MAGAZINE
SPRING 2019
FRONT
LINE
1GNC ASSUMES THE NRF LAND COMPONENT COMMAND MISSION
Dutch-German Headquarters on standby for nato spearhead
Munster > Germany
By 1GNC Public Affairs Office .
GOOD DAYS ARE AHEAD
The 1st German / Netherlands Corps ( 1GNC ) assumed the NATO Response Force ( NRF ) mission from the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy as the Land Component Command on Jan . 9 , 2019 . A special roll call at the Prinz Claus Barracks in Münster , Germany solidified the start of the NATO Headquarters ’ standby mission .
Throughout the year on standby , 1GNC can be deployed to command land forces all over the world on short notice . “ The NATO allies trust on the NATO response force as a vital element in our collective defence ,” said Lt . Gen . Michiel van der Laan , Commander of 1GNC . “ And we have proven to be ready for it .”
NATO Response Force
Launched in 2002 , the NRF is a highly ready and technologically advanced , multinational force made up of land , air , maritime , and Special Operations forces . It can be deployed quickly , wherever needed for the collective defence of NATO ’ s territory or other crisis-response operations . The NRF is based on a rotational system where allied nations commit units for a period of 12 months .
Very High Readiness Joint Task Force
In the ceremony , the command of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force ( VJTF ) was also transferred . In 2019 , the unit will be based on the German 9th Panzerlehrbrigade . The Netherlands and Norway support the German contingent with capabilities such as aviation and mechanized infantry . France , Belgium , Luxembourg , the Czech Republic , Latvia and Lithuania also provide forces .
NATO heads of state and governments agreed to create the VJTF at the Wales Summit in 2014 in response to a changed security environment . “ Once activated , the VJTF , is available to move immediately to defend any ally against any threat ,” said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu .
The 1GNC was part of the NRF on three occasions : 2005 , 2008 , and 2015 . “ We are again on standby , ready to be deployed wherever and whenever ,” concluded Van der Laan .
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Lt . Gen . John Thomson
“ MICHIEL – THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR TAKING ON THIS VITAL MISSION , AS WELL AS HOSTING TODAY ’ S CEREMONY . WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK AT THE HELM OF THE NATO RESPONSE FORCE . “