Training alliance partners
Mentoring and Training Activity in Ukraine
By Wing Commander Andy ‘ Daisy ’ Butterfield
“ Slava Ukraini !” The salutation goes out from me to the huddled rows of personnel from the Armed Forces of Ukraine ( AFU ). We are all gathered in Rivne , a town about 5-hours drive from Kyiv . “ Heroiam Slava !” comes the surprised yet forceful reply from seventy voices . This use of the Ukrainian National Salute by the HQ ARRC visitors goes a short way to bridge the language gap and break the ice . It is also a small but positive first step for the mentoring and training mission we have come to deliver to the AFU .
Ukraine is a proud nation and one that considers itself under siege from the east , south and south west . The greeting above , which translates into “ Glory to Ukraine ! Glory to the Heroes ”, dates back to the 19th Century but recently came into prominence as a popular and prominent refrain during the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution and it became the official greeting of the AFU in 2018 by Presidential decree .
This simple yet powerful greeting speaks volumes about the HQ ARRC role in training and mentoring AFU personnel with the stated aim of increased NATO interoperability . HQ ARRC provides instructors and mentors because Ukraine is recognised by NATO as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner . The Ukraine Government and people are very grateful that we are there , but this group of Officers from Regional Command West seemed more sceptical – after all , they have been fighting in their homeland against an aggressive , well-resourced and intelligent enemy for 7 years . What do we have to teach them ? It is a question that occupied me from the moment I was placed on the team .
It is not until we enter the practical phases towards the end of the 5-day course , that something magical happens . The Ukrainians show us how their enemy operates and shifts tactically and operationally , bringing new techniques and tactics , as well as new equipment , to the battlefield . They , in turn , learn how our approach to risk management becomes a key and useful tool for the commander and how Multi-Domain Integration can assist the fight by bringing joint effects to bear . By the time of the final brief there is a mutual understanding and respect of NATO planning processes and then the real lessons learned can be demonstrated .
HQ ARRC ’ s experience of training and mentoring AFU personnel stretches back to 2018 and during that time we have trained and mentored AFU personnel in higher tactical and operational planning at all their Regional Commands as well as at the recently created Joint Forces Command ( JFC ) in Kyiv . If you are lucky enough to be part of a training or mentoring team in Ukraine in the future , you will find a warm welcome whatever the weather and a stoic , independent people . Before travelling out to the various regional commands , watch the documentary ‘ Winter
on Fire ’ ( Netflix ) then take a walk around beautiful Kyiv and see the sights of the 2014 revolution : Maidan Square and St Michael ’ s Golden Domed Monastery . Inspect the faces on the Memorial Wall of the Fallen , some 14000 who have died in combat in the defence of Ukraine since 2014 . It is a humbling and thoughtprovoking sight and brings home the fact that here in Europe in 2021 , we have a country engaged in kinetic warfighting on their own territory and that you have a responsibility to add value whilst you are there .
The AFU will use their various operationallevel exercises in 2022 to optimise JFC processes and have recognised that NATO interoperability is key to providing a hard deterrent . To that end it is vital that we identify and provide the training that best allows this . I look forward to returning to Kyiv soon and helping them on their journey towards NATO interoperability .
Slava Ukraini ! Heroiam Slava !
Syndicate work during
Course of Action development
Training support to partners – Sweden
Lt Col Twan Verbaten
After a challenging eighteen months of planning , The ARRC G5 Plans team finally succeeded in getting to Stockholm and running the first NATO Land Tactical Planning Courses ( NLTPC ), based on the HQ ’ s internal planning methodology at the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre ( SWEDINT ).
The course was designed to address a knowledge gap in higher tactical planning ; with ARRC specifically asked to deliver a course based on our interpretation of the NATO doctrinal process using our internally developed Tactical Handbook for planning . Twenty-nine officer students from across NATO and enhanced partnership countries ( including the chief of operations for the Swedish Armed Forces ) participated . Over two weeks they were coached through the
Exercise APOLO 21 ( October 21 ), Aveiro , Portugal
As part of HQ ARRC ’ s Mutual Support Activity , seven members of the HQ deployed to Portugal in support of the Portuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade ( RRBde ). The RRBde is a highly trained specialist Brigade consisting of paratroopers , commandos and Special Operations Forces capable of deploying rapidly to threats internally and externally . The exercise took place at the 2nd Paratroopers Infantry Battalion , 10th Infantry Regiment in Aveiro , Northern Portugal .
Portuguese Commander Land Forces Tenente- General Antonio Martins Pereira visiting Ex APOLO 21
Ex APOLO 21 was designed to test the RRBde HQ in realistic challenging circumstances based on an already developed scenario . Phase one began on the 8th October and was aimed at low level and tactical training for the RRBde HQ .
The second phase began on 11th October and concentrated on the Brigade HQ planning , coordinating , and executing a plan to their subordinate units . HQ ARRC supported the exercise by providing a team of subject matter experts including G35 planners , G2 specialists plus Fires , G4 and aviation experts , to integrate with the RRBde ’ s exercise controllers . The HQ ARRC team took an existing scenario and , in the UK , tailored it to the RRBde objectives before deploying to Portugal and delivering updated staff work , a simulated ARRC Battle Rhythm and a simulated Corps command to provide the detail and realism needed by the Portuguese Brigade HQ .
In the margins of the exercise the ARRC team was also able to learn more on the history of the Infantry Regiment Number 10 at their museum and visit the beautiful city of Aveiro . Throughout the Portuguese were superb hosts .
Exercise APOLO was a fantastic opportunity for HQ ARRC to exercise with the RRBde . It built upon the already strong links formed during Exercise ARCADE FUSION in 2019 . Exercise APOLO 21 has set the foundations for APOLO 22 which will again take place with the RRBde in Portugal .
intricacies of the NATO planning process and the development , assessment and validation of their own plans against a fictional crisis scenario .
Keen to mix the practical with the conceptual , SWEDINT organised a series of panel discussions and fire side chats in their Life Guard ’ s Mess , most notably from serving Swedish Army General Officer , Brigadier General Par Blid , who talked about his fascinating time as a participant on the Russia General Staff Officers course in 2000 . The outgoing Commander ARRC , Lieutenant General Smyth-Osbourne , also attended to give a wideranging fireside chat , covering how staff can best support their formation commander as well as his thoughts on NATO ’ s future direction .
@ HQARRC Allied Rapid Reaction Corps the imjin WINTER 2021 9