The NRF does its jazz
(BRUSSELS2) 6000 soldiers are preparing for what will be one of NATO's major exercises. "Steadfast Jazz 2013" will be held from November 2 to 9 in Latvia and Poland. " The culmination of a series of dynamic and demanding exercises designed to train and test NATO Rapid Reaction Force (NRF) troops and commanders “, according to the release of the Atlantic Organization.
A major exercise
The objective of the exercise? " ensure NRF troops are prepared for any situation in any environment " and " keep forces connected and interoperable ". This exercise will also allow the certification of the personnel of the headquarters of the joint forces command of Brunssum (Netherlands) who will supervise " NATO joint operations in 2014 ».
... in Latvia and Poland
An exercise at the Adazi base near Riga (Latvia) will focus on " command and control ". It will bring together personnel from Joint Force Command Headquarters Brunssum and other Headquarters. The training area in Drawsko Pomorskie (Poland) will host " multinational troops who will participate in a live fire exercise ". " The live element of Exercise Steadfast Jazz will test the interoperability of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen involved, while the fictional scenario will be equally challenging for participants in the command and control aspects of the exercise. explains General Hans-Lothar Domröse, Commander of Joint Task Force Brunssum.
The high point of a busy autumn
The autumn will be particularly busy for NATO. Several exercises will take place between now and the end of the year. The first, Brilliant Arrow, will take place between August 25 and September 5, 2013. About fifty military aircraft and around 800 soldiers from nine NATO member countries (France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the United Kingdom). The exercise will be hosted by NATO Allied Air Command. The second exercise will focus on the maritime component, “ the Brilliant Mariner exercise will take place at the end of September beginning of October ". The purpose of these exercises and the Steadfast Jazz is to involve all components of the NRF, headquarters, land, sea, air and special operations forces. " This exercise will be all the more important as the ISAF mission in Afghanistan draws to a close and NATO prepares for future challenges. said General Philip Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Russia in sight
We must also note the choice to conduct exercises of this magnitude very close to the Russian border. Especially since the joint exercises (Zapad 2013) between Belarus and Russia must also take place in September.