U.S. European Command logisticians joined 80 Allied and partner nation colleagues in Ulm, Germany, this week to rehearse the movement of the NATO Response Force and additional Ally units during a crisis.
Hosted by NATO’s newest command, the Joint Support and Enabling Command, the event included elements of major NATO Headquarters from Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, USEUCOM, Joint Forces Command Brunssum, all USEUCOM component commands, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.
The exercise scenario challenged the multinational logisticians to overcome practical constraints that arise from moving large combat forces and their sustainment across the continent and ultimately in directions spanning 360 degrees.
“These logisticians are solving graduate-level problems,” said Rear Adm. Duke Heinz, USEUCOM’s logistics director. “Exercises such as this that bring together NATO logisticians, directly translate to increased readiness. We are more responsive, more resilient, and ultimately a more lethal Alliance after collective training events such as this.”
In addition to Heinz, other logistics leaders participating in the rehearsal included the event’s official host, JSEC Commander Lt. Gen. Jürgen Knappe of Germany, SHAPE Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Enablement Maj. Gen. Raimundo Roca of Spain, 21st TSC Commander U.S. Army Maj. Gen. James Smith, and Standing Joint Logistic Support Group Commander Air Commodore Elizabeth Purcell of the United Kingdom.
“Thoroughly impressive demonstration of how NATO can come together as military professionals to solve the real-world challenge of moving and sustaining forces over a prolonged period of time,” Roca said. “I appreciate the JSEC hosting this event, likewise I appreciate the significant investment of time and effort committed by all the participating nations and commands.”
Participants spent two intensive days exercising the movement of Allied elements comprised of the NATO Response Force and additional allied forces.
“The U.S. military consistently exercises how we bring additional combat forces to Europe in the case of crisis. Seeing our NATO Allies lead similar rehearsals to train on moving and sustaining forces has been truly impressive to witness,” said Smith. “This is what vigilance looks like – strengthening partnerships while building competencies.”
Previous iterations of similar USEUCOM exercises have yielded insightful lessons learned that continue to inform military planning.
“While political challenges always exist in the movement and sustainment of Allied military formations, these types of logistics-focused events force planners at the operational level to account for a contested environment,” said Heinz.
“It is great to see our NATO counterparts testing the defensive capabilities of air and sea points of debarkation,” added Purcell. “This allows us to collectively validate our ability to receive forces and project military power across the theater.”
For more information about JSEC, visit NATO's JSEC website.
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About USEUCOM
U.S. European Command is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 64,000 military and civilian personnel and works closely with NATO Allies and partners. The command is one of two U.S. forward-deployed geographic combatant commands headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. For more information about USEUCOM, visit https://www.eucom.mil.
