JFC Brunssum returns to Poland one year after successfully conducting the live component of Exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013, as a NRF Headquarters. The aim of this year’s exercise is to maintain momentum, train new staff and prove readiness for deploying within the NRF framework. TRJT 2014 is one of key milestones ahead of certification for NRF 2016. The NRF is at the core of NATO’s Connected Forces Initiative (CFI), which is designed to maintain readiness and combat-effectiveness through expanded education and training. JFC Brunssum will use the experience, facilities and capabilities of the JFTC to maximize its training.
TRJT 2014 is a Command Post Exercise designed to test the abilities of JFC Brunssum in leading the defense of an allied nation through the conduct of a NATO Article V operation. The training audience is supported by augmentees from member and partner nations and, in total, 23 nations will be represented. The exercise scenario contains fictitious developments in the Baltic Sea region, but the chain of events has been scripted to reflect current challenges in modern warfare.
TRJT 2014 will also serve as a platform for developing a comprehensive approach at the operational level; 8 non-NATO organizations (UNOCHA, UNDPKO, UNWFP, OXFAM, War Child International, World Vision International and the ICRC) will join the training audience to discuss ways of cooperating in potential future operations. The number of external organizations has increased significantly since Steadfast Jazz 2013 and the plan is to increase the level of IO and NGO participation in future JFC Brunssum exercises.
The recently completed Polish exercise, Anaconda 14, also focused on improving Alliance capability and interoperability. JFC Brunssum has sent a team of observers to Anaconda 14 and members of the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces will augment TRJT 2014.
JFC Brunssum, based in the Netherlands, is one of two NATO Joint Force Headquarters (the other being JFC Naples) within Allied Command Operations (ACO) capable of deploying in command of a Major Joint Operation supported by ACO’s single service (Land, Sea, Air, Special Forces) commands. JFC Brunssum serves as the out-of-theatre Operational headquarters for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Other tasks include Contingency Planning, Military Partnership, and NRF leadership.
JFTC Bydgoszcz supports training for NATO and Partner forces to improve joint and combined tactical interoperability and assists Allied Command Transformation (ACT) in the promotion of NATO doctrine development by cooperating with Centers of Excellence (COEs) in order to improve NATO’s capabilities and interoperability.
