. Also NATO Deputy Secretary goals. The upcoming arrival of this General Alexander Vershbow participated. In January 2015 the Supreme Allied number of additional personnel has posed The security situation in the Baltic Sea Commander Europe, General Philip M. numerous challenges. All the staff divisions Region and Ukraine was discussed in both Breedlove paid a visit to HQ MNC NE and have contributed to the change of HQ MNC a civilian and military perspective. made a clear statement that the preparations NE inner structures in order to meet new The speakers emphasized that the for the development of the Corps’ structure requirements. HQ MNC NE organization Alliance would defend the values shared by were going into the right direction. He has been changed and new procedures are its member states such as equal rights for reminded that the complex situation in currently under development. citizens, democracy, integrity of territories, Europe required robust solutions by the Taking into consideration the and freedom of speech. General Samol Allies. General Breedlove also expressed complexity of legal procedures applying referred to just signed Trilateral Statement his appreciation of capabilities acquired by to representatives of so many different as the proof of Corps’ commitment to the Corps so far: “I’m very encouraged of countries, the transition to “High defending its territory: “The signed what I have seen and heard during my visit Readiness” is a process that will result in agreement among our Framework Nations, here. It really highlighted the importance of numerous changes. Denmark, Germany and Poland is a clear regional cooperation and how important Already two weeks after the Trilateral sign to the public opinion that NATO is that is to our collective security.” Statement was issued, in conjunction with also at its eastern flank prepared for all 15 years after its establishment, HQ the celebration of HQ MNC NE 15th upcoming changes.” MNC NE is more important than ever. anniversary, HQ MNC NE held its 1st HQ MNC NE intends to hold Symposium on the Baltic Region Security. the next Symposium on 17 September

LAND POWER13 The Evolution of HEADQUARTERS ALLIED RAPID REAC- TION CORPS: Information Management www.arrc.nato.int within HQ ARRC By SGT RJ Coppack (GBR), SGT Dean Houghton (GBR), MAJ Olivier Josserand (FRA), HQ ARRC

internal working practices in the head- the existing headquarters IM systems quarters. This task was further com- from Share Point 07 to Share Point 10 at pounded by the fact that any organiza- the end of the summer 2013 – no small tion that rotates personnel also loses feat as the headquarters staff rotation nformation Management (IM) corporate knowledge. The IM system meant over 30 percent of the staff were for any organization is chal- must minimize this loss. Poor folder new members. This was followed by the Ilenging. The systematic practice management, unintuitive design tem- autumn and winter exercise period. The to capture all relevant information, then plates, and nonstandard file naming con- Chief of Staff gave everyone the frame- provide that information in the appro- ventions were just a few of the problems. work and guidance for an evolutionary priate format at the right time, in order The new IM team saw their relative 2014 ARRC IM strategy. that it can be exploited to improve deci- lack of knowledge of how the Allied Rap- Collaboration across the head- sion making, requires constant mainte- id Reaction Corps (ARRC) managed its quarters and assistance from outside the nance. information as an opportunity to evolve ARRC were needed to achieve the IM In the summer of 2013, a new IM the way in which the headquarters han- migration goals. A visit to EUROCORPS team took on the task of managing a dles its IM. With a new team, new ideas (ARRCADE RECORD) followed by reg- 3-Star Headquarters’ information pol- came, and their approach was to be an ular meetings with Microsoft UK, and icies and practices, and supporting the evolution, not a revolution. the contribution by the staff, led to the Chief of Staff’s objective of improving The first critical task was to migrate design of two new website based plat-

ARRC conducts command post training

14LAND POWER The Evolution of Information forms named Out of Barracks Informa- tion System (OBIS) and In Barracks In- formation System (IBIS). “I find the way that ARRC uses SharePoint quite original as there are multiple scenarios for usage (OBIS and IBIS) of the same data,” said Steve Jeff- ery, Premier Field Engineer, at Microsoft UK.“ This was something we took into account when designing and developing the page with the IMs as we had to ac- count for unknown bandwith and device sizes. With this in mind, we developed the page in a way that it would ‘flex’ or ‘respond’ to the screen size, whilst main- taining an optimal user experience.” Both web-based platforms were designed and built from the software SharePoint 10. The separation of IBIS eye and easy to navigate. The intricacies seen in NATO. Green in all respects of and OBIS allowed websites to reflect the of the SharePoint 10 software were quick Information Management, the ARRC different nature of operations and al- to learn and the team was easily edit- achieved a remarkable step change in lowed OBIS to support Mission Secret if ing and enabling text, colours, size, and one year from 2013 to the end of 2014. necessary. The challenge for the IM cell shape per page. was to build the revised IBIS and OBIS With exercise FUSION 14 ap- Key Considerations IM systems to full operating capability proaching, there was pressure to com- Steve Jeffery offered these key con- in time for Exercise ARRCADE FUSION plete and test the new landing pages. siderations when beginning a similar IM 14, and be routine by the ARRC’s Joint This was achieved by working collabora- project: Task Force Headquarters certification tively with the functional staff branches t$POTJEFSUIFFOWJSPONFOUXIFSF exercise TRIDENT JAGUAR 15. in order to set up and customize their the platform is used operating environment. IBIS and OBIS t $POTJEFS UIF DPOOFDUJPO TQFFE User Focused, Collaboratively Built systems were up and running ahead of and device size Sharepoint is an extremely power- time, tested the week before FUSION 14. t&OTVSFUIFJOGPSNBUJPOZPVSVT- ful tool, but at the time was only being ers need is in the most obvious and ac- utilised at a basic level. The IM Team be- Rapid Application Development cessible location gan by changing coding and architecture Concurrently, the supporting IM The IM team will maintain the in order to enable the full range of Share- Policy and Standing Operating Instruc- tempo into 2015, with regular mainte- point capabilities for the user. tions were published and briefed to the nance of the websites and a continuous Following Branch consultation and staff from the Command Group. Hav- schedule of training users at all levels in collaboration, the team then put a plan ing built the IM framework on IBIS and preparation to TRIDENT JAGUAR 15, into place creating Branch landing pag- OBIS, the branches still faced the task of maintaining an ethos for smart evolu- es with a generic format and essential migrating significant amounts of doc- tion. Branch specific tools readily visible. The umentation under the correct naming page hwwvad to be interactive and intu- convention and storing them in the cor- itive to accelerate users to take up whilst rect places. increasing speed and efficiency in the Prior to SHAPE’s external moder- access, use and sharing of information. ating team arriving, every page was scru- With these new web platforms cre- tinized. Ideas and improvements were ated, the IM team started transitioning put into place. At the end of this exer- the branches on the IBIS. One simple cise, the SHAPE Eval team considered principle was maintained: keep all in- HQ ARRC Electronic Working Practices formation accessible within three clicks (EWP) as “Best practice,” and OBIS as (from the IBIS homepage), easy on the the best Information System they had LAND POWER15 True Interoperability Challenge

By Col. Paul Romagnoli (USA)

short period of time will be a challenge updates the higher headquarters COP since not all of our communications without any human interaction, such as systems seamlessly communicate a file transfer or manual input of data. with each other. The long term goal This will ensure that commanders at all is to develop a communications levels have the same operational picture infrastructure that is plug and play, within a clearly defined operational where at a moment’s notice, the alliance area. Not having a common operational can pull together a multi-national picture hinders the commander’s force of different capabilities. Imagine ability to effectively execute mission ATO is the greatest a Turkish headquarter with Spanish, command. alliance in the history of French, and German subordinate Second, CIS interoperability Nthe world. Our strength units completely interoperable so the must include secure tactical radios. lies in our diversity of cultures and Commander may execute mission This enables tactical level units to world perspectives. Unfortunately, command effectively without any delay communicate with each other while our strength does not carry over to that a lack of CIS interoperability may manoeuvring. This is especially communication & information systems impose. important along a friendly unit’s flank (CIS) interoperability. Those differences So, what does CIS interoperability up against another friendly unit from a in not allowing us to communicate mean? LANDCOM believes that different country. Lacking the inability effectively across our formations at at minimum it comes down to four to communicate securely may create different echelons of command are aspects. First, whatever common a seam that can be exploited by an preventing NATO from reaching its full operational picture (COP) a nation is adversarial unit. potential. using, it must be able to populate its Third, nations must employ This is especially true during higher headquarters COP automatically. Friendly Force Tracking (FFT) systems contingency operations. For NATO to Meaning that when a change occurs and they must populate each other. It is pull together a multinational force in a on a national system, it automatically an understatement to say that the battle

16LAND POWER True Interoperability Challenge

increase the chances of losing track of forces in exchange for a smaller friendly units and, therefore, increase Force Command Structure. Working the potential risk of fratricide. toward CIS interoperability is a very How do we achieve CIS good way to modernize the force. A interoperability? It starts out as a recommended cost saving measure collective effort by every alliance is to take advantage of NCIA’s member. With the four aspects of CIS NATO First Solution. This allows for interoperability mentioned as a start guaranteed interoperability with the point, we all work toward standardizing NATO Command Structure through our technology, policies, and seamless integration with existing acquisition processes so that whatever NATO capabilities; is cost effective by we do, we move toward interoperability. leveraging existing common funded Following NATO STANAGs is a great capabilities and avoiding duplicate field is a dangerous place. It is even more start. Not only does NATO benefit development costs; reduces complexity dangerous when friendly forces cannot from this on an operational level, by avoiding the need to implement, tell the difference between friendly moving toward CIS interoperability support and train on various systems and enemy formations. FFT systems will naturally lead us to fulfill the idea that deliver the similar capabilities; are essential in maintaining situational of the Connected Forces Initiative. By and allows units to train as they fight awareness of the battlefield and the connecting our headquarters, training by using the same infrastructure, front line trace of friendly forces. areas, and centres of excellence, NATO applications and exercises as those used Finally, our nations must employ will gain long term savings and greater during operations. Functional Area Systems (FAS) that training opportunities because exercises If CIS interoperability were easy, it are interoperable. This is to ensure would not be limited by geography. A would have been done by now. NATO that commanders have the visibility at nation facing limited fiscal resources has faced difficult challenges in the the operational and strategic levels to may still participate in an exercise from past, but with a concerted effort, this effectively synchronize resources across their home headquarters with another challenge will be surmounted as well. space and time within the operational country that is participating from a area. home training area or some other What happens when we are not deployed location. (NATO CIS) interoperable? We simply Obviously, achieving CIS lose the ability to effectively execute interoperability requires resources, mission command and with that, lose but the nations agreed during the situational awareness of the battle field, Lisbon Summit to modernize their

LAND POWER17 HEADQUARTERS EUROCORPS: www.eurocorps.com Dedication to a Broad Spectrum of Missions By MAJ. Hans Haegdorens (BEL), HQ EUROCORPS

EUROCORPS conducts command post training

hat distinguishes links with several political and educational of Employment, which was approved last EUROCORPS from other institutions based there (such as the November, makes it modular and capable Wsister HQs? European Parliament, the French National of being committed in the framework of Born from a French-German political School of Public Administration and the advisory, monitoring or training missions, initiative in 1992, EUROCORPS is a rapid Institute for Political Studies). as mission headquarters as well as corps- reaction corps which has been certified by Lieutenant General (BEL) level headquarters or Land Component NATO and meets the European Union’s BUCHSENSCHMIDT is the current Command. operations-related requirements. Commander of EUROCORPS. He will An agreement (SACEUR Agreement) That fact that it can be employed handover the command to a Spanish general was signed with NATO in January, 1993 in by the EU, NATO and UN lends it a next summer, in line with the rotational order to make EUROCORPS available to very unique status It is fully principle applied to EUROCORPS’ the North Atlantic Alliance, which finally multinational, operational and deployable Command Group. certified it as a rapid reaction corps in 2002. on short notice. Since its creation, it has After completing its build-up in 1995, continuously adapted and modernized, Deployable and Operational EUROCORPS deployed four times under thanks to the strong support of its five NATO command, either partially or as a EUROCORPS is fully dedicated to Framework Nations and four Associated whole, namely to Bosnia (1998), Kosovo operations and can cover a broad spectrum Nations. It also benefits from its location, (2000) and (2004 and 2012). of missions ranging from stabilization to Strasbourg, which allows it to strengthen coercion. The latest version of its Concept It has its own field equipment, which 18LAND POWER Dedication to a Broad Spectrum of Missions renders it rapidly available as well as sustainable to a large extent. In 2007 and 2010, it provided the core of the NATO Response Force (NRF). Its deployment to Afghanistan in 2012 confirmed its operational nature and its credibility. In this framework, EUROCORPS personnel, including the Commanding General, manned key posts within the ISAF command structure (mainly HQ ISAF and IJC, as well as NTMA). Over the last two years, the Joint Task Force Concept has been developed and trained through an exercise series, making EUROCORPS compatible with the NATO What is more, the ratification of and foremost the renewal of its Concept of the Treaty of Strasbourg has granted Employment, which aligns EUROCORPS EUROCORPS full legal and financial in the direction of the European Union autonomy. It is in fact the only unit military and political structures, while with such a status, which provides both maintaining close cooperation with NATO, flexibility and reactivity. through Land Command Izmir and the Finally, it is directly subordinated other corps-level sister headquarters. to a Common Committee composed of As proof and confirmation of its the Chiefs of Defence and the Political continuous development, EUROCORPS Directors of the Ministries of Foreign has been designated as EUBG Mission Affairs of the Framework Nations, or Headquarters for a stand-by period in the their representatives, which facilitates the second half of 2016. This means that an decision-making process. interesting and challenging preparation phase will start soon. The Near Future: Thinking Outside the Box Last but not least, EUROCORPS has The integration of Poland as just been designated to deploy part of its EUROCORPS Framework Nation, which personnel to the future EUTM MALI EU will be completed by January 2016, is a mission headquarters as of summer 2015. unique opportunity to be seized, especially More than ever, modularity and in the context of the current restructuring multiplicity are the key factors on which process within NATO’s command structure. current and future missions rely. Latest developments include first JTF Concept. EUROCORPS is thus ready to adapt to recent NATO Wales Summit declarations concerning the VJTF Concept.

