NATO R APID DEPLOYABLE CORPS High Readiness Contents Forces Concept

Following a review of its force structure, in HRF CONCEPT 2001 NATO decided on the parameters of a new structure to provide the Alliance with rapidly deployable, mobile, sustainable MISSION and flexible multinational forces and their command and control capabilities. STRUCTURE The Alliance decided to create 5 new High Readiness Forces (Land) (HRF), to react on short notice to future NATO operational ORGANIZATION commitments. In November 2001 HQ H NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy was established at Ugo Mara Barracks in Solbiate UNITS Olona, near , Italy, alongside existing R HRFs in France and Germany and concurrently FACILITIES with new HQs in Spain and . F The Corps is capable of commanding up to four divisions, combat support (CS) and OPERATIONAL PATH combat service support (CSS) units for a total of 60,000 men, able to deploy globally C within 30 days. A wide range of options will also be available to command and control O “These additional deployable, land forces at the brigade and divisional tailored high-readiness level to operate as a stand-alone formation headquarters are a significant new or sub-ordinated to a higher HQ. N asset for NATO...a key element of NRDC-IT Headquarters is an organisation C our reform effort to develop more with committed, confident and experi- enced multinational staff working in a cohe- relevant structures and capabilities sive and structured team and using well-de- E for the Alliance” veloped doctrine for multinational and joint Gen Joseph Ralston, former SACEUR operations at the land component level. P The Headquarters has an in-place support structure with equipment both for train- T ing and operations, which includes the full range of dedicated communications. Well practiced, the Headquarters undertakes a full and demanding training schedule deal- ing with the full operational spectrum up to high intensity war fighting utilising the Front cover picture courtesy of ISAF complete range of modern weaponry. Mission Structure

HEADQUARTERS STRUCTURE

Commander, HQ NRDC-IT is to COM ★ ★ ★ contribute to deterrence of aggression AOCC against NATO through establishment CENTRAL STAFF DCOM ORG & COORD and maintenance of a capability to ★ ★ SEC AND ADV deploy in support of NAC-approved G8 COS LEGAD operations. He shall be prepared to ★ ★ OAB conduct defensive, offensive, peace NAVY ADV PIO support, humanitarian support, and LL other operations throughout NATO OPS DIV SUPPORT DIV ENGINEER territory and beyond NATO’s Area of ★ ★ ★ Responsibility (AOR) as directed by the G2 G1 ENG GEO G3 MOVEMENT S ENG OPS appropriate NATO mission commander. FCOORD ★ MEDICAL G5 MP ENG LOG He shall train, exercise, and operate his G7 G4 RES M headquarters, affiliated forces, and other G3 AIR ★ TPT/SUP T MAINTENANCE forces assigned using NATO procedures. REAR SUPPORT G6 I COMMAND / ★ R G9 CIMIC ★ G6 PLANS G6 COORD S RSC G6 ISM U G9 G6 OPS S MOV C The HQ NRDC-IT Force Pool Concept I xxxx xxxx T ADCON OPCOM HQ LAND SACEUR O xxx U HQ NRDC-IT N “NRDC-IT is the Italian Army’s answer X R to NATO’s requirements. The results are procedures in place, UNDER NATO COMMAND E (PROVIDED BY ITALY) personnel and equipment at high III III

state of readiness and an ability to PROVIDED BY OTHER deploy and transition to operations NATIONS as SACEUR’s land headquarters II II PROVIDED BY ITALY of choice for Crisis Response Operations and Collective Defence” Commander NRDC-IT, xx xx xx xx COMBAT COMBAT Gen Mauro del Vecchio SUPPORT SERV. SPT IT UK GR Organization Organization

