STAVANGER, Norway – NATO’s largest command post exercise (CPX) this year, STEADFAST JUPITER-JACKAL 2020 (STJU-JA 20), concluded on December 10 at different exercise locations in Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Norway and Turkey.
Sponsored by Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and directed by Rear Admiral Jan C. Kaack, Commander Joint Warfare Centre (JWC), STJU-JA 20 provided unique training opportunities to train and evaluate the 2021 NATO Response Force (NRF) headquarters.
“We have succeeded in delivering a demanding exercise, which has tested the training audience headquarters at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels, addressing highly complex, combined/joint crisis response operations and conflict prevention,” said Rear Admiral Kaack.
“In addressing crisis situations, we always need to look for new and better ways to integrate military and civilian efforts, combining political, civilian, and military instruments. Therefore, I cannot overemphasize the importance of STEADFAST JUPITER-JACKAL 2020. This non-Article 5 exercise has not only enhanced NATO’s comprehensive crisis response capabilities and contributed to the readiness of NATO Response Force in 2021, but it has also underscored our commitment to peace, security, democracy, and human rights using NATO’s 360-degree approach to current and future challenges.”
Directed by the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway, Exercise STEADFAST JUPITER-JACKAL 2020 provided a critical training and certification opportunity to the NATO Response Force (NRF) in 2021.
Military means not enough on their own to meet complex security challenges
According to Wing Commander John Watson, JWC’s Officer of Primary Responsibility (OPR) for STJU-JA 20, successful civil-military cooperation plays a decisive role in crisis response.
“Building on their unique capabilities and operational experience, including expertise in civilian-military interaction, Allied Joint Force Command Naples and 1 German-Netherlands Corps (1GNC) – supported by NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Turkey, Italian Joint Force Air Component, Composite Special Operations Component Command, and 1GNC’s Joint Logistics Support Group – showed how NATO Command and Force Structure Headquarters, working collaboratively, can contribute to the efforts of the international community for maintaining peace, security, and stability, in full coordination with other actors.”
From Watson’s perspective, STJU-JA 20 also confirmed that military means, although essential, were not enough on their own to meet the many complex challenges to lasting peace.
“The effective implementation of a comprehensive approach to crisis situations requires nations, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations to contribute in a concerted effort,” emphasized Watson, adding: “In STJU-JA20, NATO has demonstrated that the Alliance is ready for all types of operations regardless of location, complexity, or scale.”
Evident throughout the exercise was the success of the JWC’s modified CPX construct, which, Watson noted, was adapted quickly to the changing conditions due to the pandemic.
“It is down to the expertise, resilience, and imagination of the JWC staff and the training audiences’ planning teams; it is a result of which we can all be proud,” said Watson.
“JWC’s approach to STJU-JA20 reflected some of the several strengths of NATO – decisive leadership, adaptability, multinational cooperation, a determination to succeed, and a willingness to take calculated risks to achieve our goals. Together, we make NATO better.”
STJU-JA 20 training audiences included Allied Joint Force Command Naples, 1 German-Netherlands Corps, Composite Special Operations Component Command and NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Turkey.
“Together! We make NATO better! In fulfilling our commitment to the high standards of the NATO Alliance, this is our sole purpose.” - Rear Admiral Jan C. Kaack, Commander JWC
“The JWC has a unique mission in NATO delivering the best possible training to the Alliance Forces and developing NATO’s warfighting capabilities – just as our motto says, ‘Together! We make NATO better!’ In fulfilling our commitment to the high standards of the NATO Alliance, this is our sole purpose."
Rear Admiral Kaack added: "One cannot deny the value of exercises like STEADFAST JUPITER-JACKAL 2020. We work very hard to design them in a way that will enhance the readiness and interoperability of our warfighters. This is what we do, and we do it well.”
The Joint Warfare Centre, located in Stavanger, Norway provides NATO’s training focal point for full spectrum joint operational level warfare.
The Centre supports NATO’s Warfare Development efforts, preparing the Alliance for every contingency through complex exercises, integrating a multi-domain approach.
Read More:
- STEADFAST JUPITER-JACKAL 2020, NATO’s largest command post exercise this year, begins :: JWC - NATO
- Scripting Workshop for STEADFAST JUPITER-JACKAL 2020 concludes :: JWC - NATO
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