A Unique Feature: Multinational in Every Sense EUROCORPS is a genuine symbol of the French-German reconciliation while remaining open to other nations. In a sense, it is a perfect example of both NATO’s and the EU’s concept of “pooling and sharing”. Since 1996, the Framework Nations share responsibilities and burdens on an equal basis. The four Associated Nations have also assigned personnel to the Staff.

LAND POWER19 Russia’s Use of the Legal Element of Hybrid Warfare

By Mark Voyger (USA)

interpretative nature of international law the practice of giving away RUS passports is being used by RUS extensively and to boost the number of RUS citizens in in the most creative ways to assert its neighboring states (Abkhazia, South he “What?”: RUS under numerous territorial, political, economic Ossetia); the attempts to use the UN SC to President Putin is asserting its and humanitarian claims against UKR. sanction RUS opening of “humanitarian renewed regional hegemonic T The current international system based on corridors”; the use of Kosovo and Libya ambitions that have the potential to impact treaties and international institutions has so as legal precedents for RUS action; the the international order on a global scale. far failed to shield UKR from the resurgence sentencing of UKR officials in absentia During the current crisis in UKR RUS of RUS hegemony. by RUS courts; and RUS propaganda has resorted to the use of ‘Legal’ as an fabricating a legal case to justify the entry element of its comprehensive strategy. IOT The “How?”: While RUS does not of RUS “peacekeeping forces” to prevent “a prepare a coherent response to this new control the international legal system, and humanitarian catastrophe” caused by “the RUS challenge to the European security thus is not fully capable of changing it genocide” of RUS-speakers by UKR “Nazis”. architecture, NATO and the West should ‘de jure’, it is definitely trying to erode its develop a deep understanding and a unified fundamental principles ‘de facto’. Among The “So What?”: The above examples response to the ‘L’-element of RUS warfare. these are: the inviolability of national borders demonstrate the continuous RUS legal in EUR post-WWII; the inviolability of ‘creativity’ in bending or reinterpreting The “Why?”: International law treaties; the full domestic and international international law to achieve its strategic dealing with conflict between states has sovereignty of UKR; the use of ethnic self- goals in UKR. The danger exists that other evolved in order to prevent war through determination to subvert UKR’s unity as states could follow suit and lay claims on negotiations and agreements; regulate a nation-state; the use of vague cultural contested territories populated with their the right to go to war and set rules of traits to assert RUS right of intervention compatriots. The Middle East, Africa and engagement; and normalize post-war and territorial claims against UKR. Some Asia are particularly vulnerable given the relations through ceasefires, armistices specific examples since the beginning of arbitrary nature of many state borders and peace treaties. International law the crisis have included: amended law there, but some NATO members are also in its modern interpretation was NOT on incorporation of territories into the not immune. To prevent RUS from turning intended to sanction and justify invasions RF allowing the annexation of regions of UKR into the precedent that unravels the and annexation of territories, the way it is neighboring states following popular local EUR security system, the international used by Russia in asserting its hegemony referenda (FEB-MAR 2014); amended community must uphold UKR sovereignty over UKR. Customary international law, citizenship law using residency claims over Crimea and UKR’s right to protect however, is not carved in stone, as it derives dating back to USSR and RUS Empire to its territories and borders against any from the practices of states (“International grant current RUS citizenship (APR 2014); ‘legalized’ RUS intervention. law is what states make of it”). This fluid,

20LAND POWER Trident Juncture 2015 (TRJE15) will take place from 28 September to 06 November in multiple locations across the Alliance including Italy, Portugal and Spain. Over 25,000 troops are expected to participate, with the purpose to train and test the NATO Response Force, a high readiness and technologically advanced force comprising of land, air, maritime and special forces units capable of being deployed quickly on operations wherever needed. The exercise represents the final step in the certification process for the command and control elements of the NATO Response Force (NRF) for 2016 where Joint Force Command (JFC) will be the on- call Standby Command. The exercise will also allow Allies and partners the occasion to train, deploy and exercise in a complex and distributed environment. Reviewing the Concept of

HEADQUARTERS NATO RAPID DEPLOY- ABLE CORPS- TURKEY: Center of Gravity www.hrf.tu.nato.int By LTC Minchev Aleksandar (TUR)

concept of operations to use in the field. [6] This article is not an attempt to Yet despite its doctrinal eminence, try to make the center of gravity ‘clearer the center of gravity, a phenomenon and to everyone’. Its aim is just to try to assist concept drawn from Carl von Clausewitz’s today’s planners to grasp how the theories book “On War”, remains controversial as a on construct have evolved and to try to practical tool for operational planning and explore its present and future significance has become a subject of theoretical dispute against a background of CoG theories amongst many military theorists. During drawn from the science of complex systems. the last thirty years and on and also with When the professional officer is the rise of operational design in Western confronted with the concept of CoG and military doctrine, center of gravity analysis the methods of its analysis, the great variety he term center of gravity has become more but not less controversial. of theoretical approaches can cause a means something to Indeed, the evolution of design has served practical problem and the essential work “Teveryone, but not the to intensify the central question about of operational planning can be hindered same to anyone”. John Saxman, 1992. the CoG: Can a nineteenth century because of this. Milan Vego states that; The importance of center of gravity approach to warfare be applied to large- despite of the importance, inadequate analysis in NATO joint planning is captured scale conventional military operations to attention is paid to the construct. This is not in AJP-01D “Allied Joint Doctrine” and AJP- embrace twenty-first century irregular favorable, because the result from the CoG 5 “Allied Joint Doctrine for Operational conflicts with all their additional civil- analysis delivers the vital input mentioned Level Planning” by the statement that: “The military complexities? [5] earlier needed to produce the operational essence of operational art lies in being able to produce the right combination of effects in time and space, and purpose to neutralize, weaken, defeat or destroy an enemy’s center of gravity… By disrupting or dislocating the enemy’s center of gravity (CoG), commanders ensure that all military efforts contribute to achieving the objective and end state whether that is tactical, operational or strategic”. Comprehensive Operations Planning Directive Interim V2.0 (COPD) also defines center of gravity as: “A characteristic, capabilities or localities from which a nation, an alliance, a military force or other grouping derives its freedom of action, physical strength or will to fight.” The current concept of a center of gravity helps military planners to define a relationship between ends (strategic objectives), ways (operational concepts), means (available resources) and risks (likely costs) in military activity. The construct also facilitates a course of action analysis that culminates in the development of a 22LAND POWER Reviewing the Concept of Center of Gravity design and the decisive points tied to it. of the strengths, i.e. the king of chess and Milan Vego and Joseph Strange & Richard In the international arena there are a the queen of fire ants. Leonhard as well Iron. There are a number of reasons why number of modern theories that have had as Warden has a practical approach to the these theories are recommended, but the more impact than others in the military theories which serves the professional decisive factors are that they both view CoG sphere and they all act on the highest officer well. as connected to strength and that they are level of research in reference to the levels Antulio Echevarria represents frequently referred to in the curriculum of described. They are without exception another branch in the theories on CoG many NATO countries’ War Colleges and connected to the US armed forces and their and a more modern one where new types some of their results are included in COPD. doctrines which expand the international of wars are included in the analysis. He This article now does not give a influence these theories have. asserts that CoG is neither the strength, nor review of the two modern theories chosen There are even recognized theories the source of strength and not a weakness. according to the most similar systems strands of the concept, called in some According to Echevarria, CoG is what design. Individually, the two chosen sources: the traditionalists, the complex holds the enemy’s force together. CoG is the theories and their view on CoG, the systems advocates and the integrationists. “focal point” that holds the system together, different sub elements and the method Traditionalists argue that the rise of maintains the cohesion, but only exists if for CoG analysis can be reviewed in other systems theory in joint military doctrine there is a certain degree of connection. format, where the space is not that limited. risks confusing impetuous number of Echevarria has some inspiring theories that Instead, this article barely touches them decisive points, nodes and links with will improve the area of research and his and points out just their few differences. identified CoG based on clearly stated contribution to the debate will hopefully If the reader’s interest in the construct is objectives. The complex systems advocates are recommending adoption of complex systems science to improve the practice of contemporary operational art by a process of “learning in action”. Between these two strands stand the integrationists, who favor continuing of the evolutionary process while converting it to the complex realities using modern science achievements. [6] Some of the well-known theoreticians on the concept are: John Warden is known for his involvement in the air campaign during the first Gulf War in 1990-91 and for his theories on viewing the opposing force as a system described in a five-layer circle. take it closer to an applicable consensus. [5] grasped enough, he could study thoroughly He claims that CoG is useful in planning Before leaving the international focus any of the mentioned above authors’ works operations since it “describes the point there are two additional main theories that in order to get deep into their theories. where the enemy is most vulnerable and help in surveying the research area. The The two theories and their methods the point where an attack will have the best theories of Milan Vego and Joseph Strange of analysis emphasize that the process has chance of being decisive”. The point that & Richard Iron claim that CoG in its essence to be done in an iterative manner where Warden makes is built upon the original belongs to the strengths in the system. both opponents are analyzed parallel to theories of Clausewitz, even though he The effective Bulgarian doctrines each other. However, in order to identify confuses to some extent the concept with and the guidelines given in COPD are for CoGs and the different sub elements, the vulnerabilities. the time being emphasizing that CoGs theories have one major difference. Robert Leonhard claims that the are connected to strength, either the Strange/Iron first identify the CoGs CoG is the enemy’s vulnerabilities and source of strength or the strength itself. and then dissect them in order to find the not his strengths. He makes a comparison This article does not strive to reevaluate Critical Requirements and the Critical to both a game of chess and amusingly to this standpoint and therefore authors like Vulnerabilities. Vego, on the other hand, a personal battle with fire ants in Georgia. Echevarria, Leonhard and Warden will claims that the ultimate way is to approach Leonhard identifies that in order to win you not be mentioned any further. This article the analysis from the other direction. Vego need to attack the vulnerabilities instead is instead recommending the theories of starts with determining (see page 53)

LAND POWER23 Allied Command Operations http://www.aco.nato.int/

SACEUR on The New NATO

fter my first year as SACEUR, interest. World War II was over and a new it is clear to me that we are common threat had emerged which united Aentering a phase of strategic our efforts on both sides of the Atlantic and and operational adaptation - adaptation forged a common Alliance. By Gen. Philip Breedlove, shaped by the end of the combat operations As we came to the end of the Cold in Afghanistan and the rapidly changing War, the 1990s were a period of great Supreme Allied Commander Europe global security environment that include challenge, adaptation and opportunity. This violations of state borders in Ukraine and was matched by a robust, creative period of ISIL to name a few. NATO military and policy development The Washington Treaty that created that lead to initiatives such as the combined NATO in 1949 was driven by a common joint task force concept, Partnership for

