OHQ calls FHQ. European militias in action

(BRUSSELS2) The European Union's annual military exercise (MILEX 13) ends soon (November 22). Led by General Wolfgang Wosolsobe, the Chief of Staff of the European Union (EUMS), this exercise highlights a new crisis management scenario. The focus is on the military planning process necessary for the deployment of a European battlegroup (no troops are deployed for this exercise because it is essentially a General Staff exercise). But Milex 2013 also includes a dimension of humanitarian assistance and the deployment of civilian experts.
Test the OpsCenter
The exercise is firstly an opportunity to test the EU Operations Center (OpsCenter) located within the European Union Headquarters in Brussels which serves as OHQ under the direction of Greek General Alkiviadis Stefanis . 70 people take part in the simulation. Half comes from the military headquarters, the other half from member states. The Force HQ (FHQ) is located in France at Mont-Valérien (in Suresnes, near Paris), under the direction of French General Daniel Grammatico. “The interaction between the operational HQ in Brussels and the Force HQ in Mont Valérien is important” explains General Wolfgang Wosolsobe. “We want to test our new procedures and operational systems. » The Europeans thus installed a new command and control information system (C2) but also new equipment, brought to Mont Valérien to have a “testing in real conditions”.
Humanitarian, UN and satellites
Liaison with the International Red Cross and the United Nations, which are participating in the exercise, is another element “ important of exercise » specifies General Wosolobe. The scenario indeed includes the deployment of an EU battlegroup to assist a UN mission previously deployed by a regional organization. Objective: to ensure a safe and secure environment before, during and after a referendum on the future of a fictitious region, known as EIBA. Hence the importance of coordinating EU action with the relevant regional organizations. The EU Satellite Center (based in Torrejon) also participates, providing satellite maps, its specialty.
Milex 2014 approved
The 27 defense ministers (all 28 except Denmark) approved on Monday (18 November) the specifications for the following annual military exercise (MILEX 14) which is expected to take place at the end of first half of 2014, with Mont-Valérien as operational headquarters and the Swedes in FHQ. As for the Multi Layer 2014 exercise, it will take place at the end of the year, with the headquarters of operations, this time Rome. It is in fact Italy which will assume the rotating presidency of the European Union at that time.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde & Leonor Hubaut)
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