Amari Air Base, Estonia – Civilian and military guests observed a behind-the-scenes-view of the NATO exercise Steadfast Juncture 2012 during the Distinguished Visitors Day on November 5, 2012.

Some of the key visitors included the President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik; Allied Joint Force Naples Commander, Admiral Bruce W. Clingan; Estonian Chief of Defence, Brigadier General Riho Terras; and Joint Warfare Centre Commander, Major General Jean Fred Berger.

The overarching goal of the exercise is to train and assess the Allied Joint Force Command Naples Headquarters ability to command and control NATO Response Force (NRF) 2013 in a complex environment. The NRF is a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land,air, maritime and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly to wherever it is needed.

The participants of the DV day obtained a better understanding of the NATO training programme and how the NRF successfully contributes to maintaining a more stable and peaceful world. The distinguished visitors also had a chance to meet with Soldiers, Ssailors, Marines and Airmen representing both the Training Audience and the Exercise Control (EXCON) staff.

Admiral Clingan explained, "What you will observe today is more than the culmination of an intense process that began almost one year ago. It is the personification of our Alliance's shared values and the reason NATO has been, and will continue to be, the world's most enduring and effective military Alliance."

The DV day provided the senior leaders an opportunity to see first-thand the work being executed in the field as NATO members worked to increase their command and control interoperability.

Photos by: French Navy CPO Christian Valverde SFJE PAO