24LAND POWER SACEUR on The New NATO

reset the rules not only in Ukraine, but potentially in other bordering countries- a direct threat to the international order upon which global stability depends. If there was any doubt of the relevance of NATO before now, the last few months have cleared that up and reinforced the need for our essential core tasks: Collective Defense, Cooperative Security and Crisis Management. Russia’s carefully planned and considered actions represent a clear decision by its leadership to disregard the baseline assumptions and principles that have shaped international stability over the past 25 years and have threatened the Gen. Breedlove participated in LANDCOM’s recent notion of a Europe that is whole, free and Change-of-Command, transitioning command from at peace. Lt. Gen. Hodges to Lt. Gen. Nicholson. In the past several months, Russia Peace, and the initial moves toward crisis form. has attempted to use ambiguity to mask its management and “out of area” operations. t 8IJMFDIBMMFOHJOH PVSDBQBCJMJUJFT actions - we must in every case eliminate We are now again facing decisive must continue to move forward by aligning this ambiguity and refute the false strategic and operational challenges. A strategies that account for modern narrative. Additionally, we must be clear new period of adaptation will require the problems, even as fiscal challenges grip about what has taken place and be able to same level of innovation, robust ideas, and contributors. identify this sort of activity if it continues creative re-design of the military posture to t *O TVDI B DPNQMFY FOWJSPONFOU  to happen beyond the Ukrainian Crisis set the alliance on a stable foundation and today’s solutions - whether active or passive, and particularly if it should occur within trajectory for the future. can create new and unforeseen problems NATO’s borders. To address the future however, we which eclipse the gravity of the original As we adapt our own forces, structures must understand the broad and layered problem. Understanding the second and methods for the future, we must be characteristics of the 21st Century Security and third order effects of our strategies clear about what we feel are the challenges Environment. Any attempts to do so would as operational approaches are shaped is and threats that face the Alliance. We need be incoherent without consideration of essential for effectiveness and sustainability. to clearly articulate our role in deterrence what I believe are the five foundational t 'JOBMMZ  BMM PG UIFTF DPNQMFYJUJFT and then, if required, our role in defense. tenets that will continue to significantly are being compounded as our global We must be ready to respond influence the environment: connections continue to shrink the appropriately to protect and assure all t 5IF DPTU PG TFDVSJUZ  JO UFSNT PG environment. We contribute to and are Alliance members if we are to maintain human, financial and capital outlays will influenced by processes and dynamics credibility. It is time to ask ourselves some continue to increase. We must continually recently unimaginable. This illuminates hard questions: assess whether our ways and means of the utility and necessity of transnational t *T UIF "MMJBODF BHJMF BOE GMFYJCMF providing security are enabling the ends we alliances and institutions to build the enough to respond appropriately? seek. security we seek in synch with our shared t "SF XF TUSVDUVSFE DPSSFDUMZ UP t 4FDVSJUZ QSPCMFNT XJMM values. provide a rapid and credible response? undoubtedly multiply in number and Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine t "SFPVSGPSDFTSFTQPOTJWFFOPVHI complexity. Insurgency, terrorism and and ISIL represent prime examples of and positioned correctly to address the organized transnational crime will dominate current security issues embodying each of current strategic challenges? headlines for the foreseeable future. Yet these tenets. Russia’s actions challenge the t %P PVS FYFSDJTFT BOE SFBEJOFTT as we’ve seen recently in Ukraine, we can fundamental assumptions and baseline measures allow us adequately respond to never disregard the potential for state on principles upon which Europe’s post cold the destabilizing efforts by Russian snap state conflict - be it hybrid and asymmetric war development was founded. These exercises and ISIL witnessed over the last or in a more traditionally conventional actions appear to illustrate a desire to year?

LAND POWER25 SACEUR on The New NATO

Allied Forces conduct helicopter repel demonstrations during Exercise EFES

The crisis in Ukraine has highlighted Continuous Air, Land, and Sea face us today. The activity in Iraq and that our current approach to readiness presence and meaningful military activity Syria by extremists calling themselves does not necessarily translate into are required to provide the necessary the Islamic State represents one of the responsiveness. We will need to evolve assurance, demonstrate Alliance resolve, biggest threats right now. We also need certain aspects of the Alliance in order to and the defensive nature of the Alliance. to consider threats to our Southern flank, become more adaptive and responsive to We can anticipate that our assurance PATRIOT deployments to Turkey, on- future challenges. measures will not go unchallenged. We going operations in Afghanistan and Our immediate assurance measures can expect reaction and counter-measures Kosovo, Cyber security challenges, and – for example, sending additional aircraft intended to reduce the effect of our actions other potential actions that will continue to to enhance Air Policing over the Baltic and apply pressure to test the cohesion of require our attention. NATO must be able States or by providing Patriot missiles the Alliance. to do multiple operations simultaneously in Turkey- contribute to the Alliance’s Beyond the situation in Ukraine, and we must plan to respond appropriately coherent strategic approach to reassurance there are many security challenges that to all of these as we move forward. and deterrence. These assurance measures are meaningful, incremental, and flexible with strategic depth, breadth and clear purpose. They are proportional to the general threat situation and are fundamental to maintaining a sustainable strategic effect for the Alliance. One of the key decisions made at the NATO Summit was to implement a spearhead force that we are calling the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, or VJTF. The VJTF is one part of a series of adaptation measures approved by Heads of State that will enable the Alliance to address the threats against our NATO allies and the SACEUR, Gen. Breedlove and SECGEN, Jens Stoltenberg greeting diverse challenges to Alliance security from NATO military leaders all directions, including from the south.

26LAND POWER SACEUR on The New NATO

Gen. Breedlove in close discussions with Lt. Gen. Nicholson (LANDCOM), Lt. Gen. Davis (LANDCOM), Amb. Francesca Tardioli (NATO), Maj. Gen. Uğur Tarçın (LANDCOM).

The VJFT will be designed to respond common core interests and yet remain to threats facing the entire alliance including flexible enough to account for variances in significant threats in our southern area those interests. emanating from the Middle East and North “To address the The effectiveness and sustainability of Africa. future however, we these strategies, in the 21st Century Security These threats are fundamentally Environment, must be rooted in operative different and therefore our approach to must understand the alliances and legitimate institutions address them will require a completely broad and layered invested in synchronized lines of effort. different solution in the south than in Whatever the final form our adaptation the east… maybe even based around a characteristics of the measures take, they must be affordable and maritime headquarters. sustainable so that NATO can effectively Although the NATO military 21st Century Security respond to emerging threats in the long structure is making tremendous strides Environment” run over what is likely to be an extended to address the new security environment, period of global instability. This is an era- it is clear that the military instrument -Gen. Breedlove changing moment for the Alliance and it is alone cannot achieve strategic success. imperative that we marshal all of our talent, Future strategies must have defined end innovation and creativity to ensure that the states which are politically, economically path ahead is as peaceful and secure as we and socially cohesive. They must support can make it.

LAND POWER27 Allied Land Command Announces FOC

By LTC Koné Faulkner (USA)

Lt. Gen. John W. Nicholson, Jr., Commander Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) announced LANDCOM achieve Full Operating Capability (FOC) during exercise Trident Lance 2014 (TRLE14), which was conducted at the Joint Multinational Training Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany, December 10, 2014. This is now the first Allied Command Operations (ACO) component to become FOC since the formulation of the 2010 NATO Strategic Concept.

28LAND POWER LAND POWER29 Allied Land Command Announces FOC

mbassador Francesca resulting in LANDCOM being the first (LANDCOM), the newest single service Tardioli, Deputy Assistant deployable component command in the command of the military arm of the North ASecretary General from transformed NATO Force Structure. “So Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) NATO’s Operations Division, attended many men and women across the entire is housed on the General Vecihi Akýn TRLE14 and spoke on the behalf of Alliance, 23 nations in this headquarters Garrison, Izmir, Turkey. As part of the Allied the Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and augmentees for 21 nations, have Command Operations (ACO) reformation, explaining the importance of exercise worked very hard to support the exercise. two former land force headquarters -- Trident Lance. “Trident Lance is a key So, I want to thank all of them of behalf of Forces Command Heidelberg (Germany) event for NATO to maintain and train the Alliance,” said Lt. Gen. Nicholson. “At and Forces Command Madrid (Spain) -- capabilities, in this case in particular land LANDCOM we recognize the challenges deactivated in early 2013, their missions forces’ capabilities, to ensure that this associated with this, we’ve learned a and resources realigned into a single land Alliance remains ready to respond to any tremendous amount from this exercise. But force headquarter to improve the NATO contingency, including obviously Article 5 we are also confident that coming out of Force Structure (NFS) efficiency and collective defense,” said Tardioli. “Exercises this exercise we are very capable, that we as effectiveness. LANDCOM was established are of critical importance, especially as an Alliance are capable, of conducting large December 1, 2012, in compliance with the we move from a deployed NATO to a scale land operations.” 2010 NATO Strategic Concept, and consists more prepared NATO. We shift from With the completion of Trident Lance, of more than 350 personnel billets from 23 deployment to preparedness and in this NATO is looking to the future to build on nations. context exercises are essential. It’s critical to its strengths and focus on a more prepared Upon the formulation this this of maintain the right level of interoperability NATO. “There will be more strategic command in 2012, then SACEUR Admiral that we have achieved with a lot of efforts in exercises ahead [specifically] Trident James G. Stavridis stated, “Interoperability our current operations.” Juncture 2015, with more than 25,000 within the Alliance is better now than it’s In a first of its kind exercise since the troops in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, will ever been because NATO forces have been 1990; three corps-level sized military units, have high visibility,” said Supreme Allied training together consistently over the last augmented by various international military Commander Transformation, Gen. Jean- 10 years. LANDCOM’s job is to ensure support units & agencies, performed their Paul Paloméros. “But in the same time, we we don’t lose the ISAF lessons learned.” core functions in a land-based operation, are able to carry on a very dynamic posture Pursuant to that mandate and on any given certifying LANDCOM’s ability to conduct through exercise and training in support of day, at least a third of LANDCOM’s assigned command and control of multinational the action measures.” personnel are on temporary duty, dispersed forces should the Alliance need to conduct across Europe, engaged in LANDCOM’s a Major Joint Operation. “The message of three lines of operations (LOO): Land Background this exercise is to all Europe, specifically Forces Operational Capability, LANDCOM our 28 NATO Allies. It talks to the Headquarters Allied Land Command HQ Operational Readiness, and Land readiness of NATO to meet challenges at speed with capable forces,” said Supreme LANDCOM personnel participating in Trident Lance 2014 at the Joint Multi- Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Philip national Training Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany. M. Breedlove. “As you have seen over the past few months, Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine have triggered the alliance to begin a series of assurance and adaptation measures to assure our Allies and adapt our military organizations to the new security environment in Europe. We are evolving in order to be more responsive to challenges to any part of our Alliance.” Lt. Gen. Nicholson explained this exercise tested LANDCOM’s ability to successfully execute complex ground to air operations and rapidly deploy those forces to threatened areas of the Alliance, if a threat arises. Multiple prior training exercises went into the two-year-process

30LAND POWER Allied Land Command Announces FOC

Advocacy. Lt. Gen. Nicholson (LANDCOM), Gen. Breedlove (SACEUR), and Gen. Paloméros In peacetime, LANDCOM is the (SACT) announced LANDCOM achievement of Full Operating Capability (FOC) principal land force advisor for the during exercise Trident Lance 2014 (TRLE14). Alliance, providing expertise in support of NATO’s land forces’ readiness, competency, and standardization. The headquarters is also responsible for their evaluation and certification. LANDCOM delivers a planning capability in support of higher headquarters, and recommends improvements to doctrine, training and exercises, and technology to improve interoperability between the Allied land forces (LOO 1). At all times, LANDCOM advocates on behalf of the NATO Force Structure (NFS) and national armies (LOO 3). If directed by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), LANDCOM will provide the core of a Joint Force Command Headquarters (JFCHQ), responsible for the conduct of land operations and the synchronization of land forces command and control (C2) At the component or tactical level, NATO transfer of authority to NATO command in accordance with the Allied Level of placed three single service component that can vary from country to country. Ambition (LOO 2). command headquarters alongside the two Within this NFS, nine multinational When NATO’s political decisions JFCs: Land Command (LANDCOM) in Graduated Readiness Forces for Land have military implications, LANDCOM Izmir, Turkey; Air Command (AIRCOM) (GRF-L) support NATO’s land forces contributes to implementation of NATO in Ramstein, Germany; and Maritime requirements and look to LANDCOM core tasks (Collective defense - Crisis Command (MARCOM) in Northwood, for advocacy as well as evaluation and management - Cooperative security) acting United Kingdom. Now that LANDCOM certification. within the NATO Command Structure has achieved Full Operational Capability These GRF-Ls contribute land forces (NCS). This command structure is based (FOC), LANDCOM is the only deployable to the NATO Response Force (NRF) on a on functionality rather than geography, component in the transformed NATO rotational basis, committing for a 12-month with three tiers of command: strategic, structure and will be prepared to operate as period. The NRF is a high-readiness, operational, and the tactical or component the Land Component Command (LCC) in technologically advanced multinational level. the JTF HQ. force made up of land, air, maritime and At the strategic level, Allied Command The NATO Force Structure (NFS), Special Operations Forces components the Operations (ACO) is commanded by subordinate to the NCS, consists of Alliance can deploy rapidly when needed. Supreme Allied Commander Europe organizational arrangements that bring Leadership of the NRF rotates between JFC (SACEUR). SACEUR is dual-hatted together the forces placed at the Alliance’s BS and JFC NP. The NRF comprises a joint as the commander of the US European disposal by the member countries, along force of about 13,000 high-readiness troops Command, which shares many of the with their associated command and control provided by Allies. same geographical responsibilities. The structures. LANDCOM operations are Additionally, this command operational level consists of two Joint Force conducted across all NATO nations (to coordinates across European Union, Commands (JFCs): one in Brunssum, the include the Baltic Nations: , , Mediterranean Netherlands (JFC BS), and the other in and ) to ensure all are fully capable Dialogue, and Istanbul Cooperation , Italy (JFC NP). Each is prepared to conduct interoperable maneuvers. These Initiative nations to ensure all are also to conduct comprehensive operational- forces are available for NATO operations in considerate of NATO interoperability with level campaign planning and deploy into accordance with predetermined readiness their respective land forces. theatre as a Joint Task Force HQ (JTF HQ). criteria and with rules of deployment and

