The command post exercise part of NATO’s flagship exercise Steadfast Defender 21 takes place in Ulm, Germany, directed by NATO’s Joint Warfare Center in Stavanger, Norway. Storyline of the fictitious scenario is a collective defence situation in the European heartland, involving some 15,000 simulated forces. The aim is reinforcement and sustainment of the Alliance’s forces. “Our task is to ensure seamless, swift, and secure movements of NATO forces through European NATO states to an actual combat area,” explained Knappe
Our task is to ensure seamless, swift, and secure movements of NATO forces through European NATO states to an actual combat area
More than 300 participants from 18 Nations are physically present in the Wilhelmsburg Barracks, where the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium will evaluate JSEC’s overall performance throughout the exercise.
From left to right: Major General Hartmut Renk, JSEC Deputy Commander, Lieutenant General Jürgen Knappe, JSEC Commander, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, German Minister of Defence. (JSEC picture by Airman First Class Gina Seegert, DEU AF)
“The Joint Support and Enabling Command in Ulm clearly shows that we are ready to take responsibility and leadership within NATO,” stated Kramp-Karrenbauer during her visit, “Serving as a hub in the Alliance, Germany paves the way for smooth operations throughout the entire territory of the Alliance.”
Looking back to last week’s ceremony at SHAPE, Knappe added, “The signing of the Founding Arrangement by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the representatives of 17 NATO member states marks a paramount milestone on our journey to full readiness as a NATO headquarters.”