NORTHERN STAR Magazine for HQ JFC BrunssumJFC – November 2012 General Langheld : My Two Years as In Flanders Fields the Poppies Your Commander Blow... Mayor Clemens Brocken about 45 Who Dares Wins years of NATO in Brunssum Circle 100: What is SCHUNCK? www.jfcbs.nato.int www.facebook.com/jfcbs Sleep, Meet %JOF "NSÉUI(SBOE)PUFM)FFSMFOt(SPFOF#PPSEt(&)FFSMFOt 5FM tJOGP!HSBOEIPUFMIFFSMFOOM www.grandhotel-heerlen.nl 2012-10_Ad_Amrath-Grand-Hotel-Heerlen_Nato_148x210.indd 1 25-10-2012 15:42:24 Colophon Command Group Corner ext month the curtain will fall strengthened further by the underlying The NORTHERN STAR is a publication, on my 42-year military career. principle of consensus. Whilst serving published with the assistance of ‘t Swarte Schaap, in co-operation with and at no cost But what a climax these past at Brunssum you should, quite rightly, to HQ JFC Brunssum. Opinions herein do two years have been. promote your own country but, at the not necessarily reflect official NATO or HQ N JFC Brunssum policy. The appearance of same time, take the opportunity to advertisements, including inserts, does not We have addressed so many things learn about other cultures and develop constitute endorsement by NATO or HQ broad networks that reach beyond the JFC Brunssum of the products or services during my time here but one of the most offered. Deadline for articles, advertisements important is probably the development workplace. and photographs is on the Monday at close of a Brunssum Campaign Plan. This of business prior to the week of publication. document continues to develop such Many challenges lie in your path: some To place an advertisement in the Northern that it clearly articulates our key tasks driven by the economic downturn that Star, please call ’t Swarte Schaap and ask for Rob Schaap, Sint Franciscusweg 36-3, 6417 and guides our actions. Importantly, it the West continues to find it difficult to BD Heerlen, The Netherlands, telephone: serves to focus the work undertaken recover from; some as a result of the +31 (0)45 571 61 16, here and helps in prioritizing the many emergence of an unstable geostrategic or e-mail: [email protected]. issues competing for attention. Look environment where populations Submissions to the Northern Star can at it this way – if you are in doubt continue to grow and competition for be made to room I 1.11, Bldg. H 106 or e-mailed to [email protected]. Articles about attending a course, writing a natural resources spreads. Security should be in Microsoft Word format and, report or providing a briefing, use the threats are increasingly unlikely to lead whenever possible, should be no longer than 300 words. Photographs should be at least Campaign Plan to identify linkages to to conventional State-on-State warfare 9x6 centimetres and 300 dpi. The Northern HQs objectives. If you cannot identify but more likely to generate instability via Star is published monthly and is available a link the likelihood is you do not disputes over energy, food and water. around the second Friday of each month. need to complete the task; in these > Article continues on page 4 For more information, call ext. 3570 or circumstances you should discuss the +31 (0)45 526 35 70. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions. requirement with your boss. My thanks to all of those who have been involved Editorial Staff in this work; I am certain this plan will more than prove its worth as the role Col Martin Klein, DEU A Chief Public Affairs Office and tasking of Brunssum evolves over the coming years. Maj Vanessa Hillman, US F Coordination Officer and acting Editor in chief A common criticism of NATO is that its multi-nationality prevents it from MSgt Jan Hecht, DEU A operating at the pace required to Contributing Editor address modern-day security issues. I Jaroslava Augustinova, CZE do not agree with this. It may be correct Contributing Editor to say that routine issues take a little longer to resolve in an Alliance context but, where missions are concerned, About the Cover NATO has repeatedly proven its ability Photo by: Claus Moser to react in a timely fashion. To me, the NORTHERN STAR Magazine for HQ JFC BrunssumJFC – November 2012 The photograph shows the American War Cemetery number of nations that comprise the Margarten. It is Europe’s Alliance should be viewed as a strength, third largest war cemetery for unidentified soldiers not a weakness. Drawing on my own who died in World War II. experience as your Commander, I have 8,301 soldiers are buried there under long rows of come to welcome the often distinctly white crosses and stars of David. All graves are opposing views offered by individuals General Langheld : My Two Years as In Flanders Fields the Poppies Your Commander Blow... adopted by locals, who drawn