LAND POWER31 A Study of the Major Joint Operations Plus Concept

By LTC. Jason Henneke (USA) T 4A%1<<1j k TA%*#4&# #/#j k

This article provides some initial thoughts personnel), supported by more than 1,000 on the theoretical aspects of the MJO(+), a air combat/support missions each day, and general background for future analysis, and up to the NATO Maritime Expanded Task he Major Joint Operations LANDCOM’s efforts to overcome shortfalls Force level. The execution of the MJO(+) Plus [MJO(+)] is a revitalised in the MJO(+) aspect. The MJO(+) focus mission should be considered in all cases as Tconcept for the New NATO is especially pertinent given the changing an Article 5 war fighting mission. of the 21st century. In the past, large scale dynamics of European security architec- If the Alliance conducts a MJO(+), it Land operations such as Operation Desert ture, Russia’s actions within Ukraine and may not be possible to launch other oper- Storm (1991) represented such a situation increased threat to NATO’s Eastern periph- ations and ongoing operations and it may and various European exercises were com- ery. need to be scaled down or cancelled due to monly conducted until the early 1990s. the overwhelming resource requirements Over the last decade, NATO Land Forces Definition and General Outline of the MJO+ both in personnel and equipment. A Joint have been persistently en- Task Force Headquarters (JTF gaged in counter insurgen- HQ) is required to provide cy and stability operations command and control (C2) in Kosovo and Afghanistan. across the full spectrum of Al- This led to a skilled and ca- liance operations up to and in- pable expeditionary force, cluding MJO(+). Additionally, but limited focus on conven- LANDCOM HQ will serve as tional, full scale operations the supporting Land Compo- against near peer adversaries nent Command (LCC), un- in a joint mission. In De- der a JTF HQ, responsible for cember 2014, Allied Land synchronising Land tactical Command (LANDCOM) objectives, planning, and re- achieved Full Operational sourcing efforts. Capability (FOC) during Exercise TRIDENT LANCE 2014 (TRLE14) . As FOC, LANDCOM Role in a MJO(+) this headquarters is now As the LCC, LANDCOM ready to perform its crisis NATO geographical area of interest generally includes Central Europe, Portions is focused on the resourcing, of Asia, and Northern Africa mission as the Land Compo- coordination, and synchroni- nent Command for the Alli- sation of the Corps. The land ance in a MJO(+). TRLE14 operations will primarily be Environment was the first exercise focusing on a MJO(+) conducted by the subordinate Corps (30- since the early 90s and reaffirmed deficien- MJO(+) is a joint operation, involving 40,000 personnel). LANDCOM will inte- cies in knowledge and understanding with- land, air, maritime, and special operations grate the tactical objectives and effects into in the Alliance on how to conduct Major forces (SOF), up to the equivalent of three a plan to achieve the operational objectives Joint Operations. TRLE14 also identified MJOs, conducted adjacently or separately outlined by the JTF HQ. To accomplish its shortfalls such as Air-Land integration, within a given common theatre of opera- mission, LANDCOM’s peacetime organ- rear-area security operations, joint logis- tion . It can involve the aggregation of the ization requires personnel augmentation tics, and the roles of the Host Nation (HN). equivalent of three Corps (over 100,000 in order to sustain Mission Command of

32LAND POWER A Study of the Major Joint Operations Plus Concept multiple Corps . LCC’s main tasks in such many lessons from TRLE14 and is working Multinational paratroopers line-up and board operations include providing Land plan- alongside with the Joint Analysis Lessons helicopter during Exercise Saber Strike ning input, requirements, and campaign Learned Center (JALLC) from the Allied design insights to the JTF HQ and Service Command for Transformation (ACT), to Component HQs; synchronising and coor- ensure these lessons identified are analyz- dinating current land operations to achieve ed, fused and disseminated to contribute tactical objectives with operational effects; to enhancing NATO’s future capability contributing to the effectiveness of opera- within the MJO(+) environment. Through tions within a time frame consistent with future efforts such as aair-land integration other Component Commands’ Joint lev- and targeting seminars, table top exercis- el requirements in areas such as security, es, focused seminars involving key defense logistics, and personnel. Additionally, LCC and security leaders and publishing funda- implements the Joint level comprehensive mental documents, LANDCOM will serve approach to operations, incorporating the as the main proponent for MJO(+) Land civil-military contribution to the situation- policy, doctrine and training. LANDCOM al awareness, planning, and decision cycles; will integrate with the other NATO Com- designs apportionment and prioritisation mand and Single Service Components to of assets and resources in areas such as fire support the advancement of Joint efforts, deliver effective Mission Command up to a support, logistics, and intelligence, surveil- including Joint ISR and Targeting Integra- MJO(+); and ensures Land Forces of Allies lance, and reconnaissance with the Joint tion, Joint Logistics Support Group, Rear and Partners are interoperable, connected, level for the support of the Corps; plans Area Operations and the integration of the and evolving to meet future challenges. and manages sustainment/logistics for land Host Nation. Additionally, LANDCOM forces in coordination with the Joint Logis- will continue to support SHAPE as Land Conclusion tics Support Group, the JTF HQ and the advocate in supporting the revitalisation As NATO’s International Security HN. Finally, LCC maintains and provides of a more ready and responsive Land force, Assistance Force (ISAF) mission drew to the Land common operational picture developing the New NATO with on-going a close in December 2014, NATO’s em- (COP) to all levels. efforts from the 2014 Wales Summit to in- phasis in the Land domain transitioned clude the Readiness Action Plan (RAP); from Counter Insurgency (COIN) to full ensure NATO Land Forces are comprehen- Future Developments spectrum operational readiness and from sively trained, led, and equipped for full campaigning to contingency enduring op- LANDCOM in its role as the Land spectrum operations at all levels to include erations, Allies have the most experienced, advocate for NATO forces, has identified MJO(+); maintains its HQ’s capabilities to capable and interoperable forces in NATO’s history. The threat of a MJO(+) is higher now than at any time since the fall of the Ber- lin Wall, however, NATO and LANDCOM stand ready. Compared to other military operations, a MJO(+) scenario has low probability, but the cost and impact would be most severe if the Alliance is not pre- pared. The most effective way to deter war is to be prepared for it and to convince poten- tial adversaries that they cannot win against the Alliance. Hence, our primary duty is to ensure that Alliance Land Forces are always ready and able to prevail in full spectrum operations at any level. LANDCOM will ensure NATO Land Forces are effective, in- teroperable and successful in full spectrum Multinational Soldiers during Exercise Saber Strike operations at all levels up to the MJO(+).

LAND POWER33 Combat Readiness Evaluation (CREVAL): Ensuring Readiness

By LTC. Vasile Popa (ROU)

LANDCOM leadership conducts NATO Combat Readiness Evaluation (CREVAL) program training for an unit

vital tool in SACEUR’s arsenal ments of interoperability and operational BLE LEDGER 14 in Wildflecken, Germany. to ensure Combat Readiness capability. The LANDCOM team evaluated criteria Aof his Forces is the Combat The CREVAL is conducted across in the areas of policy, operations, logistics, Readiness Evaluation (CREVAL) process. the gamut of NATO Land Forces; from communication & information systems This is the tool LANDCOM employs to Land Component Command (LCC) Head- (CIS), and administration. 1GNC demon- collect empirical data that delivers tangible quarters, multi-national corps, divisions, strated that they were well trained, interop- results for the SACEUR’s review. To do this, brigades, to battalions and even specialized erable, and operationally ready for combat. LANDCOM sends NATO monitors and units. During the summer of 2014, LAND- One of the many highlights of the evalua- evaluation teams to all corners of the Alli- COM provided the core of the evaluation tion for the LANDCOM team was the abil- ance, from Trømso - Norway – Tirana – Al- team for 1st German-Netherlands Corps ity of 1GNC exercise control (EXCON)to bania - Germany - Turkey, in order to eval- (1GNC), which recently assumed the role dynamically script injects as the exercise uate NATO Land Forces where they train. of NATO Response Force (NRF) 2015. Af- evolved to meet evaluation needs; this was And the evaluation provides SACEUR with ter 18 months of planning and preparation only achievable due to the excellent close the assurance that those NATO headquar- by both LANDCOM and the evaluated HQ, working relationship that had developed ters and units meet Alliance’s standards and the CREVAL culminated with an in-bar- between the team and the 1GNC EXCON are ready for combat operations. Standard- racks phase in Münster, Germany and a during the preparation phase. ization and Combat Readiness are key ele- field evaluation phase during Exercise NO- Along with the LANDCOM-led 34LAND POWER CREVAL: Ensuring Readiness evaluation of 1GNC, LAND- is the governing document for COM also provided NATO the CREVAL program. A ma- Monitor Teams for 16 unit jor portion of the revision will evaluations scheduled in 2014, be the inclusion of newly de- including all the subordinate veloped criteria for an LCC units of the Immediate Reac- HQ in a MJO+ conflict. The tion Force (IRF) which will be criteria and observations that assumed by the Netherlands were gleaned from the Supreme 11 Air Manoeuvre Brigade. Headquarters Allied Powers The role of NATO Monitor is Europe (SHAPE)’s evaluation a special one, as LANDCOM of LANDCOM during TRI- Officers ensure that the CRE- DENT LANCE 2014 in Grafen- VAL is conducted according wöhr, Germany will be utilized to NATO standards. Yet, they to shape the composition of also perform advisory and as- LANDCOM evaluations in the For the first time, the Italian Army has had one of their units undergo the sistance roles to the nation- NATO Combat Readiness Evaluation (CREVAL) program training years to come. al evaluation teams and are LANDCOM is contin- usually sent away with many uously recruiting for trained thanks and praise for their work. One unit will be firing on all cylinders. LANDCOM and qualified officers to become part of evaluation of particular note was with the will send robust evaluation teams to Thes- the CREVAL team. CREVAL courses are latest member of NATO, . Their 1st saloniki, Greece and Valencia, Spain to taught 3 times per year at NATO School, Light Infantry Battalion undertook their conduct the evaluation of over 1600 per- Oberammergau and once a year at LAND- first CREVAL in national history. The suc- formance measures covering the full spec- COM HQ in Izmir, Turkey. With a very full cessful result of the CREVAL was celebrat- trum of battle staff processes. These CRE- schedule of CREVALs in 2015 and beyond, ed in grand fashion, having been attended VALs will occur in the headquarters of the there will be many opportunities to partic- by several international VIPs and setting GRF(L)s and also during the Command ipate. Being a NATO monitor or evaluator the stage for future CREVALS for Albanian Post Exercises of GORDIAN KNOT 15 and is an exciting and satisfying experience. units. TRIDENT JUNCTURE 15, respectively. As one LANDCOM staff officer once said 2015 will be an equally exciting, if The LANDCOM CREVAL section about his CREVAL experience in the field, not more intense year for the LANDCOM will also lead the effort to revise the current at a national training area in the Czech Re- CREVAL program. With 19 units and 2 edition of the Allied Command Operations public, “I had the kind of day that little boys Corps HQ (NRDC-GR and NRDC-ESP) (ACO) Force Standards Volume VII, which dream about.” CREVALs already scheduled, the program

NATO Combat Readiness Evaluation (CREVAL) program training conducted at LANDCOM HQ

