The Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC) and the Standing Joint Logistics Support Group (SJLSG), both located in Ulm, will show for the first time how they can contribute to projecting combat forces across Europe in a close coordination. Some 300 participants from 17 nations train to coordinate the rapid and seamless movement of virtual allied forces and their sustainment across European borders in a fictitious scenario.
JSEC and SJLSG will play a tremendously important role in the enablement of SACEUR's area of responsibility, contributing significantly to NATO's responsiveness.
Bijleveld-Schouten pointed out, “Obviously, these two specific
headquarters, JSEC and SJLSG, will play a tremendously important role in
the enablement of SACEUR’s area of responsibility, contributing
significantly to NATO’s responsiveness.”
From left to right: Brigadier General Arco Solkesz, JSEC Chief of Staff, Ank Bijleveld-Schouten, Defence Minister of The Netherlands, Lieutenant General Jürgen Knappe, JSEC Commander, Colonel James Philips, Deputy Chief of Staff, JSEC Operations Directorate (JSEC picture by Lieutenant Arnim Jungnickel, DEU N)
JSEC’s participation in the exercise forms an important milestone on its path to full readiness in fall 2021. In its first major NATO exercise, JSEC will focus on enabling the movement and integration of around 15.000 simulated forces in the Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s (SACEUR) area of responsibility, especially in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
We will coordinate troop movements across the Alliance in all directions, 360°
“We will coordinate the NATO and national troop movements across the Alliance in all directions, 360°,” explained Lieutenant General Jürgen Knappe, JSEC Commander. In addition, the exercise is a test-bed to evaluate and optimize JSEC’s concept, structure, functionality and capabilities.
During the media conference, Mrs. Bijleveld-Schouten stated, “I believe, intensifying our bilateral cooperation on military mobility, both, strategically and practically, is one of the keys to successful Europe-wide deterrence and credibility. In addition, I think that Germany and The Netherlands set the example with the cooperation between our two countries.”