LANDPOWER MAGAZINE SPRING 2015 | Page 9

1 German Netherland Corps http :// www . 1gnc . org /

NRF : Ready with Comprehensiveness in our Genes

By Jos Hoenen 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps ’ civil advisor
1 ( GE / NL ) Soldier participating in Exercıse Noble Ledger , conducted at Wıldflecken , Germany

On 14 January 2015 , the formal hand-over / take-over of the tasks and responsibilities of the NATO Response Force ( NRF ) Land Component Command ( LCC ) took place in Münster ( Germany ). Lieutenant General John Nicholson , the Commander of Allied Land Command , represented NATO at this ceremony and relieved his French colleague Lieutenant General Eric Margail , the Commander of the Rapid Reaction Corps in Lille of his NRF duties . He praised Margail for his vision , leadership and performance over the past year . Subsequently , Nicholson passed these duties on to the German Lieutenant General Volker Halbauer , Commander of

1 ( German / Netherlands ) Corps ( 1 ( GE / NL ) Corps ). In his address , Halbauer referred to the attack on innocent civilians in Paris in January as an attack on the free media and the freedom of speech ; “ These freedoms are core values within all NATO member states . These events do not weaken us . On the contrary , they strengthen our will to defend these freedoms together ”. In support of France and out of respect for those who died in the terrorist attacks , the German Army Band played the French national anthem , the Marseillaise .
Ready to Lead Military Operations – Together Strong
According to Lieutenant General Nicholson , the “ NRF is composed of some of the best units in NATO ”. While 1 ( German / Netherlands ) Corps will command the Land Component , the Immediate Response Force Brigade , which is the main quickly deployable element , is formed around the Dutch 11 Air Manoeuvre Brigade , supplemented with elements from various NATO member states , especially Norway and Germany . By the way , the 11 Air Manoeuvre Brigade is a perfect example of Dutch and German cooperation and could be a role model for future cooperation for other partners as well . Since 2014 , this Dutch Brigade has been integrated into a German division , even during peacetime . Another Dutch brigade will follow this year . Let ’ s not forget other contributors to the NRF Land
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