May 13 2021

The Multinational Medical Coordination Centre intensifies cooperation with JSEC during NATOs Flagship Exercise Steadfast Defender 2021

Thursday May 13 - Brigadier General (Medical Corps) Dr. med. Stefan Kowitz, Director of the Multinational Medical Coordination Centre/European Medical Command (MMCC/EMC) visited the Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC) in Ulm. JSEC Deputy Commander, Major General Hartmut Renk, and Navy Captain (MC) Matthias Lucks, the Medical Advisor of JSEC, welcomed him in the Wilhelmsburg Barracks.

Since JSEC also covers logistical tasks in the medical sector, Dr. Kowitz particularly was interested in JSEC’s role during NATO’s Flagship Exercise Steadfast Defender 2021. “We are very much looking forward to further cooperating with the MMCC and will establish a good working level relationship,” stated Renk. Steadfast Defender 2021 is the first common exercise of the two commands, where the MMCC established and manned a response cell for the JSEC staff. In addition, exchanging information and establishing direct contact were the focal points of Dr. Kowitz’s journey to Ulm. He pointed out, “We are a relatively small command but we do our best to connect Europe and NATO and to support JSEC on its way to full readiness.”

The MMCC/EMC supports the NATO and EU medical services as a coordinator. Their main focus is on providing and assessing the medical situation picture, which is developed in cooperation with national and international organizations, including NATO and EU themselves. Eighteen nations are contributing to this project already, and there are more to come.

Story by Joint Support and Enabling Command

Brigadier General (MC) Dr. med. Stefan Kowitz, Director MMCC/EMC, and JSEC Medical Advisor, Navy Captain (MC) Matthias Lucks. (JSEC picture by Airman First Class Gina Seegert, DEU AF)

Major General Hartmut Renk, JSEC Deputy Commander, and Brigadier General (MC) Dr. med. Stefan Kowitz, Director MMCC/EMC on their way to the Joint Operations Centre of the exercise (JSEC picture by Airman First Class Gina Seegert, DEU AF)

Major General Hartmut Renk, JSEC Deputy Commander, exchanges thoughts with Brigadier General (MC) Dr. med. Stefan Kowitz, Director MMCC/EMC, about the future cooperation. (JSEC picture by Airman First Class Gina Seegert, DEU AF)