LAND POWER35 STANDARDIZING NATO: Be Wise – Standardize! %\0$-*(1(GYDUGDV0DØHLNLV /78$)

et’s imagine a multinational each of us can well imagine the logistical members of the Alliance as well as Partner military operation where and operational nightmare if standards did Nations in order to act together coherently, Lcommon standards do not exist; not exist. This situation was recognized by effectively and efficiently to achieve Allied fuel for all vehicles is different; refuelling the Alliance very soon after its creation tactical, operational and strategic objectives. hoses are not the same size; ammunition and the Military Standardization Agency Having a high degree of interoperability is of various calibrations with totally (MSA) was established in 1951 to address enables the Alliance to react swiftly on different safety and storage requirements, these issues. While the name for this newly emerging threats and to tackle today’s and radios are communicating on different organization has changed several times, the unpredictable challenges. Furthermore, a frequencies. As many different engagement mission remains essentially the same; to high degree of interoperability improves procedures in existence as there are initiate and support NATO standardization efficiency in the use of available resources, participating nations, with each nation activities. On 1 July 2014, with decision which is especially important at a time developing its own military doctrines. of the , the NATO of economic restraint. Standardization Conflicting national doctrines making Standardization Agency was renamed as aims to enhance the Alliance’s operational quick reaction to change impossible NATO Standardization Office (NSO). So effectiveness through the development and as troop training cycles operate under … as we were saying; new name – same implementation of concepts, doctrines, national rules and curriculums. I could service. procedures, material and technical continue this fictional scenario but I guess Interoperability is crucial to the standards required to attain interoperability among Allied forces. The NATO Standardization Office (NSO) functions as NATO’s focal point for supporting standardization; not only operational standardization, but also other fields of standardization. NSO products are well known by the Alliance Nations and many other countries around the world as STANAGs (Standardization Agreement) and APs (Allied Publication). There are also STANRECs (Standardization Recommendations) mainly used for material standardization. NATO Nations and NATO Bodies contribute to the development of standardization documents through their participation in standardization activities such as working groups, panels and writing teams. Thousands of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) are involved in the standardization process ensuring it benefits from their knowledge and experience. Without this commitment, standardization would not be the normative success for NATO. The

36LAND POWER 'A5'g6#0&+<'^

NSO could be viewed as a publishing house for authors, effectively those SMEs in NATO Commands and Alliance Nations. NSO provides chairmen and secretaries to Military Committee (MC) Standardization Boards (Joint, Land, Air, Naval and Medical) and secretaries to all working groups (WGs). Chairmanships to the WGs normally are taken by NATO Nations. As an example, the MC Land Standardization Board has tasking and coordination authority for 11 WGs and 41 panels and owns more than 200 standardization documents. The NATO standards development process is time consuming. If we want to get high quality documents where interests of NATO Nations are protected, development requires careful coordination with all NATO nations. Another important issue is the economical aspect of changing the existing standards to new ones. That is why there is often a long period for nations to provide ratification responses by their respective authorities on a final draft of a standard. Only after this process is completed, can the devices. This enables NSDD users with a to be effective. Director of NSO promulgate a new NATO smart phone or tablet to access the NSO Interoperability cannot be achieved Standard. Then begins the implementation database from any location in the world. without standardization, and the link process, which is fully in the hands of NATO NATO is trying to keep all standardization between the Alliance Defence Planning Members or Partner Nations. The processes documents unclassified except for a very process and standardization is crucial in and tools currently available to track the few niche products so there will be the this. For this reason, the NSO is working STANAG’s implementation still require possibility to use this tool anywhere and to improve the links between the defence some improvement, and this is an area we anytime. planners and the NATO standardization are focusing on for future development to The NSO is the central NATO experts currently in many working groups provide a fresh approach that addresses Authority for standardization management that are developing standards. Nations’ needs. in the Alliance. Many standardization The NSO is a small office consisting There are more than 1200 STANAGs requirements are initiated using a “Top 45 people. We are constantly looking at promulgated in NATO. According to Down” approach, where the main NATO ways to improve the NATO standardization existing policy, in every three-year time all Committees and Strategic Commands process, but real improvements can only be standards should be revised and updated set priorities for STANAGs’ and APs’ achieved with the involvement and strong if necessary or changed to a new one development. In order to maintain the support from all participants: Alliance and, some will be deleted if they are no relevance of standards for current and Nations, Partners, NATO Commands longer required. To ensure Nations‘ access future operations in a multinational context, and respective Committees in NATO to existing STANAGs and STANRECs it is very important to use the “Bottom Up” HQ, supported by the NSO. Each unit in and their latest changes, NSO maintains approach for existing standards evaluation. the NATO Force Structure can provide the NATO Standardization Documents A trial at the exercise, “Capable Logistician significant input in STANAG and AP Database (NSDD). This is a high value 2013” developed a concept for Standards improvements and the opportunity to tool which shows more than 13 thousands Assessment and Evaluation at Exercises share experiences related to existing NATO registered active users and about 2000 (SAVE). It is intended to apply this concept Standards and Procedures gained from downloaded documents daily from the as widely as possible in future exercises. In exercises or operations is of particular secure NSDD webpage on the NSO this process strong support from NATO importance. By acting together we can internet site. This year, the NSO launched Nations and NATO Commands will be greatly improve NATO standardization. As a new business application for mobile essential as many different Subject Matter our motto states; “Be Wise – Standardize!” Experts (SMEs) will be required if SAVE is LAND POWER37 TRIDENT LANCE: Model for Future NATO Training

By LTC. Ralph Jeroma (DEU) LTC. Joseph Kuchan (USA) ANDCOM will be the which are voluntarily contributed to the capabilities. leading advocate for NATO Force Structure by the Allied nations LANDCOM deigned two supporting “LSoldiers and Land Forces which fund, staff, and equip them; and it objectives as important to the overall quality in NATO, responsible for ensuring their prepares itself for use under a Joint Forces of the exercise: instilling an expeditionary effectiveness and interoperability.” Command (JFC) as the core element of a spirit within the staff, and using a full 24- land operational headquarters, akin in the hour work day over at least seven days. U.S. military lexicon to a Combined Forces In light of NATO’s reduced military Our leaders were keenly aware that senior- Land Component Command. More simply employment in Afghanistan, Russia’s level command staffs can easily assume a stated, it is LANDCOM’s mission to keep increasingly aggressive foreign policy, and bunker mentality, a mindset that denies the NATO’s ground forces relevant during the expanding military capabilities in Asia, possibility of their own deployment. Since 21st Century. Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) is LANDCOM will most likely command proposing a paradigm shift in the scope For LANDCOM to fulfill its role forward in relative geographic proximity to and conduct of NATO training exercises. as standard-bearer for NATO’s ground its subordinated corps, or at least collocate NATO must seek to retain the high-level forces this organization must be seen as and integrate key elements of its staff of interoperability it achieved through capable of fulfilling our own operational into an assigned JFC headquarters, the International Security Assistance Force responsibilities. LANDCOM’s leadership’s Commander felt it imperative to conduct (ISAF), Afghanistan, while reinvigorating vision, for TRIDENT LANCE was based the exercise away from Izmir. LANDCOM the ability to conduct large-scale on three primary conditions;1st, it ought to therefore reached agreement with U.S. conventional warfare against an equitable exercise LANDCOM at a level above corps; Army Europe to conduct the exercise at foe. For many years, NATO has not 2nd, the exercise must test LANDCOM’s the latter’s Grafenwoehr Training Center exercised large conventional forces for planning, operational, and sustainment (GTC) in Germany. The location is well employment against comparably sized functions; 3rd, it must physically and known to NATO for its use by units conventional forces, yet it is evident that mentally stretch the staff. In short, deploying to ISAF. Its simulation centers the world has not changed as much as LANDCOM focused on training realism were more than adequate to support a we believed it had at the end of the Cold and develop a staff capable of performing large staff, and its installation and location War. NATO has performed admirably efficiently even under stress. were appropriately austere to imitate real in Afghanistan, and more recently in In developing the exercise design, world conditions likely to be faced. Since Libya, and is prepared to respond to an the only scenario that met all three of the LANDCOM will not be living in tents array of limited contingencies through command’s conditions was one for a Major during the exercise, GTC offered the staff employment of the NATO Response Force Joint Operation Plus (MJO+), something few creature comforts. (NRF). Yet, even the NRF certification which NATO had not exercised since the end The desire to conduct the exercise exercises are conducted piecemeal allowing of the Cold War. But the leadership knew 24-7 may seem intuitive, but NATO has NATO to surge its resources in support. that anything less than two corps negates adopted the habit of “extended workdays” LANDCOM advocates that NATO rethinks LANDCOM’s effectives as an operational for its exercises. The extended workday its current capacity, and is developing an headquarters; a single corps does not need satisfies a single staff shift, thus reducing the exercise called TRIDENT LANCE that if another land headquarters to direct its requirement for NATO’s small commands implemented and supported as designed, actions. The employment of multiple land to request personnel augmentation and it will enable NATO’s achievement of these corps, however, necessitates LANDCOM’s likewise reducing the burden on Allied two objectives. employment as a coordinating headquarters Command Transformation (ACT) for When LANDCOM officially stood up with all its associated planning, command, personnel to perform exercise control. It is a in Turkey on 1 November 2012, it became and sustainment functions. A scenario cost-saving measure at the price of realism, the sole ground combat headquarters within based upon MJO+ also stipulated the and LANDCOM has rejected the concept the newly consolidated NATO Command activation of a Joint Forces Command (JFC) as bad practice. LANDCOM is a relatively Structure. LANDCOM’s mission is two- to orchestrate the larger joint operational small staff of 350 personnel, which must fold: it supports the development of fight, and the additional integration of think through its real-world augmentation capabilities within the nine land corps, air, maritime, and special operations requirements. As for the minimal

38LAND POWER    U1&'.(14 7674'4#+A0A0) requirement of seven days, LANDCOM their NRF certification exercise, TRIDENT JFTC are well-equipped with systems, they anticipated that a week-long exercise was JUNCTURE. The idea makes sense. A full are not mobile but fixed. NATO has some needed to allow at least two battle-rhythm merger of these exercises greatly reduced deployable packages, and has used them in iterations; the first to be used as a warm-up ACT’s burden to provide exercise control, Grafenwoehr to support training for ISAF, with the expectation of increased efficiency since JFC-Naples staff would provide but the capacity suffices to support only a during the second iteration. While not direction and orders to LANDCOM. It single off-site location. TRIDENT LANCE a perfect solution, designing TRIDENT also reduced ACT’s burden to develop two employed workarounds to communicate LANCE as a 24-7 exercise forcinged distinct exercises, bringing them together between the multiple headquarters, but with LANDCOM to think through its baseline under a single scenario. This enabled decreasing efficiencies in the integration of employment requirements and forces much at least four full commands to exercise their operational planning tools. needed discussion within NATO about simultaneously, thus allowing them the A paradigm shift in the way NATO appropriately manning headquarters. opportunity to coordinate in real time conducts its exercises is best managed TRIDENT LANCE received as they would on campaign. And finally, gradually, but it speaks well of NATO strong support from all NATO’s levels LANDCOM’s sister commands had fewer that LANDCOM’s concept for TRIDENT of command. Sister commands, Air overall activities to support throughout LANCE found support so rapidly. NATO Component Command (AIRCOM), the training year. In short, it was a win-win must have the capacity to support exercises Maritime Component Command across the board. that replicate the full spectrum of real- (MARCOM), and NATO Special ACT and SHAPE both approved world operational requirements, and Operations Force Headquarters (NSHQ), of the merger concept by first thinking this includes exercising for large-scale agreed to support TRIDENT LANCE through the resource requirements to conventional operations. While most with small representative staff cells, called support it. To begin, ACT’s review of its two crisis will likely fall on the lower end of the response cells. Two full land corps, NATO training centers, the spectrum of conflict, avoiding exercises Rapid Deployment Corps (NRDC)-Greece, (JWC) and the Joint Forces Training Centre that develop NATO’s ability to perform on and NRDC-Turkey volunteered to serve (JFTC), identified they lack sufficient the higher end of the spectrum simply to as subordinated headquarters under the capacity to simultaneously orchestrate a save on expenses is unacceptable. Peace and condition that each be allowed to participate multiple-level and distributed exercise. stability enable productivity and economy, as secondary training entities with their full While they provide excellent support to and the countries that comprise NATO headquarters operating from their home NATO’s operational commands, and their know better than to be penny wise and locations. capabilities are good and getting better, pound foolish. Despite the added level of complexity, their capacity was already stretched with six LANDCOM’s analysis of its mission the LANDCOM leadership was pleased to command-level exercises in 2014, up from convinced us that the concept we conceived accept the offer for a number of reasons. four in 2013. They required more personnel for TRIDENT LANCE is the right one for First, neither corps appeared on the NATO to write the scenarios for these exercises, us, and for NATO writ large. A scenario Long Term Rotation Plan (LTRP) for and more personnel to run exercise control designed for MJO+ affords us the best several years; TRIDENT LANCE offered if NATO moves toward simultaneous opportunity to train multiple commands them the opportunity of limited support exercises for multiple commands as and multiple levels of command, allowing from the NATO Command Structure that LANDCOM now proposes. At present, them to interface as they would during otherwise would not be provided. Second, ACT has only enough personnel to focus a real-world operation. It affords NATO their inclusion in the exercise offers an on training a single exercise at a time, the opportunity to train more corps in opportunity to test the MJO+ scenario for which in part explains why the JFC and any given year, including those not on the incorporating multiple commands under land corps NRF certification exercises are LTRP. It encourages partnerships to form one exercise. Third, the distributive nature held at separate times. between NATO and non-NATO training of their participation would add yet another NATO also lacks capacity to centers, such as the one now formed element of realism for TRIDENT LANCE, materially support a distributed exercise between LANDCOM and the Grafenwoehr thus forcing NATO to think through its involving multiple levels of command. Training Center. And through better communications requirements. As an For deployable kit, NATO has but one training efficiencies it ultimately will reduce added benefit, Multinational Corps North- modular tactical operations center for use the overall burden on ACT, although some East (MNC-NE), based in Poland, agreed to during exercises. Should NATO seek to costs must be borne up front to expand augment the LANDCOM staff during the simultaneously train multiple commands, ACT’s capacity. The effort to development exercise, allowing it to run as a 24-hour-a- all but one headquarters must operate from TRIDENT LACE thus far has shown day exercise. a fixed facility. Yet, even if every command NATO’s resilient capacity for innovation Playing the role of LANDCOM’s were to exercise from a fixed facility, as it is and collaboration. It is our hope that higher headquarters, JFC-Naples not only proposed for TRIDENT LANCE, NATO has NATO will learn from TRIDENT LANCE agreed to support TRIDENT LANCE with insufficient computer and communications in 2014, and completely fulfill its promise at planning and exercise support, but went the capacity. There simply are not enough its next iteration in 2017. extra mile by proposing its full merger with systems to go around.While both JWC and LAND POWER39 Operating under HEADQUARTERS NATO RAPID DEPLOY- ABLE CORPS- GREECE: Article 5 ww.nrdc.gr

