ment and where Mrs . Ursula von der Leyen , German Defence Secretary , addressed the international audience . The Common Effort Community is a perfect example of the comprehensive approach and a long-term investment in professional and personal relations , in knowledge and in institutions . By interacting effectively with other actors , while respecting each other ’ s mandate , 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps is able to facilitate holistic solutions for complex problems .
Towards a JTF HQ ( L )
Acknowledging the need for a variety of headquarters , NATO has drawn up a rotation plan for its headquarters , to develop a deliberate plan to enhance the capabilities and capacities it would need to serve as a joint headquarters . Therefore , starting in 2014 , 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps began the “ Road to JTF ” based on guidance from SHAPE and lessons learned from other headquarters which had already travelled this challenging road . The Corps ’ plan included a number of lines of operation across the headquarters designed to comprehensively transform the headquarters from its focus as an LCC as part of the NATO Response Force to a Joint Force Headquarters . While this transformation impacted the entire headquarters in a variety of ways , some areas of special emphasis will be highlighted , primarily because they particularly relate to the challenges of transforming into a JTF ( L ) HQ . Above all , the headquarters had to shift to a joint mindset , a change in perspective so that the commander and staff no longer focused exclusively on land force tactical operations but expanded their considerations to include the missions and capabilities of joint forces as well . In addition , after the activation order of NATO , the first elements must be deployable within days and the HQ must be fully operational capable within weeks . In short , 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps faced significant changes in the areas of education , training , procedures and structure ( to include personnel ).
One of the initial ways to reorient the thinking of the staff was through education . To facilitate the shift from land to joint command and control the staff of 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps first needed to know what they did not know and then they needed to fill the gaps through instruction both on joint capabilities and on operational planning . The process started with a JTF seminar in November 2015 , during which the fundamentals of JTF operations were
explained . Later , 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps conducted a key leader seminar in June 2016 to familiarize senior members of the staff with the requirements of a joint headquarters . Coupled with this individual education , 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps participated in a Comprehensive Operations Planning Course , hosted by RRC FRA and facilitated by the NATO School Oberammergau . This course significantly contributed to the cooperation between 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps and RRC FRA and closed gaps both with respect to a joint mindset and to elevating planning to the operational level .
The transition of 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps also required some concrete measures to ensure that it would be able to accomplish its assigned tasks . Again , working with SHAPE , NATO ’ s Joint Warfare Center ( JWC ) and consulting lessons identified by its predecessors , 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps developed a detailed set of Corps Standard Operating Instructions ( SOIs ). For its part , SHAPE provided a series of generic Standard Operating Procedures for Joint
Force Headquarters to contribute to interoperability and to serve as the basis of Corps SOIs . Because all corps headquarters are structured slightly differently they develop a set of unique SOIs that modify existing SOPs to fit the structure and preferences of that particular headquarters . 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps SOIs served as the basis for the Corps battle rhythm and staff process during preparation for the JTF standby period in order to implant terms and procedures in the normal staff routine and provided the foundation for the conduct of exercises to refine these documents .
At the same time , these efforts could not entirely close the gap . Because of the increased range of responsibilities required of an operational-level headquarters and the need for expertise in joint capabilities , the headquarters also needed additional personnel . 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps resolved this issue through the ( relatively ) permanent assignment of staff officers to the headquarters and the incorporation of augmentees at critical junctures . The 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps framework nations ( Germany and the Netherlands ) supplied maritime planners to both J5 and J3 and the NATO JFAC likewise provided air planners . In addition , a variety of organizations , such as the NLD Maritime Force , the NLD Cyber Command and the Italian and British JFAC , all supported the headquarters during exercises as would be expected in the event of an actual deployment . As a result , 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps has had both a regular joint presence and a robust , augmented staff for its exercise to refine and develop processes and procedures it would need in its new role .
Exercise plan for the JTF HQ ( L )
The Corps exercise plan came on top of these adjustments which provided a progressive structure designed to transform 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps in a measured , manageable fashion from a land-centric , tactical headquarters into a joint , operational-level C2 platform . Although SHAPE
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