MAGAZINE FOR HQ JFC BRUNSSUM - MARCH 2017 i www.jfcbs.nato.int f www.facebook.com/jfcbs FIRST ENHANCED NATO HUNGARIAN DEFENCE FORWARD PRESENCE PARLIAMENTARY FORCES COMMITTED BATTLEGROUP ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT TO NATO-LED DEPLOYS TO VISITS JFC BRUNSSUM CRISIS RESPONSE LITHUANIA OPERATIONS TAX FREE SHOPPING AT MEDIA MARKT HEERLEN Calculation Sample A Led-TV costs €1210,- incl. tax. 21% tax free means €1210,- x (100/121) = €1000,- The discount is €210,- and the benet is 17,36% Media Markt Heerlen Opening hours: Parking: Corio Center 9 Mo. - fr. 9.30 - 21 h, Sa. 9.30 - 18.00 h 525 parkings in the Corio Center Garage 6411 LX Heerlen, 045-5763700 Every sunday open from 12.00 - 17.00 h Heerlen ABOUT THE COVER Dutch F-16 belonging to 322 Squadron, Leeuwarden airbase, takes off for a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) mission while on standby for the BENELUX air policing. Photo by Kelyn Yeutukhovich 3 ABOUT THE COVER 18 GERMANY CONTINUES AUGMENTING BALTIC 4 COMMAND GROUP CORNER AIR POLICING 6 VISITS AND ACTIVITIES 20 THE HUNGARIAN DEFENCE FORCES IN 8 COMMANDER JFC BRUNSSUM WELCOMES NATO-LED CRISIS RESPONSE OPERATIONS FIRST ENHANCED FORWARD PRESENCE 22 HOW DOES IT FEEL TO COME BACK? BATTLEGROUP DEPLOYED TO LITHUANIA 23 JFC BRUNSSUM GOLF SOCIETY - 10 THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATO CALLING ALL POTENTIAL GOLFERS PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY 24 DUTCH SECURITY FORCES VISITS JFC BRUNSSUM 25 OUR VISION FOR A BETTER FUTURE 12 IMM – THE FORMULA ONE 26 DID YOU KNOW OF NATO-SKILLS 28 ONE OF US 14 SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES AT HIGH ALTITUDE 30 MOVIE SCHEDULE 16 EXERCISE DYNAMIC MOVE 31 CIRCLE 100 2017 BEGINS IN BELGIUM 32 BOOK REVIEW The NORTHERN STAR is a publication, pu- telephone: +31 (0)45 571 61 16, blished with the assistance of ‘t Swarte Schaap, or e-mail: [email protected]. Editorial Staff in co-operation with and at no cost to HQ JFC Brunssum. 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Adj Shirley Ham – ter Haar, NLD MP To place an advertisement in the Northern Contributing Editor Star, please call ’t Swarte Schaap and ask for For more information, call ext. 2687 or Rob Schaap, Sint Franciscusweg 36-3, 6417 BD +31 (0)45 526 26 87. The editor reserves the Heerlen, The Netherlands, right to edit submissions. 3 COMMAND GROUP CORNER Composed by: General Salvatore Farina, (ITA A) FC Brunssum Team, strengthened just knowing I opportunity to prove themselves It is very true: could rely on such a dedicated as “operationally capable” of time flies! and capable staff. Immediately exercising command and control after I assumed command, I was of the NFIUs and Operational JIt seems like it was only yes- completely involved and ready Control of a VJTF 1* HQ. The terday, but in fact it was over to go. With so much going on successful events and extremely a year ago when I took over around us, I quickly set my positive results, combined with command of JFC Brunssum, priorities and with the support the full establishment of the on a very typical Limburg day of my staff, the way forward NFIUs, completed the tasks marked by black sky, cold, was set in motion. After only directed from the Wales Summit driving wind, snow and sleet. two weeks, I journeyed with that have been, in my opinion, Even with the harsh weather, Major General Smith (JFC a great achievement, especially it was a wonderful day as we Brunssum Deputy Chief of considering the very short honoured the outgoing com- Staff Operations) to visit the timeframe. mander, General Domröse, Resolute Support (RS) Mission and with the blessing of Gen- in Afghanistan, where we had an In early spring my leadership eral Breedlove (SACEUR at opportunity to get up to speed team and I completed several that time) I was charged with on the latest developments in key leader engagements with the great privilege and enor- theatre and share insight with authorities and commanders in mous responsibility of being General Nicholson. Within the Baltics, Poland and Spain. your commander. Indeed the days of our return, we put The engagements were extremely burden has been even great- the finishing touches to the valuable, not only for the conduct er taking into account that Spring 2016 Periodic Mission of assurance measures and their it was the first time that the Review and moved right into a role in training