from diverse cultural, education General Wolf Langheld Mayor Clemens Brocken about 45 Who Dares Wins years of NATO in Brunssum Circle 100: What is SCHUNCK? attend the graves and lay flowers not only during the and training backgrounds. This gives Commander Allied Joint Force www.jfcbs.nato.int www.facebook.com/jfcbs month of November – the month of Remembrance. NATO a truly balanced outlook that is Command Brunssum Contents 1-2 Command Group Corner 16-17 In Flanders fields the poppies blow... 5-6 45 years of NATO in Brunssum 18 Who Dares Win 7 Afghan scouts reach out to wounded police officers 22nd International SATCOM Cross Run Bad Baby saved by Polish troops finds new family Bergzabern 8 ANA holds senior security shura on logistics 19 AFNORTH School Supports Dutch Children’s Cancer 9 Heidelberg’s Current and Former Members Society Contributed to Successful ARRC CREVAL Autumn highlights at AFNORTH 10 Operation Ocean Shield Hosts Royal Visitor 20 There is Always Something Going On at the 11 NATO Parliamentarians visit HQ Allied Air Command International Club Ramstein 21 Family Support, Moral and Welfare Programs and 12 Visits and Activities Events for HQ JFCBS Personnel 14 Latvia Leading on Northern Distribution Network 23 One of us 15 Brunssum runs ISAF Pre-Deployment training 24 Did you know? New rules for tax free shopping! 25 Circle 100 - What is SCHUNCK? Command Group Corner Northern Star 3 General Langheld during his situational awareness trip to Afghanistan. > Continuation of Command Group recently published NAC Initiating festivities. Spare a thought for comrades Corner Article Directive reveals it will focus on training and colleagues deployed, particularly and mentoring tasks. I anticipate to Afghanistan, over this period and For the foreseeable future I would Brunssum will have a central role in this do what you can to support their loved conclude, that together with an follow-on mission. ones. ongoing remit to assist in cases of natural disaster, you will be occupied Alliance policies will continue to evolve It is a privilege to be given military with countering threats arising from the and provide significant challenges to command and I have been fortunate scarcity of natural resources, terrorism ACO as the Joint Force Commands set to enjoy that privilege on a number and the vulnerability of Western about operationalising them. However, of occasions. My two years as your computer networks to cyber attack. the bottom line is that, like a chameleon, Commander has demanded extensive NATO has once again adapted to the travel as I have developed networks As I embark on the next chapter of new security environment it finds itself for you to exploit. Time will tell how my life I will maintain a keen interest in in. This successful adaptation has successful I have been in doing this NATO’s ISAF mission. From now until continued to underline the Alliance’s but, I think, for the time being, you are the end of 2014 there remains much to ongoing utility and purpose into the well placed to confront the challenges be accomplished in Afghanistan but our 21st Century. For the foreseeable future before you. I have only been able to do strategy is sound, security transition is NATO remains a serious multi-national this because of your professionalism, proving a success and, critically, the security actor on the international stage. reliability and unwavering support. ANSF are becoming more competent By adopting a deployable posture, A last request is that you continue to every day. December 2014 will not developing/implementing lessons provide those levels of support to my be the end of NATO’s engagement in learned from our recent Bold Dragon successor. Afghanistan. The Alliance is committed exercise, and moving forward with the to an Enduring Partnership throughout Regional Focus initiative, Brunssum Thank you all. Goodbye and Happy what has become known as the post- is set to play its part in ensuring the Christmas. ISAF ‘Transformation Decade’. The continued relevance of the Alliance. exact shape, duration and size of the Alliance’s 2015 (and beyond) footprint My best wishes to you and your families has yet to be finalized. However, the as you prepare for the Christmas News Northern Star 4 45 Years of NATO in Brunssum: a Mutual Friendship Story by Mayor Clemens Brocken his year, NATO and Brunssum celebrate 45 years of T coexistence. It has been an enjoyable and sometimes tense time together, one that I have experienced at close hand as mayor of this town for the last ten years. Last year – in June 2011 – a decision was taken to keep the headquarters in Brunssum. That was a fantastic boost for the local community, for me personally, and I suspect for many of those who work on the base and who live in this delightful region.