North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
May 12, 2015
NATO Conducts ALLIED SHIELD Series of Exercises in June involving 11,000 troops from 22 Nations
MONS, Belgium:- In June NATO and Allies will conduct a series of training events which we refer to as the ALLIED SHIELD series of exercises. The ALLIED SHIELD series includes Exercise NOBLE JUMP, the first training deployment of Allied high-readiness units under the new Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) framework. It also includes BALTOPS, a major Allied naval exercise in Poland; SABER STRIKE, a significant land exercise in the Baltic States; and TRIDENT JOUST, a NRF command and control exercise in Romania. In total, approximately 11,000 troops from 19 different Allies and 3 partner nations will participate in this series of training events taking place across the Alliance in June 2015. All of these exercises are defensive and are a part of NATO’s assurance measures in response to challenges on NATO’s southern and eastern periphery. The activity will focus on enhancing interoperability, readiness and responsiveness among Allied and partner nations. ALLIED SHIELD demonstrates that NATO members are united in their commitment to collective defence.
Members of the Joint Operations Coordination (JOC) team at JFC Naples gather information during Trident Juncture 2014. JFC Naples participates in the NATO Exercise “Trident Juncture 2014″ to be certified as the 2015 NATO Response Force command and control element. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price/Released)
BALTOPS:
Who: USA and STRIKEFORNATO Exercise with Allies and Partners Participants: (17) NLD, DNK, EST, FRA, LVA, LTU, POL, UK, USA, TUR, BEL, NOR, CAN, DEU and partners FIN, SWE, GEO. Approximately 4500 participants.
What is it: Large scale joint exercise that focuses on Maritime and Amphibious operations. Training will include maritime interdiction operations, boarding and search/ seizure operations, anti-submarine warfare, mine warfare, anti-air, anti- surface warfare, maritime helicopter operations and amphibious landings.
When: 5-20 June, 5-7 June Pre-Sail conference in Poland (ships available), 19 June Post sail conference in Kiel Germany (Kiel Week).
Where: Baltic Sea, Poland.
Interesting points: Nearly 4500 personnel, including a 700-troop combined landing force (Finnish company, Swedish Company, USMC Company and FAST Platoon (Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team), Company from 173rd Airborne Brigade, US EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) element, US Naval Mobile Construction Element (SeaBees)) will participate in the exercise. 17 nations participating, including two standing NATO Maritime Groups. We expect around 47 ships and 49 aircraft. Aircraft scheduled to participate: NATO AWACS, US F-16s used as OPFOR (opposing forces), B-52s, P-3 and P-8 Maritime patrol aircraft, German Tornados, Swedish Grippen and US KC-135 tankers. Rotary wing aircraft scheduled to participate are; Seahawks, CH124, TH-70, UH-60 Blackhawks, Merlins, CH-47 Chinook, and AH-64 Apache.
SABER STRIKE:
Who: Host Nations: POL, EST, LVA, LTU.
Participants: EST, LVA, LTU, POL, UK, USA, FIN, NOR, DNK, DEU, FRA/DEU Brigade. Approximately 3000 participants.
What: Saber Strike 15 is a company level FTX (Field Training Exercise) and Brigade level CPX (Command Post exercise) intended to promote regional stability and security, strengthen partner capacity, and foster trust while improving interoperability among NATO partners. The overarching concept focuses on preparation of HQs and troops for NRF (NATO response Force) and future operations. LTU is the host nation and the CPX, the FTX portion is conducted in the three Baltic nations and Poland.
When: Exercise runs 8-20 June 2015.
TRIDENT JOUST:
Who: ITA, ROU, BGR. Approximately 1500 participants.
What: CPX to provide continuation training for Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples , maintain NRF level of proficiency and demonstrate capability to plan and execute operations. Additionally to train JFC Naples Command and Control over NRF 15; JFC HQs ability to function as a deployed HQ while planning and conducting operations in a collective defence context.
When: 17-28 June.
Where: ITA, ROU, BGR.
Czech Soldiers from the 43rd Airborne Battalion, 2nd Company load onto a CASA C-295 aircraft during Exercise Noble Jump at the Pardubice Airfield, Czech Republic, April 9, 2015. Exercise Noble Jump marks the first time that high-readiness units have physically tested their response to rapid ‘orders to move’ under the new VJTF framework. The training event marks a learning process that will allow NATO military staff to identify both successes and shortfalls as the Alliance continues to refine its high readiness capabilities. (NATO Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Davis, USAF)
NOBLE JUMP:
Who: SHAPE, JFC Naples, 1GNC, CZE, DEU, NLD, NOR, POL, BEL, USA, LTU, and HUN. 1GNC, CZE, NLD and POL will deploy from home bases. DEU, NOR units will deploy from Hohne, Germany. Approximately 2100 participants.
What: 2015 VJTF Deployment Exercise to test the deployment and employment of forces in a field training environment. This will also test the alert procedures and deployment abilities of the units that participated in the Alert Exercise in Apr 2015. The Deploy Exercise will also be the first time that the concept of a NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) is tested.
When: Exercise runs from 10-21 June 2015.
Where: Various home stations to deploy to Zagan Military Training Area in Poland.
Interesting Points: First deployment of the VJTF to a training exercise. Nations will provide the following unit types: CZE Air Mobile troops, DEU & NOR Mechanized Infantry, NLD Air Mobile troops, POL Armoured unit, POL & LTU Special Forces, BEL Artillery, USA helicopter units, HUN CIMIC (Civil-Military Co-operation).
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