North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum
September 8, 2014
EXERCISE STEADFAST JAVELIN-II AIRBORNE ASSAULT VISITED BY COMMANDER JFC BRUNSSUM
General Hans-Lothar Domröse, Commander Joint Forces Command Brunssum (JFCB), visited Latvia last Friday 5 September 2014 to attend to the exercise ‘Steadfast Javelin-II’ distinguished visitors day. He met with the senior officials and observed a number of exercise serials first hand. This included a night-time parachute jump by more than 400 NATO paratroopers onto Lielvārde Air Base that was followed by the seizure of the airfield and the landing of Stryker armoured vehicles.
In an interview General Domröse stressed the importance of exercises such as ‘Steadfast Javelin-II’ as platforms that enhance and maintain military interoperability – critically, amongst NATO member and partner nations under the framework of what the Alliance calls the ‘Connected Forces Initiative.’
Underlining NATO’s rock solid commitment to collective defence the General said: “With this exercise NATO sends the clear message that it is committed and ready to protect member nations’ territory at any time.” With specific reference to the Baltic States and Poland he added: “The Alliance is capable and willing to defend the countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland should the need arise.”
Exercise ‘Steadfast Javelin-II’ is a NATO exercise involving over 2,000 troops from 10 nations. It is being conducted simultaneously in Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. The exercise focuses on increasing interoperability and synchronizing complex operations between allied air and ground forces through airborne and air assault missions.
Story by: JFCB Public Affairs Office.
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