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Under the 2003 concept,
NATO forces should be able to rapidly deploy to crisis areas and remain
sustainable, be it within or outside NATO's territory, in support of both
Article 5 and Non-Article 5 operations. The successful deployments of the
Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) to two NATO-led Balkan
operations (the Implementation Force (IFOR) to Bosnia Herzegovina in 1995
and Kosovo Force (KFOR) to Kosovo in 1999) are early examples of
non-Article 5 crisis response operations outside NATO territory. The 2011
deployment of coalition assets to the Libyan no-fly zone (in support of
a UN Resolution) is a good example of rapid deployment in a crisis
situation.
The new concept will have its largest impact on land forces. Maritime and
air forces are by nature already highly mobile and deployable and often
have a high state of readiness. Most of NATO's land based assets, however,
have been rather static and have had limited (strategic) mobility. In the
new structure, land forces should also become highly deployable and should
have tactical and strategic mobility.
The mobility requirements will have great impact on the Alliance's
transport and logistic resources (sea, land and air based). The need for
quick reaction requires a certain amount of highly trained forces that are
readily available. Further, interoperability (the possibility of forces to
co-operate together with other units) and sustainability (the possibility
to continue an operation for an extended period of time) are essential in
the new force structure.
Note:
Article 5 operations commit each NATO member state to consider an armed
attack against one state to be an armed attack against all states.
Non-Article 5 operations are operations that are not concerned with
collective defence.
High Readiness Forces and Forces of Lower Readiness
There are forces of two different kinds of readiness posture. First,
forces with a higher state of readiness and availability, the so-called
High Readiness Forces (HRF) to react on short notice. Second, forces with
a lower state of readiness (FLR) to reinforce and sustain. Graduated
Readiness Headquarters will be developed to provide these forces with
command and control facilities.
High Readiness Forces (Land) Headquarters candidates available:
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The Allied Command Europe
Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) HQ in Gloucestershire with the United
Kingdom as framework nation
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The Rapid Deployable
German-Netherlands Corps HQ, based on the 1st German-Netherlands Corps
HQ in Munster (Germany)
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The Rapid Deployable
Italian Corps HQ based on the Italian Rapid Reaction Corps HQ in
Solbiate Olona close to Milan (Italy
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The Rapid Deployable
Spanish Corps HQ based on the Spanish Corps HQ in Valencia (Spain);
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The Rapid Deployable
Turkish Corps HQ based on the 3rd Turkish Corps HQ near Istanbul
(Turkey);
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The Eurocorps HQ in
Strasbourg (France) sponsored by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg
and Spain.
Note: The Eurocorps
Headquarters which has a different international military status based
on the Strasbourg Treaty has signed a technical arrangement with SACEUR
and can also be committed to NATO missions.
Forces of Lower Readiness (Land) Headquarters candidates:
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The Multinational Corps
HQ North-East in Szczecin (Poland) sponsored by Denmark, Germany and
Poland;
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The Greek "C" Corps HQ
near Thessaloniki (Greece).
High Readiness Forces
(Maritime) Headquarters:
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Headquarters Commander
Italian Maritime Forces on board of the Italian Naval Vessel GARIBALDI
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Headquarters Commander
Spanish Maritime Forces (HQ COMSPMARFOR) on board of LPD CASTILLA
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Headquarters Commander
United Kingdom Maritime Forces (HQ COMUKMARFOR) onboard a UK vessel
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