ARRC NEWS
Ex AVENGER TRIAD 25
Maj Joe Harris
Context
With Ex AVENGER TRIAD 25( Ex AvT25) now complete, HQ ARRC has entered a period of reflection and Lessons Learning with regards to what was achieved through the exercise and how it may shape future Corps activity. Ex AvT25 represents one of the largest ever rehearsals of NATO activity in Europe which saw the ARRC play a significant role in restoring the territorial integrity of NATO states against an attack by fictional opponents.
While Ex AvT25 itself exceeded the scope of Ex AvT24 with 7 x Corps under the command of USAREUR-AF’ s Multi Corps Land Component Command( MCLCC); its formal linkage to NATO’ s Ex STEADFAST DUEL 25( Ex STDU25) increased the overall scope even further. This saw the overall scale of the Exercises extending in terms of NATO Command Structure from Joint Force Command Norfolk in Virginia, USA to LANDCOM in Izmir, Türkiye; and in geographical terms from Romania in the South to Finland in the high North. Over 1,000 personnel deployed across all ARRC and subordinate formations locations, with COM ARRC taking over 116,000 personnel under command in the simulated environment.
HQ ARRC also found itself operating on a greater scale than previously with 1( UK) XX and 3( UK) XX’ s coming under command, as well as the Italian Acqui
Division and 1st Canadian Division returning for a second Ex AvT in a row. The ARRC also took under command the Corps Troops elements that will support the Corps going forward with the Multinational Field Artillery Brigade( MNFAB), 1 Aviation Brigade( 1 Avn Bde), 8 Engineer Brigade( 8 Engr Bde), 2 Medical Group( 2 Med Gp), 7 Air Defence Group( 7 AD Gp), 1 Military Police Brigade( 1 MP Bde), and the Czech CBRN Bdigade( Cze CBRN Bde). 1 Signal Brigade( 1 Sig Bde) enabled the communication and broader support to
the deployed Headquarters throughout with 104 Theatre Support Brigade( 104 TSB) providing LOCON support somewhat out of role as 2 x Combat Service Support Brigades as well as the UK’ s National Support Element. Added to this, the ARRC Exercise Control( EXCON) element also managed the Civil-Military Cooperation( CIMIC) Group and Psychological Operations( PsyOps) element. A final notable addition to the ARRC’ s overall capabilities came from the Portuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade( PRT RRB) who bolstered 1( UK) XX’ s ranks providing an air-mobile force which complemented the division’ s existing capabilities.
The planning for Ex AvT25 began in earnest in December 24 with personnel from across the HQ and 1 Sig Bde deploying to numerous planning conferences in Germany from then until late August 25. The HQ’ s major internal planning processes began in June 25 with the receipt of orders into the HQ and flowed through the Intelligence and Engineer led understanding of the operating environment and into the G5 and G35 led Corps Planning Process and Refinement in September and October 25.
Locations
Following Ex AvT24 where the HQ ARRC deployed into a building of opportunity giving an opportunity to develop the notion of hiding in plain sight, the decisions made for Ex AvT25 saw the HQ deploying to multiple locations and seeing some of the subordinate formations also feeding into the exercise from more dispersed locations than previously achieved. Command Post 1( CP1) deployed to an unused Typhoon aircraft hangar at Buckley Barracks, while Command Post 2( CP2) deployed to a subterranean location at Corsham Mines. COM ARRC was provided for with a mobile tactical command post which allowed him to maintain communications with the HQs on the move, while also enabling him to visit and exercise command from various locations during the exercise. 3( UK) XX ran its Current Ops functions from Grafenwöhr, with the balance of its functions executing from Bulford, while GOC 1( UK) XX was tied into the exercise from York with the remainder of his deployed staff also executing from Grafenwöhr. 1 Avn Bde’ s main Command Post was located at Middle Wallop, while the MNFAB collocated it’ s HQ alongside CP1. HQ ARRC also deployed liaison teams to the MCLCC in Germany, as well as to 2 Polish Corps in Germany as well as US V Corps and MNC( NE) in Poland. Exercise Control( EXCON) was located in Grafenwöhr, Germany alongside the Divisional and Corps Troops formations execution cells.
4 WINTER 2025 the imjin @ HQARRC NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps @ HQARRC