With Italy as the framework nation, intelligence, operations, planning, training, providing the structure and 70% of fire coordination and air branches. the personnel, the HQ is made up of officers and NCOs from 10 other Support Division is responsible for nations: Germany, Greece, Hungary, The planning, directing and coordinating Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, logistical support to the Corps. It Turkey, United Kingdom and United comprises personnel, movement, States of America. The HQ is organised medical, maintenance and police O into the following functional divisions: branches to ensure the Commander O is given the freedom of action to R accomplish his mission. R Rear Support Command forms a G separate deployable command post to G support NRDC-IT operations, notably A control of the essential reception, staging A and onward movement (RSOM) process. N G9 Branch is charged with establishing and N maintaining civil and military cooperation I (CIMIC) in an area of operations. I The Central Staff provides specialised Engineer Branch role is to provide Z financial support, legal, police and media mobility, counter-mobility, survivability Z advice to COMNRDC-IT and HQ Staff, and and engineer support to the A oversees the central co-ordination of Corps. This support is vital to maintaining A the HQ. the force’s momentum in all operations. Joint Asset advisors provide essential liaison T between naval and air operations agencies. G6 Division is responsible for providing T communications and information I Operations Division provides direction, systems, guaranteeing connectivity I planning, co-ordination, integration with higher echelons and command O and execution functions in support of and control of the Corps’ subordinate O N the Commander’s intent. It comprises formations. N Units Facilities

The Signal Brigade is the support HQ NRDC-IT is strategically placed near unit of the HQ, allowing COMNRDC- Malpensa Airport, in between the cities of IT and his Staff to command and Milan and . Ugo Mara Barracks control assigned divisions and Corps currently enjoys the full range of facilities troops. It transports and constructs for its military personnel including a the Corps’ deployable command posts bespoke building for the Headquarters, and establishes a combined radio and gymnasium, clubs and messes. In central satellite communication network. Milan, Cusani Palace is the representative The Signal Brigade consists of a signal building of the HQ. regiment, a tactical and logistical support regiment and a static post HQ. The Signal Brigade’s main task is to guarantee the F Corps staff life support by deploying, moving, feeding, accommodating and A protecting it. 1st Signal Regiment, based in Milan, C U uses its 2 battalions, “Spluga” and Sempione” to provide C4 support in I N peace and operations. The Tactical Logistic and Support L I Regiment provides life support to the Corps HQ and Signal Brigade. It is equipped I T and configured to provide logistic support, security and force protection, including Monte Rosa Village. By 2008 the Corps T S medical cover, to the CPs. will boast the first Italian garrison system, The Post HQ manages and maintains the with housing for all its staff and a school, I Corps’ peace-time infrastructure, Ugo sports and commercial complexes all Mara Barracks. It also provides garrison contained within a military community. support and advice to the community. E S Operational Path Operational Path

Ex Eagle Flight. Sep 2002. The HQ’s first deployment, a conventional regional conflict exercise to confirm the O Corps’ operating procedures. O Ex Light Ship. Civitavecchia, Dec 2002. P Test exercise, deploying all command P posts, the culmination of SHAPE Eagle Flight E validation process and proof that the HQ E had reached Full Operational Capability as HRF. Full R Operational R Capability Ex Allied Action. Civitavecchia, May A 2004. Culmination of the training to A assume NATO Response Force, testing T early entry deployment and land Light Ship T component command capabilty in crisis I response operation. I Ex Destined Glory. Sardinia, Oct O 2004. Confirmation of Initial Operating O Capability for the NATO Response Allied Action N Force and HQ NRDC-IT as its HQ Land N Component Command.

A Ex Eagle Action. , May A 2005. Initial preparation for HQ L NRDC-IT to assume command of HQ L ISAF VIII in for a nine Destined Glory month tour of duty.

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L E N T I O T H A C T H LOCATION

You will be welcome at “Ugo Mara” Barracks

The HQ NRDC-IT is located in (Northern Italy) in the town of SOLBIATE OLONA close to Milan and Varese (about 25 and 23 Km).

NATO RAPID DEPLOYABLE CORPS - ITALY

Public Information Office Via per Busto Arsizio, 20 21058 SOLBIATE OLONA (VARESE) - ITALY Phone/Fax: +39 0331 634505 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www..int/nrdc-it