;T#4#6<+#5#5+.'+15j  k

NATO Land Forces’ leaders discussing operational concern at the Land- com Corps Commanders’ Conference at NRDC GRC HQ, Fall 2014.

fter the end of the World War II, the United Nations A(“U.N”) was created in order to prevent any possible future wars that can be much more damaging than the first two wars humanity had witnessed. To that end Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter (“U.N Charter”) forbids the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any States. States are pro- hibited from committing any act of aggres- sion against other states. However, the U.N Charter recognizes two exceptions to this general prohibition. First, Article 51 recognizes the individual or collective right to self-defence against an armed attack by other State/s. Second, consider this act of violence as an armed territory under Art 5 of its’ treaty, the pre- under the provisions of Chapter VII of the attack against all members and will take the dominant question is the legal basis for the UN Charter, the use of force is legitimate actions it deems necessary to assist the Ally operation and the use of force in the terri- when the Security Council has directed or attacked. tory of another sovereign state. In that case authorized the use of force to maintain or During an Operation under Article 5 the legal framework of the operation would restore international peace and security. of the NATO treaty, inside NATO territory, be the consent of the attacked state and Based on the above there are three the military commander is confronted with the subsequent authorization for the use important criteria that must be met before an increasing number of legal issues that of force which will take the form of a NAC the exercise of the State’s right to self-de- can impact on the successful completion of Decision. fence to be legitimate under the interna- the military mission. Great importance also should be tional law: (1) the existence of armed at- given to the categorisation of the conflict, tack; (2) the principle of necessity; and (3) whether it is an international or not inter- The Legal basis for Operations under Art 5 of the principle of proportionality. national armed conflict. The applicability the Washington Treaty The concept of Collective defence as of international law or national legislation reflected in NATO Washington Treaty NATO operations will always be is a core issue for the successful planning based on a mandate of International Law. This principle of collective defence is and conducting of the operation and it is a Normally the mandate is derived from a depicted in Article 5 of the North Atlan- legal issue that should be identified in ad- UN Security Council Resolution and/or a tic Treaty. It provides that if a NATO Ally vance since it affects the overall planning of NAC decision. Analyzing the legal issues is the victim of an armed attack, each and the operation. Moreover, political and le- that may occur when operating in NATO every other member of the Alliance will gal constrains set out in the NAC Decision

40LAND POWER Operating under Article 5 should be reflected in the OPLAN since The legal Status of the personnel in Article 5 Prisoners of War and Detention : legal con- NAC decision is the legal basis of the oper- Operations siderations in NATO Art 5 Ops ation setting out it’s limits (i.e do not cross Regarding the legal status of the per- When operate under Art 5 of NATO international borders). sonnel when NATO forces operate under Treaty during Ops amounting to Interna- The conduct of military operations Article 5 of NATO Treaty there is no need tional Armed Conflict the handling of Pris- is controlled by international customary for a special Status of Forces Agreement to oners of War is regulated by Geneva Con- and conventional law and the domestic law be concluded since the NATO/PfP SOFA ventions. Additionally, NATO forces may of the participating nations. Within this applies and is the essential legal document empowered under the Host Nation Law to framework, it is for NATO to set out the pa- which provides guidance on complex le- participate in arrest of criminal suspects or rameters within which military forces can gal issues that will arise during operations. may involved in the arrest of persons in- operate. International law regulates the use A SOFA deals with the legal status of the dicted for war crimes. The provisions for of force during military operations, while NATO forces and typically contains provi- the handling of detainees will vary accord- National law and policy may further regu- sions concerning criminal jurisdiction, im- ing to national laws and is subject to a spe- late the use of force in certain operations or munity, claims, and other matters. cial agreement with the HN IOT regulate situations. the handover of captured persons during operations. Conclusion of a Host Nation Support Agree- The need for Rules of Engagement in the war ment fighting scenario In most operations multinational Conclusion As it is well known ROE are direc- forces will be dependent on arrangements Legal considerations play a key role in the tives to military forces (including individ- with local authorities or with other TCN in decision making process and during the uals) that define the circumstances, condi- order to sustain its presence over time in conduct of an operation. Legal review dur- tions, degree, and manner in which force a theatre of operations. This requires legal ing all levels of planning and execution of by NATO troops will be used. ROE are not arrangements between the parties involved missions is of great importance. This re- used to assign tasks or give tactical instruc- covering the logistic and financial support view should take account of domestic laws, tions. With the exception of self-defence, to field operations. In addition, the TCN international laws (to include the law of during operations ROEs provide the sole as well as NATO itself will require the pur- armed conflict), treaty provisions, political authority to NATO/NATO-led forces to chasing of goods and service inside or out- agreements, and the rule of engagement for use force. A common misunderstanding side the JOA. To that extend a Host Nation any foreseeable contingency. A clear under- is that in war fighting scenario there is no Support Agreement should be signed with standing of the legal basis of an operation room for ROEs. The truth is that after the the receiving State IOT provide the NATO is required at all levels of the participating commencement of an armed conflict ROE Commander and the TCNs with support in forces and in the participating Nations. It generally limit the otherwise lawful use the form of materiel, facilities and services, is also important to understand the differ- of force. As a result ROE appendix in the including area security and administrative ences between Nations in terms of how ap- OPLAN should be properly staffed and ap- support, in accordance with negotiated plicable international law and sending state proved. arrangements between the TCNs and/or regulations may affect the conduct of oper- NATO and the HN government. ations involving contributions from more than one Nation.

Table 1: Legal Considerations during operations in NATO territory under Art 5 of the Washington Treaty t %FUFSNJOFUIFMFHBMCBTJTGPSUIFPQFSBUJPO t *EFOUJGZMBXBQQMJDBCMFUPUIFPQFSBUJPO t ćFBQQMJDBCJMJUZPG/"504UBUVTPG'PSDFT"HSFFNFOUT t $POTJEFSXIFUIFSBOZBHSFFNFOUTOFFEUPCFDPODMVEFE .FNPSBOEVNTPG6OEFSTUBOEJOH 5FDIOJDBM"SSBOHFNFOUT FUD t 3FWJFX0QFSBUJPOT1MBOGPSMFHBMBTQFDUT t 3FWJFX3VMFTPG&OHBHFNFOU 30& t $IFDLXIPDPVOUTBTBDPNCBUBOUPOUIFFOFNZTTJEF JFTUBUVTPGDPNCBUBOUUPOPOTUBUFBDUPST DZCFSUFSSPSJTUTFUD  t $IFDLQMBOTGPS108 t $SJNJOBM+VSJTEJDUJPO /"5040'" "SSBOHFNFOUTGPSXBSDSJNFTJOWFTUJHBUJPOT t $IFDLQSPWJTJPOTNBEFUPEFBMXJUIQPQVMBUJPONPWFNFOUoJOUFSOBMMZEJTQMBDFEQFSTPOT SFGVHFFTy t $POTJEFSUSBOTJUJPOBMKVTUJDFBOEIVNBOSJHIUTJTTVFT t $POTJEFSUIFFYJTUFODFPGB$MBJNTQPMJDZ /"5040'"BQQMJFTJO/"50UFSSJUPSZ

LAND POWER41 Deterrence in the New Security Environment

By Heidi Meyer (GBR)