and exercises, rotation between German refinement of our training and but also for the completion and Italian commanders took exercises for 2016. of our advance planning place after many years of efforts. Additionally, I had the German leadership. The 2016 Brilliant series of opportunity to engage with the exercises was designed to Single Service Commands and Two of my basic principles are prove the concept of NATO’s our sister headquarters, Joint my commitment to continuity Readiness Action Plan as one of Force Command Naples, thereby and a proactive approach. By the most important deliverables reinforcing the relationships continuity, I am not referring resulting from the 2014 NATO that will enable complete to something that is inflexible Summit in Wales. Brilliant integration in a joint operational and unchanging, but rather Jump 2016 demonstrated a environment. the unbroken and undisturbed prepared and capable Very High execution of our mission. By Readiness Joint Task Force Even while we were completing taking a proactive approach and and the NRDC Spain Corps our tasking from the Wales eliminating problems before Headquarters, deploying within Summit, Warsaw was already they have a chance to appear, a few days to Poland by air, sea on the horizon. We quickly we can make things happen - and land, with critical support refocussed our efforts and instead of waiting for things to provided by Multinational Corps started our internal thinking in happen to us! Northeast (MNC-NE) and the order to elaborate and advance NATO Force Integration Units new ideas and concepts to Despite the many responsibilities (NFIUs). For MNC-NE, exercise operationalize the decisions facing our headquarters, I felt Brilliant Capability 2016 was an made at the political level and 4 to implement the strategic the Enhanced Forward Presence everything from hybrid and cyber directives issued by SHAPE. (eFP) Battle Groups. A truly warfare to terrorist and radical In the second part of 2016 headquarters-wide effort, the threats, both within and beyond we expanded our key leader intensive work brought together our borders. By incorporating engagement with political and the Framework Nations, strategic communications into military leaders across the Troop Contributing Nations, all our operations and planning, implementation area, starting Host Nations, Single Service we can contribute positively with our Finnish and Swedish Commands and SHAPE, and took and directly in achieving the partners and continuing with most of our time from November successful implementation of key NATO nations including all the way into February. As NATO political and military Germany, UK, the Netherlands the year drew to a close, we objectives. and Hungary. These personal completed a very successful visit interactions with military by the North Atlantic Council on All of you – my team – are very commanders and civilian 28 November focussed on eFP, capable, responsive, flexible, and authorities continue to help us and turned over our role as the open-minded professionals who build relationships over time so NATO Response Force Standby have supported me throughout we can support each other both Command to JFC Naples. If my first year in command. in peacetime and during times that is not enough, I should Without your tremendous effort of crisis. mention our involvement in the we would not have been able to development of our Graduated accomplish such a demanding In August we once more visited Response Plans, and of course range of achievements. I am the Resolute Support Mission in we look forward to the coming proud to be your commander Afghanistan, where I was able months as we continue our and am grateful to lead such a to increase my understanding preparations for Exercise proficient and dedicated team. and exchange information and Trident Javelin in November. I am also grateful to have had views on the progress of the RS the opportunity to meet your Mission with General Nicholson. After one year I firmly believe families during our many social At the Joint Operational level that with our commitment to events, and I urge you to take we completed our 3rd Northern continuity and a proactive care of your loved ones just as Headquarters Conference in stance, the relevance and they take care of and support Bodo, Norway, where we stressed credibility of JFC Brunssum you. the importance of partnership, has been maintained.