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legislation as well as direct interaction with the local population are considerable advantages of eFP compared to other NATO land component entities .
From a strategic perspective , the eFP Battle Groups are still viewed as a political symbol . One might ask : What can a relatively small tactical unit achieve in the case of a full-scale invasion by adversary forces ? Even though they were set up this way , the tactical level has been constantly evolving during the last years ; and thus the Battle Groups have been adapting to the situation on the ground . It is worthwhile to note that every host nation is different . For instance , when a local partner is lacking some brigade-level support ( in artillery , air defence or joint fires ), the eFP contributors add such capabilities to the Battle Group and – by these means – bolster the brigades they are integrated with . Sound examples are exercises where eFP Joint Terminal Attack Controllers ( JTAC ) conduct air-to-ground support missions with NATO Air Policing assets4 . It often happens that additional troops ( brigade- and even division-level assets ) are sent by a lead nation to support evaluation exercises ( as Germany does in Lithuania on a regular basis5 ). It is a valuable training experience , especially from a logistical point of view , and a great rehearsal for future deployments . All in all , eFP participants and national defence forces both gain additional combat power they would not have had on their own . And even more : the Battle Groups are part of local defence plans . They are already familiarized with
IRON WOLF the environment in their areas of responsibility6 . Therefore , plans which are coordinated with national brigades , Multinational Divisions North-East and North and , ultimately , Multinational Corps Northeast ( MNC-NE ) reflect planning for the real situation on the ground .
MNC-NE ’ s unique status It is certainly a unique feature , also from the NATO Force Structure ( NFS ) perspective . MNC-NE as NATO ’ s first Regional Land Component Command ( LCC ) is currently the only tacticallevel NFS headquarters with real land force units under its command at all times . The Battle Groups deal with real issues in the field . They report according to set NATO standards and get tasks from the Corps HQ through divisions and brigades . As MNC- NE is responsible for collective defence planning in the Baltic region , the land-oriented perspective is conveyed to the joint and strategic levels through all means available – be it routine reports and assessments , integrating operational challenges into staff and tabletop exercises or key leader engagements .
The eFP in the Baltic states offers national defence forces a possibility to operate and train with heavy forces and vice versa . It does not apply to Poland to the same degree as it has a well-established and capable defence industry as well as strong and fully professionalized armed forces . In Estonia , for example , until the arrival of the eFP , the heaviest equipment used in exercises were armoured personnel carriers . The ability to operate in the same battlespace with Allied main battle tanks ( MBTs ) cannot be obtained theoretically . It has to be practised . In such cases , the Estonian Defence League volunteers actively participate as opposing forces against the Battle Group . This is a good chance to “ seek and destroy ” not ordinary trucks with yellow insignia but to experience real combat fighting vehicles and MBTs . In turn , the Baltics ’ infantry brigades benefit from it by enhancing their planning capabilities , especially with regard to the logistical challenges of how to supply heavy units . This is also true for solving the tactical questions of how to properly use a heavy armour battalion . All these are the new skills honed within national brigades ’ exercise and training activities .
4 - https :// www . nato . int / cps / en / natohq / news _ 175881 . htm
https :// jfcbs . nato . int / page5964943 / 2020 / week-20-northern-europe-operational-update- . aspx
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5 - Lessons from the Enhanced Forward Presence , 2017-2020 ; NATO Defence College , 2020 ; page 65
6 - Lessons from the Enhanced Forward Presence , 2017-2020 ; NATO Defence College , 2020 ; pages 28 , 31 .