ARRC JOURNAL
JOINT VISITORS BUREAU:
ADMINISTRATION OR INFLUENCE?
Major Paul Collis-Smith, British Army
“We face a changing security environment threat which is complex and dangerous for
the UK and our national interests. No country is able to address all the challenges alone.
Strong Alliances and partnerships are more important than ever.”
Sir Michael Fallon, Former UK Secretary of State for Defence
The Problem
Here at the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
(ARRC) we are all in the business of
influencing our A3E. Doing so satisfies a
large portion of promoting our interests
and projecting our influence overseas
as stated in the UK’s Security Strategy.
Being ‘international by design’ gives the
ARRC an extra dimension as a useful
communication tool in executing the
UK’s National Defence Engagement
Strategy as a strategic headquarters
within NATO. The work practises of the
Joint Visits Bureau (JVB) lies at the heart
of defence engagement. We are a team
of five individual who are dedicated to
facilitating the ARRC’s efforts to promote
the interests and influence of NATO to its
target audience.
The ARRC’s strategic communications
directive (STRATCOM) states:
HQ ARRC is an innovative HQ by
design and ambition, which encourages
conceptual debate and uses its extensive
operational experience and multi-
nationally resourced training programme
to experiment with ideas, evolve
thinking, explore boundaries and pioneer
development of doctrine (both NATO and
National). The Comprehensive Approach
and Integrated Action have become
central themes in the future development
of the Alliance; HQ ARRC is actively
contributing to both concepts
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ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS
through
civil-military
engagement,
exercises and integration activities. are well placed to facilitate dialogue at all
levels and target all relevant audiences.
Within the JVB, the main objectives we
facilitate are to: The ARRC’s Strategic Communication
(STRATCOM) cell gives direction on
how to portray the ARRC as a leading
class,
UK-framework,
multinational
headquarters that is capable of leading
operations at the corps, land component
command (LCC) or joint task force (JTF)
levels. Part of the directive is to support
UK and Alliance aims, objectives and
values. The question is, then, is the ARRC
meeting its STRATCOM objectives by
merely facilitating a professional visit?
Key Leader Engagement needs follow
up with additional outreach coordinated
through the Public Affairs Office and it
is a pan-headquarters responsibly to
ensure the awareness of this process is
considered throughout all activities.
• Contribute to NATO’s efforts to promote
and project stability beyond its borders
in support of the defence of the Alliance,
and as an expression of its commitment
to its values and willingness to defend
them.
• Support
resourcing of the ARRC
capabilities,
development
and
experimentation (CD&E) programme
by promoting HQ ARRC as a leading
proponent
of
evolutionary
and
transformational military thinking.
In order to meet these objectives, the
JVB focusses on key leader engagement
(KLE) as a prioritised activity, but visits
must have a purpose, an outcome and
a useful, measurable effect. This is more
challenging than the visit itself.
How do we solve the problem?
Each visit has a potential to make an
impact and gain traction as positive
influence. The JVB is the tool by which a
positive impression is created by providing
an environment where senior staff can
take care of business. Therefore, the
JVB melds the administration component
with the influence piece at the forefront.
Combined with the nature of the ARRC
Central Staff’s connections across all
branches of the headquarters, the JVB
Three of the five UK defence engagement
objectives stand out as core JVB
business on behalf of the ARRC:
• Prevent conflict
• Develop capacity and interoperability
• Build and maintain access and influence
Service members operating at the
strategic, operational or tactical level
should have these objectives in place.
The range of visitors to the ARRC with
JVB involvement has the potential to
expand our influence amongst their
connections. This presents the ARRC’s
command group with the potential