The NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency March 14 signed an agreement on working arrangements and a multi-year program of work with the 1 German Netherlands Corps (1GNC) in the first example of re-use of NATO Afghanistan investments to boost nations’ readiness for the elite NATO Response Force (NRF).
–A multi-national High Readiness Forces (Land) Headquarters (HRF(L) HQ). It is deployable within 20-30 days to command corps-sized land forces.
The multiyear project will provide the 1GNC with a mission network, fully loaded with core and functional services, including the implementation of Land Command & Control Information Systems (LC2IS), the agency said in a statement.
This cooperation is the initial step in a wider effort of agency support to LANDCOM Commander Lt. Gen. Frederick “Ben” Hodges’ initiative for implementing the NATO solutions, developed for the NATO Command Structure, also for Afghanistan, in the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps to facilitate their certification and readiness for the NRF.
Hodges said: “(The) signing of a multi-year program of work agreement between 1st German-Netherlands Corps and The NATO Communications and Information Agency in The Hague, Netherlands is another step forward for our partnership. The NCI Agency has consistently provided us outstanding support to the highest expectations throughout LANDCOM. Specifically, providing vital interoperability throughout our NATO Force Structure. Of course, this is just the beginning. I know that this Strategic Partnership will continue to flourish and generate similar interest in training and simulation activities throughout other land forces we are partnered with.”
Working closely with the operational community, the awareness and requirement capture campaign will extend toward the maritime and air commands and outreach to the training centers in the coming year to support capability development, connectivity of forces, including for the willing and capable partners.
The agreement builds on cooperation that began Sept. 9 by the Chiefs of Defense of Germany and the Netherlands and culminated in the ceremony that is “Connecting the 1GNC and the NCI Agency in a Strategic Partnership,” said Lt. Gen. Volker Halbauer, 1GNC commander.
The NCI Agency is using the “Comprehensive C4ISR approach to NATO Forces 2020” that aims at maximizing synergies between common and nationally funded programs and services on a bilateral or multilateral basis, an agency booklet said.
The main effort is to maximize the re-use of what NATO develops under its Security Investment Program(NSIP).
NCI Agency General Manager Koen Gijsbers said: “The 1GNC leads the way for Future NATO Forces…and…it is our contribution to the NATO for nations’ effort in the post ISAF period.”
The main benefits to the participating elements are: guaranteed interoperability with the NATO command structure through integration with existing NATO communication capabilities and through the reuse of NATO common funded developed software applications, the booklet said.
An additional benefit is cost effectiveness by leveraging those existing common-funded capabilities and avoiding redevelopment costs.
A third benefit is to train as you fight by using the same infrastructure and applications during training and exercises as those used in operational theaters.
After one year of close cooperation with the 1GNC and the implementation of Information management tools in the Garrison network, the partnership is now fully oriented toward the certification of the corps in its role as Land Component Command (LANDCOM) during its rotation for the NRF 2015 to be followed by cooperation in preparing 1GNC as Joint Task Force Command for 2017.
Brig. Gen. Toine Beukering from the Netherlands Ministry of Defense stressed that “it is all about trust and people to make it a success.”
The success of this project could provide a good example of how existing NATO solutions can be re-used by NATO nations, beginning with the framework nations of the various rapid reaction corps, and could contribute to implementation of the Connected Forces Initiative in an effective and efficient way.