Steadfast Joiner 2008
Nearly 300 soldiers are on the air base 126 "Captain Preziosi" of Springfield and site of Ulnes (Norway), from 3 to 14 November 2008. They take part in the exercise, called Steadfast Joiner 08.
The particularity of this exercise is based on the simulation scenarios by computer, type CAX (Computer Assisted Exercise). The exercise will run from the cell Excon (Exercise control), based in Norway. A command structure called Joint Force Air Component Command (JFACC), level 2, will be deployed at the site of Springfield. The body of command has a capacity to implement and conduct 200 sorties of fighter aircraft per day.
The exercise will take place in two stages. In a first step, an initial entry force (initial deployment force) will be set up to manage crisis situations.
The second phase will, however, devoted to the installation of a stabilization operation, resulted in the creation of a Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF - grouping of forces).
NATO’s “Steadfast” series of exercises, aimed at getting the NATO Response Force up and running.
The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a permanently available, multinational and joint force, comprised of land, maritime, air and special operation forces, maintained at very high readiness. Being technologically advanced and self-sustainable, it can be tailored for the needs of a specific operation and deployed wherever required.
The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a highly ready and technologically advanced force made up of land, air, sea and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed.
It is capable of performing missions worldwide across the whole spectrum of operations. These include evacuations, disaster management, counterterrorism, and acting as ‘an initial entry force’ for larger, follow-on forces.
It can number up to 25,000 troops and start to deploy after five days’ notice and sustain itself for operations lasting 30 days or longer if resupplied.
The missions of NATO Response Force mirrors primarily the requirements of rapid response in the initial phase of a crisis situation deployed as a stand-alone force for Crisis Response, such as Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations; support Consequence Management; Crisis Response Operations and support Counter-Terrorism Operations.
The series of exercises began with Steadfast Jackpot, continued with Steadfast Jaguar and Steadfast Jaw (2006), Steadfast Jackpot (2007), Steadfast Joist, Steadfast Juncture and Steadfast Joiner (2008).
Exercises Steadfast develop the process of how NATO's Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) concept can be employed within and outside of NATO territory and how the CJTF concept will provide the critical capabilities for operational headquarters to meet the security tasks of the 21st Century. Exercise participants also include Partnership for Peace (PfP) and Mediterranean Dialogue nations. Also, special units, such as the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) and Multinational Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defence Battalion take part in the exercise.
A typical steadfast exercise consists of two main parts : training audience (TA) and exercise control (EXCON).
The typical Steadfast Exercise TA has two levels: a joint force command (JFC) and component commands (CC). Land, maritime and air CC (LCC, MCC, ACC respectively), as well as, special operations and psychological operations CC (SOCC and POCC respectively) normally join to the Steadfast exercises as primary TA (PTA). Sometimes one, multiple or all of CC and/or even JFC may be a secondary TA (STA) in a Steadfast exercise. It is also typical to have an NBC joint assessment team (JAT), a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) battalion and joint logistics support group (JLSG) as PTA. When a deployable joint task force (DJTF) is deployed in the exercise, ACC Forward and/or MCC Forward are also deployed together.
The training audience practiced their response to the crisis—from land, sea and air operations, right down to CIMIC, complex interaction with non-governmental organizations—and even media conferences with the commander.
Typical EXCON model consists of :
- Training team (TT) consists of mentors, observer/trainers (O/T), subject mater experts (SME) and analysts. TT is deployed with TA, observe TA, provide on site instructions and training, and collects inputs for the after action review (AAR) and the evaluation of TA.
- Exercise centre (EXCEN) is the organization responsible for the consistent and coherent flow of the exercise according to the exercise objectives.
- Experimentation team runs the experiments planned in conjunction with the exercise.
- Support team has the elements like real life support (RLS), visitor officer bureau (VOB), public information centre (PIC), security office and C4 event support team.
NATO leaders also found the exercise a valuable practise for the real-time logistics of moving headquarters personnel and materiel to a remote location.
The Steadfast Series of exercises will continuously develop the expeditionary capabilities required for future NATO missions including sustainment and necessary logistics.