he Ukrainian military officer The Ukrainian officer had seen our Alliance. So how do we deter Russian leaned in towards us, “there many of his friends killed in the East. He aggression in a world that is no longer the Tare a few things we have learnt had spoken on the phone to his former Cold War? A world where there is no going from our fight with the Russians in the Russian military colleagues to ask for back to the future for successful deterrence? East – the most important is that strategic their constraint in the killing of civilians How do we develop the more perceptive communications is at the heart of their and Ukrainian soldiers. He did not want and comprehensive innovation that makes strategy – it is not on the side or somewhere war, and for that matter, he knew that his deterrence successful in the 21st century? buried, it is at the heart of their planning– if Russian military colleagues did not either. And how do we do it with 28 Allies, ones your NATO leaders don’t understand that Most of all, he was trying to help NATO who know that cohesion and unity is our you will never have the initiative.” And he officials, far from the conflict in eastern greatest strength but have varied views on paused to emphasize. “And one more thing Ukraine, understand that the conventional how to deter and prevent conflict? – the undermining of local government capability to fight in an undeclared, proxy, The first thing to understand is that while we will prepare for collective defense, and be good at it, we will also strategize how to actively deter; the two are not mutually exclusive and we can be good at both simultaneously. To set the scene: The 2010 NATO Strategic (Lisbon Summit) identified collective defense, crisis management and cooperative security as the three core essential tasks for NATO – to protect and defend Allies Territory as set out in ART V of the Washington Treaty. In 2014, the Wales summit recognized that Russia’s aggressive policies have challenged the Euro Atlantic security architecture and that the Alliance is faced with new security NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini. challenges. In response, Wales reaffirmed the NATO commitment to fulfill the core tasks declared in Lisbon and recognized that the changed security architecture has structures, disruption of local rule of law ambiguous conflict, like the one he was in, altered the long term requirements for the and intimidation of local government was not enough. While the strength that size, shape and posture of Allied Forces. officials – bribery, corruption, kidnapping indicates that we can fight and win and A stronger emphasis must now be on - starts long before you will ever see their really win is fundamental, what is better is collective defense and deterrence. little green men or their ‘humanitarian to preemptively deter. Successful deterrence convoys’ or their BTGs massed – it is not requires a much more holistic, nuanced With this aim, Wales delivered your military might that will out wit them and innovative approach, particularly if we the RAP as the framework for NATO to it is your mind, your ability to understand want to prevent Russian aggression from develop assurance measures and adaptation and turn their messages upside down and escalating. measures so the Alliance will be more responsive and ready, assure its Allies your ability to see their long game – and And we listened to the Ukrainian and deter conflict. But the deterrence when they know that you see their game, a officer carefully because we very much requirements are not so straightforward. game played both tactically and strategically want to deter; for all NATO nations’ LANDCOM has begun operationally spread far apart but always connected, then conflict prevention is a preferred state and adjusting to these new requirements for you can deter them, and by deterring you desire for deterrence and peace underpins will win.” NATO as declared at the Wales summit and 42LAND POWER Deterrence in the New Security Environment much of our work lies in supporting the see ourselves the way others – including advocated using defense capacity building development of the RAP. Internally, we are an adversary – might see us. What are and both lethal and non-lethal aid to developing greater capacity to respond to we doing that is provocative or bellicose; Ukraine to deter Russian aggression. The Article V collective defense requirements. do we give the perception of being ready article states, “Assisting Ukraine to deter But simply being better operationally and responsive and sincerely interested in attack and defend itself is not inconsistent is only the start of good deterrence. It is not preventing conflict through readiness and with the search for a peaceful, political enough to assume that we can build great military capability? Do we stand unified solution—it is essential to achieving it. Only Land Operations capability and integration as a cohesive fighting force of Allies? The if the Kremlin knows that the risks and costs and deploy conventional forces rapidly and ability to stand strong and unified is a strong of further military action are high will it that the job is de facto achieved. Deterrence deterrent but we do not want to appear as seek to find an acceptable political solution.” in 21st century warfare is more complicated if we are looking for a fight – we certainly Whether you agree with this position or and as our Ukrainian colleague told us, “it is are not, but we must be ready and able if not, certainly long term measured defense holistic, nuanced and requires innovation.” the fight finds us and we must emphatically capacity of vulnerable nations will help in NATO must now consider how to achieve send that message. deterring a potential adversary. NATO’s meaningful deterrence in a contemporary 3. Knowing your adversary and his Defense Capacity Building program already security setting that is not a state based motives: We know that knowledge of how designs packages to help nations build their nuclear threat nor force on force. Modern an adversary wages war is a key element military conventional deterrence capability deterrence is wider, more interconnected of meaningful deterrence. With Russia, and we should continue to capitalize and and ambiguous. we understand that early indicators of war support this important initiative. Holistic, nuanced and innovative are a key element of deterrence. If Russia Conclusion: deterrence: knows early on that we are aware of what Peace through deterrence and conflict is happening, that we understand the While it is premature to say how a mitigation is always preferable to conflict. early indicators and are transparent about holistic, nuanced and innovative approach While LANDCOM will continue to build our observations, then this could act as a to deterrence is practically applied, we are a military capability that is responsive to deterrent. For example: Russia’s redline is to beginning to understand general principles collective defense, we will also work to protect and defend Russian speakers, much of 21st century deterrence. These five better understand our role in successful of which foments social instability through fundamental concepts establish a wider deterrence. Russian speaking media outlets. We saw strategy that could be applied operationally: The five areas above indicate where this in Georgia and certainly in Ukraine, we could be more operationally astute 1. Military conventional capability but do we see it now in South Ossetia and and perceptive. These areas generally is a component of a wider deterrence Abkhazia or Moldova? Conveying that we coalesce around our ability to understand approach rather than the deterrent itself: see it and know what is happening could be Russian signaling and early indicators Key to understanding deterrence in the a strong deterrent. 21st century is accepting that the wider and to send a return signal that we know 4. Seizing the narrative in deterrence effort also includes economic what is happening and are prepared to STRATCOM and INFO OPS: At the and political players. If our conventional do something about it. But this must be heart of Russian ambiguous warfare military capability is part of a wider approached holistically and in cooperation strategy, especially in the early days, is their strategy, it must be integrated into an array with civilian organizations such as the EU, a messaging. NATO could adapt to this new of diverse deterrence measures in order primary component of the Comprehensive reality where information superiority, as to prevent undermining or contradicting Framework within which we can conduct opposed to military power, is becoming efforts. Knowledge and understanding this effort. NATO can also act preemptively increasingly important. In order to do that remains the foundation of deterrence and to deter and this can be achieved through NATO needs a comprehensive approach this requires collaboration with others, our Defense Capacity Building programs. with a central entity that conducts the military and non-military. We do not We also need to develop centralized information operations analysis and want military conventional capability STRATCOM strategic platforms whereby proposes counter actions in the information to be counter productive in deterrence we can coordinate the entire NATO domain. STRATCOM must be central and we run that risk if our conventional effort and make STRATCOMS a central to our collective defense training and military deterrence is not set within a wider element of our planning rather than the planning. context. NATO has already established the final layer. And finally, we must broaden Comprehensive Approach for operating in 5. Defense Capacity Building as a our intelligence gathering to ensure we crisis management and collective defense Deterrent: A recent US paper compiled by understand fully the elements of our and deterrence strategy can be applied the Atlantic Council, Brookings and The adversary’s hybrid warfare that we intend within this same framework. Chicago Council on International Affairs, to deter. Only then, as exemplified by our called “Preserving Ukraine’s Independence, Ukrainian military colleague, can NATO 2. “See yourself, know yourself”: Resisting Russian Aggression: What effectively combat deterrence in 21st Commander LANDCOM asked his staff the United States and NATO Must Do,” century warfare. to develop the ability to stand back and LAND POWER43 Vision: Challenges for HEADQUARTERS NATO RAPID DEPLOY- ABLE CORPS- ITALY: the Future www.paonrdc.it By MAJ. Claudio Amico (ITA)

NRDC ITA HQ personnel conducting command post training

any current and future security challenge. date on the evolution of the RAP concept The assurance measures in the RAP and be ready to respond to Alliance inputs include continuous air, land and maritime coming from the application of RAP he NATO Summit held in presence which began in 2014 and continue envisaged commitments planned in 2018. September 2014 in Wales throughout 2015 as a flexible baseline and outlined how the Alliance is Cyber Security is another critical T in addition pursuing deterrence by adapting capability area for NRDC-ITA. Cyber- addressing present and future challenges the developing security framework. In this and, in accordance with the summit attacks to military networks are clear perspective, the NATO Response Force is outcomes, NATO Rapid Deployment and present threats. The implementation planned to be enhanced mainly through a Corps Italy (NRDC-ITA) is focusing on the of NATO Computer Incident Response “spearhead” force able to deploy at a very conceptual development of: Capability (NCIRC) has enhanced NRDC- short notice at the periphery of NATO’s ITA security by ensuring centralized − Readiness Action Plan (RAP) territory: the Very High Readiness Joint protection against the cyber-attacks on requirements, Task Force (VJTF). This force element is NATO classified and unclassified networks. − Cyber Security, an “all-services” one, including Special However, also in consideration that from − Knowledge Development and Operations Forces, to be tested through a defensive perspective, it is difficult human domain, very short notice exercises. In addition, RAP to defend a space that exists virtually envisages logistics improvements, in terms − Security Force Assistance (SFA). everywhere, that lets anyone in, and that has of equipment and supplies prepositioned, no boundaries. It is well known that even Readiness Action Plan (RAP) is to boost NATO readiness to react to NATO closed networks, such as those that the most noteworthy enhancement of rising security challenges. Moreover, RAP are not connected to the internet and those Collective Defense measures since the matches and enhances the Smart Defense that are air-gapped, are still at risk from end of the Cold War. Through assurance and Connected Forces Initiative with the manual insertion of malware, therefore it and adaptation measures it addresses risks goal of developing modern forces equipped is extremely important to extend a Cyber and threats from the East and the South and trained to be interoperable and able to Defense capability which goes beyond borders of NATO and provides the building operate in any environment within Alliance the networks themselves. NRDC-ITA is blocks to enable the Alliance to react to and partners. NRDC-ITA staff will be up to setting the conditions to create this Cyber

44LAND POWER Vision: Challenges for the Future

with INFOPS approach to the operations NRDC ITA Soldier undergoing cyber training and in line with the overarching strategic communication umbrella. Finally, conceptual development of Security Force Assistance (SFA) has gained prominence as promising instruments of policy over last years. As either an exit strategy for large-footprint post-conflict scenario or a small-footprint intervention to prevent future conflict in weak, failing or partner states. To this respect, SFA supports the essential security pillars of development and nation-building to conduct security operations without foreign support. Based on the current operations, the emergence of non-state actors as global threats, we are currently in an era of persistent conflicts and therefore it is worth engaging in failing states as early as possible to prevent the growth of violent extremist organizations which will Defense capability, which can develop a is essential. The KD Cell will carry out a require larger more costly intervention comprehensive approach by focusing on the study of the engagement space based also later. Assistance to partner nations through following different areas; Cyber situational on information coming from selected the SFA is a NATO priority, rooted in the awareness and staff education programs, Non NATO Entities (NNEs) – IOs, NGOs, strategy documents and supported by Joint protection of networks from external and Institutions, Universities, and other civilian and service military doctrine. Legitimacy is internal threats; production and testing of SMEs – that will be involved in the PMESII a necessary condition for SFA efforts to be consistent Incident Response and Business analysis in order to expand the knowledge successful. Continuity plans. and allow a greater understanding of the NATO current policy guidance and civilian aspects of the study area. For the Concerning Knowledge Development level of ambition – also bearing in mind success of the mission, the KD analysis’ and Human Domain, NRDC-ITA J2 the recent evolution in terms of security efforts must be focused on allowing the supports, through the Knowledge challenges approaching the Alliance’s exploitation of the environmental human Development Cell (KD Cell), the Eastern and Southern borders – require a knowledge, also to influence the population. Commander and Staff decision-making very demanding capability development To obtain that, the KD Cell will interact and process by: process by NFS HQs. (see page 53) cooperate in a more integrated way with − contributing to the development the wider communication domain, along of a comprehensive, holistic and collective situational understanding of the relevant crisis area, covering all PMESII domains NRDC ITA Soldiers participating in field training (including the relationships and interactions along with Afgans between systems and actors); − forecasting the possible effects of Military, Political, Economic and Civil actions over the different PMESII systems. Taking into account that in a modern crisis scenario the human factors are critically important, the success of the mission requires close attention and consideration of the human dimension (including the awareness of the physical, social and cultural elements that influence the population’s behaviour and beliefs). In the light of the Comprehensive Approach concept, for a deeper understanding of the human dimension, a more focused approach applied to the collection of information

LAND POWER45 Very High Readiness Task HEADQUARTERS NATO RAPID DEPLOABLE CORPS- SPAIN: Force: New Challenge for www.ejercito.mde.es/organizacion/hqnrdc-sp_eng/index.htm the HRF (L) Community

By LTC Angel Adan (ESP)

Very High Readiness Joint Task Force The JTF HQ concept was successfully (VJTF), within the NATO Response Force evaluated during TRIDENT JAGUAR (NRF), as a new measure to adapt NATO’s exercise carried out in Menorca, May 2014. t the Wales Summit, NATO strategic military posture. NRDC-ESP was the first High Readiness agreed on a plan to ensure Since NATO has been revising the Force Land (HRF-L) Headquarters to be Athat the Alliance is ready to command and control (C2) structure, certified as a JTF-L in NATO. NRDC- respond swiftly and firmly to new security while also developing a conceptual ESP’s stand by period as a JTF-L began in challenges. According to NATO annual framework that could have similarities July 2014 and will last one year. report, the Readiness Action Plan (RAP) with the challenge carried out by NATO The Wales Summit 2014 has is the most significant reinforcement of Rapid Deployable Corps Spain (NRDC- continued the path that started at the NATO’s collective defense since the end ESP) Headquarters to become a Joint Task Lisbon Summit 2010 of a greater reliance of the Cold War. RAP introduced the Force Land (JTF-L) Headquarters. on the NATO Force Structure (NFS)

LANDCOM Commander, Lt. Gen. Nicholson and NRDC ESP Commander, Lt. Gen. Comas conduct a review of the NRDC ESP formations

46LAND POWER VJTF. New Challenge for the HRF (L) Community

The VJTF concept needs to be tested throughout a series of training activities. Although HQ NRDC-ESP will be a principal actor in this process, the implication for the GRF-L community would help to set up a common understanding, develop better concepts for our common endeavor. Next fall’s exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2015 will be more demanding and focused, not only on CFI and NRF, but on other relevant aspects of the VJTF concept. This exercise will to meet new NATO challenges. It has to apply those lessons learned where require all participants to have a flexible an enormous value by itself, fostering pertinent to this new concept. As VJTF, mindset, exhibit utmost professionalism, synergies between NATO Command GRF-L HQs will be deployed at theater and strong willingness to face this massive and Forces Structures, thus, contributing level and will have to be able to deliver challenge. to increase interoperability by working effects at theater level. Furthermore, the NRDC-ESP is part of a wider team together and promoting Connected Forces experiences obtained and the test-bed that will help our Allied nations to achieve Initiative (CFI). In the land environment, activities fulfilled by the 1st German- their military and political goals. We LANDCOM has positioned itself as the Netherlands Corps (1GNC), as interim look forward to being one of the central land advocate hub where the Graduated capability in 2015, will be vital for the actors to meet this new, more agile NATO Readiness Forces-Land (GRF-L) can plug- NRDC-ESP on its road to VJTF16. challenge. in. During the most recent NATO NRDC ESP personnel conducting command post training (CPX) Defense Ministers Meeting in February 2015, it was announced that an operationally capable VJTF will be ready before the next NATO Summit in Warsaw, 2016. As a result, NRDC-ESP is one of the headquarters responsible to collaborate in achieving that capability as a three- star headquarters. That means that a massive challenge has been placed again in front of the GRF-L community. Sharing experiences lessons learned among our HQs will be crucial for a successful end. HQ NRDC-ESP will revise all lessons learned and insights gained as JTF-L HQ to command and control a smaller Joint Operation Land-heavy unit, in order

LAND POWER47 Valued Engineer Collaboration

By LTC D. Woods (GBR)

ally, the conferences and working groups vide a forum in which the focus of effort is may be under mandate to deliver outputs development of better interaction between for higher doctrinal or policy boards and HQ LANDCOM Engineers and the For- consequently have limited time to explore mation Engineer staff within the NFS - spe-

lthough forums exist items outside of the prescribed agenda. As cifically the Graduated Readiness Forces across the Allied Com- a consequence, the concept of facilitating a (Land). To that end, the agenda is not fixed Amand Operations for NATO Land Engineer Conference (NLEC) and is driven largely by the requirements of NATO Engineers to contribute to collabo- was mooted in 2013 and came to fruition the NFS. This allows LANDCOM to shape rative cross command working , the detail in March 2014, with the inaugural meeting the NLEC working programme to focus on covered by the respective agendas of these held at HQ Allied Land Command (LAND- the specifics of Land Centric Engineer op- meetings is often focussed on engineering COM) in Izmir. erational capability and the development of within a joint operations context. Addition- The purpose of the NLEC is to pro- a common perspective across the Land En-

Spaniards detection “HUSKIES” vehicles are prepared to inıtiate a survey in Afghanistan

48LAND POWER Valued Engineer Collaboration gineers. Furthermore, the NLEC provides a valuable opportunity to discuss key Engi- British Troops from 21 Engineer Regiment- Photo courtesy of Cpl Jamie Peters RLC/MoD/Crown neer issues before they are staffed in high- er level or Joint environments. The use of the quarterly VTC in January 2015 to con- sider key issues scheduled for discussion at the next Military Engineering Working Group (later that month) was an example of using NLEC in this capacity. Interaction at the VTC provided clarification of the Land Engineer perspective (at NFS level) on structures, doctrine, training and force generation; prior to LANDCOM Engineer division engaging formally with the wider Military Engineer community.

