READY FOR OPERATIONS
THE ROAD TO A LAND CENTRIC JOINT TASK FORCE HQ
By Col . J . W . Maas ( NLD ), Lt . Col . M . Greune ( GER ), and Lt . Col . J . E . Livingstone ( USA ), GE / NL Corps
The security context in Europe has changed . This has motivated NATO leadership to develop a force structure capable of responding to a variety of situations , across the range of military operations . Moreover , to direct these forces in operations , the Alliance has devised a flexible headquarters structure , including Joint Task Force Headquarters focused on small , land-focused joint operations ( JTF HQ ( L )).
This article describes the path 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps followed to successfully pass the certification exercise Trident Jaguar 2017 at the Joint Warfare Center ( JWC ) in Stavanger , Norway . The intent was to be fully prepared to lead operations as a JTF HQ ( L ) in case called upon by NATO or Germany and the Netherlands as framework nations or other organizations like the United Nations or EU , together with non-military partners to bring a crisis to a sustainable resolution .
Three operational roles for 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps
In 2010 , NATO decreased the number of headquarters in the NATO Command Structure ( NCS ), while maintaining the same level of ambition , i . e ., two major joint operations ( MJO ) and six small joint operations ( SJO ), which consist of up to corps or divisional level operations , respectively . The nine deployable High Readiness Forces ( Land ) Headquarters of the NFS , therefore , assumed responsibility for meeting a variety of needs derived from anticipated requirements . Within this structure 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps fulfilled three different roles at the tactical as well as the operational level . Firstly , a Corps headquarters at the tactical level , secondly , a Land Component Command ( LCC ) as part of the NFS at the tactical level and , finally , as of 1 July 2017 , Joint Task Force Headquarters ( Land ) ( JTF HQ ( L )) at the operational level .
In addition , in all three roles 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps is also capable of acting as a professional training platform for brigades and divisions of the framework nations within 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps . For example , in exercise Vital Sword , which will take place in October and November 2017 in Wildflecken , Germany , 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps provides oversight and higher headquarters support . The Corps develops a scenario and directs the exercise to enable Headquarters 1 . ( DEU ) Panzer Division to become initial operational capable and for Headquarters German Division Schnelle Kräfte to become full operational capable .
However , as a corps headquarters 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps must be able to plan , organize command and control combined offensive , defensive and stability operations and enable land tactical activities across the entire mission spectrum to fulfil the full range of NATO missions . This means from peacetime military engagement to major combat operations .
As a LCC 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps acts at the highest tactical level , is part of a multinational joint force and is capable of providing command and control to land forces , including theatre combat support and combat service support forces . Although a Corps headquarters can also be subordinate to a LCC , both act at the tactical level . A Corps headquarters conducts command
10LAND POWER