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NATO COMMAND STRUCTURE
The United Kingdom is a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation) and the majority of military operations are conducted in
concert with the forces of NATO allies.
In
1993, NATO was reorganised from three into two major Commands with a
further re-organisation of these two commands in 2003. The first is ACT
(Allied Command Transformation) with headquarters at Norfolk, Virginia
(USA) and the second is ACO (Allied Command Operations), with its
headquarters at Mons in Belgium.
NATO Operations in which the United Kingdom was a participant would
almost certainly be as part of a NATO force under the command and control
of Allied Command Operations (ACO). The current Supreme Allied Commander
is General General John Craddock.
SACEUR
- General John Craddock
General John Craddock
graduated from West Virginia University and was commissioned as an Armour
Officer. A tour of duty with the 3rd Armoured Division in Germany was
followed by a tour at Fort Knox Kentucky with the US Army Armour and
Engineer Board. Completion of the Armour Officer Advanced Course saw his
return to 3rd Armoured Division as a tank company commander.
In 1981, Craddock was reassigned to the Office of the Programme Manager,
Abrams Tank System first as a systems analyst, later as executive officer.
Graduation from the Command and General Staff College preceded a return to
Germany, this time with the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanised).
In 1989, Craddock assumed command of the 4th Bn 64th Armour 24th Infantry
Division (Mechanised) at Fort Stewart, Georgia. It was during this posting
that he deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After a
period as Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) for the 24th Division,
General Craddock attended the U.S. Army War College, assuming command of
the 194th Separate Armoured Brigade upon his graduation, before becoming
Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) for III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas.
1996 saw Craddock move to the Joint Staff at the Pentagon as Assistant
Deputy Director (Plans and Policy), J5. Two years later he moved back to
Germany as the Assistant Divisional Commander for Manoeuvre of 1st
Infantry Division (Mechanised). It was during this time that he was
designated Commander U.S. forces for the initial phase of operations in
Kosovo. He went on to be the Commanding General of the 7th Army Training
Command, U.S. Army Europe, then assumed command of 1st Infantry Division
(Mechanised). A tour as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of
Defence preceded the post of Combatant Commander U.S. Southern Command.
General Craddock led the U.S. Southern Command from 2004 until 2006.
General Craddock holds a Masters degree in Military Arts and Sciences.
General Craddock and his wife Linda have two children, Zachary and Amanda,
daughter-in-law Rania, and two granddaughters, Addy and Lizzie.
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