A more targeted output for the NLEC that the metrics can be accurately assessed. to ‘store’ critical Military Engineering data is informing the contribution made by This function is fundamental to ensure that and scripting which is held at higher classi- LANDCOM Engineer Division to the re- the document is congruent with the needs fication levels. vision and development of Military Engi- of both those undertaking and those sub- Although still in its infancy, the NLEC neering doctrine.Whilst the Military Engi- ject to the evaluation. has already proven to be a valuable addi- neering Centre of Excellence (MilEng CoE) In addition to the validation of train- tion to the NATO Land Engineers Battle is the de facto custodian and the lead for ing and Combat Readiness, the NLEC is Rhythm. By providing an accessible forum multiple work-strands relating to Military also providing the vehicle to take forward to ensure visibility of key issues relating to Engineering Doctrine, HQ LANDCOM collation and consolidation of training ma- the generation, training and operation of has a key role to ensure active engagement terial, notably scenario scripting and tech- Land Engineers across the NATO, LAND- across the Land Engineer community, in- nical databases, which will enable effective COM Engineer Division is better placed cluding, where required, acting as advocate development of Engineer specific exercise to deliver the advocacy role mandated as a of the NFS perspective. The revision of AFS serials. Whilst some material is held by the core Line of Operation. Vol VII (Combat Readiness Evaluation) has MilEng CoE, the structural positioning of The forthcoming NLEC (24/25 March involved a significant number of proposed the CoE outside of both the NCS and NFS, 2015) will continue to pursue the work- amendments to both the structure and con- results in limitations regarding security strands initiated in 2014, with particular tent of performance measures for Military classification of material that can be made emphasis on: information sharing, under- Engineering. Through an annual meeting available. Thus, LANDCOM Engineer standing engineer capabilities across the and quarterly VTCs, NLEC has been used Division is engaged in ensuring provision NFS (specifically NATO Response Force as the forum to circulate draft revisions, of a central repository (hosted on LAND- Pool) and the general optimisation of work- to ensure that changes are an effective im- COM SharePoint but accessible across the ing relations between the GRF(L) forma- provement of the evaluation process and NFS), which will provide the functionality tions and HQ LANDCOM.

LAND POWER49 )ÓQDO7KRXJKWV

LANDCOM Soldiers prepare to deploy in support of TRIDENT LANCE 2014

(Contınued from page 23)the objective, defining the situation and then by analyzing listed critical factors the CoG will be identified. The importance of the objective or the mission in relation to the identification process can be found in Strange/Iron’s theory, but the connection is not as clear as in the theory of Vego. [5] In order to identify CoGs in accordance with the theory of Strange/Iron, the commander (or the staff members) decides what the primary strength is. This decision is based upon the experience, operations has made it central to the knowledge, understanding and intuition military thinking. But the context that of the officers. Moreover, there is no given those doctrines bore has dramatically method for this identification, even if there changed in time which gave room for are some indirect guidelines that can help. many interpretations and even flawed The same circumstances prevail when the thinking. The doctrine writers and other (Contınued from page 45) The key to Critical Capabilities are to be identified. military professionals will undoubtedly reach all the aforementioned goals and to Even though the method proclaimed continue to struggle with these realities, consolidate all the joint capabilities achieved by Vego works the opposite direction, the working to approach war more holistically by NRDC-ITA so far is flexibility and officers’ ability and intuition plays a major using the opportunities that CA&KD offer. interoperability to play JTF HQ role and then role, but it is played differently. Initially, But meanwhile, my opinion is that we, as be able to switch back to the “traditional” the intuition and experience will have an soldiers, should at maximum stick to the LCC/Corps role. impact when identifying and analyzing present doctrines guidance despite the the critical factors and the final influence existing so many theories on the matter. Our The linchpin of this versatility is mind- will take place when the most critical duty is to follow the superior level guidance set and for this purpose NRDC-ITA strongly strength is to be determined. Hence, both instead of confronting them and in that counts on its “multi-service” environment theories include intuition, but the decision case, from the above mentioned theories enriched of civilian expertise. seems to be built on a firmer and more only Vego’s provides us that opportunity, careful foundation in Vego’s theory, which because it is the only one that does not of course relies on a larger number of strongly question the present definition in officers involved in the process or more COPD. Also in the CoG Analysis Matrix in time appointed for the process. [5] And COPG (4-46) they are used Strange/Iron’s Vego’s theory is the only one that provides CoG sub-elements, so we could use and a algorithm for determining the Co proper mixture of different theories. So all Gs and even some steps to check their theories, covering the construct, should be credibility. kept in focus, because some of them will For years the CoG has been imperfect, be the base for future definitions and that controversial, but when properly used would allow us to know the essence that has an effective tool for focusing the effort driven the change, which would facilitate us of military operations. The concept’s with understanding the concept. prominent role in the doctrines of decisive

50LAND POWER Major Events

CREVAL: NATO’s Combat Readiness Evaluation (CREVAL) program, where the same basic areas and evaluation method- ology are used for all types of NATO Land Forces, regardless if they are categorized as Combat (C), Combat Support (CS), or Combat Service Support (CSS).

STEADFAST JAVELIN II: Involved ve- hicles, aircraft and Soldiers from nine (9) different nations and took place across five (5) NATO countries (Germany, Es- tonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland), led by LANDCOM, and facilitated the train- ing of more than 2,000 multinational Soldiers in unified land operations and interoperability.

TRIDENT LANCE: A Multi-Corps NATO exercise which was the first exercise of this scope and scale since the end of the Cold War, during which LANDCOM declared Full Operational Capability (FOC) command, capable of con- ducting major joint operations on behalf of the Alliance.

LAND POWER51 LANDCOM - VISITS AND ACTIVITIES

Air-Land last September by Ministers of Defense of Denmark, Germany and Poland, the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) has Integration been obliged to specify and strengthen cooperation with other & Land NATO formations. One of the closest Corps’ supporters has been the Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), the NATO’s land Targeting component headquarters established in Izmir in 2010. Seminar

LANDCOM Commander visits RRC-FRA Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) brought together over 50 subject matter experts in targeting and Air & Ground General Nicholson, Commander Allied Land Command Fires Coordination to the headquarters in Izmir, Turkey, Headquarters in Izmir, Turkey, was hosted in the Citadel of Lille February 16-20, 2015. In attendance were representatives for a visit of the French Rapid Reaction Corps, February 9, 2015. from all nine GRF(L)s, JFC Naples, JFC Brunssum, AIRCOM, Many topics were discussed with him during the working session NATO SOF School, SHAPE, NATO Intelligence Fusion Center, and briefings he attended, such as the NATO Response Force USAREUR, and NATO National Joint Force Air Component. stand-by lessons identified by RRC-France following its latest experience in 2014 as the NRF Land Component Command.

U.S. Congressional UK AMB to Representatives Turkey visits LANDCOM

House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Congressional Delegation (CODEL) Rep. Michael Turner (Chairman HASC), AMB Richard Moore, UK Ambassador to Turkey, visited Rep. Loretta Sanchez (Ranking Member HASC) and Rep. Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), February 2, 2015. He Paul Turner (Member HASC) visited Allied Land Command was briefed on the British contingent’s overall contribution to (LANDCOM) February 17, 2015. The Committee had an office this headquarters, as well as our Full Operational Capability call with Lt. Gen. John Nicholson, LANDCOM Commander. (FOC) achievement, and the LANDCOM’s campaign plan for the future.

LANDCOM Commander visits JFC Naples

Commander Allied Land Command, U.S. Army Lt. LANDCOM Commander visits Baltic Gen. John Nicholson and Allied Joint Force Command Naples Barracks Chief of Staff, Italian Army Lt. Gen. Leonardo di Marco render The LANDCOM’s Commander, Lieutenant General salutes for their respective national anthems during an Honours John Nicholson paid a visit to the Baltic Barracks to hold talks concerning mutual goals to achieve by LANDCOM Cordon Ceremony in honor of Lt. Gen Nicholson’s visit to JFC and MNC NE in the short term, February 10, 2015. In light Naples, January 29, 2015. of the Trilateral Statement signed during the NATO Summit

52LAND POWER LANDCOM - VISITS AND ACTIVITIES

LANDCOM Deputy Commander visits EUROCORPS DCOM LANDCOM LTG Ed Davis visited EUROCORPS in Strasbourg, January 29, 2015. The Commander LTG Guy Buchsenschmidt introduced a unique Headquarters, based on 5 framework nations and capable to perform different roles as required by the Europen Union, NATO or the UN.

LANDCOM Deputy Commander Visits Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) LANDCOM Changes Command Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), Deputy Commander, Lt. Gen. Ed Davis visited Allied Rapid Reaction U.S. Lt. Gen. John Nicholson has assumed command of Corps’ (ARRC) Headquarters, January 6, 2015. While there he NATO’s Allied Land Command in Izmir, Turkey following a participated in multiple briefings and meetings with members change of command ceremony held at the Headquarters October of the ARRC, to include the ARRC Commander, Lt. Gen. 23, 2014. Lt. Gen. Nicholson succeeds Lt. Gen. Frederick Evans. Lt. Gen. Davis explained the event was an “invaluable “Ben” Hodges who took command of Allied Land Command opportunity” to collaborate on central issues presently being in November 2012, when the Alliance’s new headquarters, in considered by Allied Command Operations (ACO). charge of land force planning, was officially activated. Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Philip Breedlove, was in attendance at the change of command ceremony and addressed those in attendance. 1st Italian Army Unit “CREVALized” For the first time, the Italian Army has had one of their units undergo the NATO Combat Readiness Evaluation Trident (CREVAL) program training. The last of that training was conducted December 15-19, 2015 by LANDCOM’s CREVAL Juncture Site trainers. Survey and visit to NRDC Remembrance ESP Day

Lieutenant General Ed Davis, along with a team from LANDCOM, visited NRDC ESP in preparation for Trident Juncture 2015 (TRJE15), October 13, 2014. TRJE15 will be a NATO Joint and Multinational Exercise, whose LIVEX will be conducted at fall 2015 and will involve over 25,000 troops. LANDCOM commemorated the sacrifice of millions LANDCOM will provide the Officer Directing the Exercise of service men who served during the 1st World War (WWI), (ODE) for the Land portion of the Event. November 11, 2014. The remembrance ceremony was followed by an awards ceremony, where Major Jean-Francois Aribaut was awarded the French Legion d’Honneur, the most prestigious NATO Exercise distinction to honor the merits of the French society. This decoration is received for exceptional services in Afghanistan Steadfast where Major ARIBAUT was committed 18 months between Javelin II 2009 and 2012 as a helicopter Pilot, commanding officer and as Air Mission Commander.

LANDCOM Deputy Commander LGEN Ed DAVIS Visits JFC Brunssum Lieutenant General Ed Davis, Deputy Commander Allied U.S. Exercise Saber Junction transitioned to a large-scale, Land Command, visited JFC Brunssum October 27, 2014. In a multinational NATO military exercise led by LANDCOM focused session he was briefed on the role and responsibilities called Steadfast Javelin II, September 2-8, 2014. That portion of the headquarters with particular emphasis on current NATO of the exercise involved hundreds of vehicles, aircraft, Soldiers operations, the NATO Response Force, Regional Focus and the from 9 different nations and took place across five (5) NATO countries (Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland). conduct of Assurance Measures in response to the crisis in the Ukraine. LAND POWER53