U.S. Air Force General Frank Gorenc, NATO's senior Air Advisor and Commander of Allied Air Command (HQ AIRCOM) at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, visited the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) on Tuesday, 1 July.
In addition to his NATO role, General Gorenc also commands U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, responsible for an area that includes 105 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.
General Gorenc was welcomed to the JWC by the outgoing and incoming Chiefs of Staff/Deputy Commanders: U.S. Air Force Brigadier General John W. Doucette and Brigadier General Roger H. Watkins, respectively.
Following the office call with Brigadier General Doucette, the official programme continued with a guided tour of the Centre's state-of-the-art training facility, including visits to the two Combined Joint Operations Centres (CJOCs), the Exercise Control (EXCON) organization, the 600-seat Auditorium and the TV Studio, all housing JWC's unique capabilities and cutting-edge technologies. During the tour, General Gorenc received a detailed briefing about JWC's comprehensive media training capabilities and he also observed presentation of a simulated Common Operational Picture (COP) in a scenario-driven/simulation-supported exercise, designed by the JWC's CAX team.
Exercise TRIDENT JET 16 (TRJT 16)
Later, General Frank Gorenc received a detailed briefing about the initial planning considerations regarding Exercise TRIDENT JET, which is scheduled for 2016; as the 15 to 18-month planning timeline for this exercise will soon begin. In fact, HQ AIRCOM will form the main Training Audience for this exercise. Moderated by JWC's Lieutenant Colonel Heiko Hermanns, the follow-on discussions presented General Gorenc with a set of challenging exercise scenarios from which he will choose the best one in due course to achieve the specific exercise objectives and certify his command as a Joint Task Force (JTF) HQ in an air-heavy small joint combat operation.
The overall aim of the exercise is to ensure NATO's single air command for operational readiness. Ultimately, the scenario will also reinforce HQ AIRCOM's multiple standing missions and operational priorities, such as the Air Policing Mission and Ballistic Missile Defence, while exploring further air capabilities by practicing Command and Control (C2) in a complex and diverse environment.
During the discussions, General Gorenc also talked about some of the current key airpower issues and emphasized the importance of enhanced interoperability between Partners and Allies, as well as increased training and exercise opportunities for NATO's airmen.
While in Stavanger, General Gorenc also paid a visit to the 426th Air Base Squadron Community Activity Center, where he received a mission briefing on the Squadron's current activities and met with the U.S. Air Force staff.
Conclusion
Overall, the one-day visit provided a great opportunity for swapping updates, views and comprehensive discussions between HQ AIRCOM and the JWC leadership, which aimed to ensure best exercise opportunities for HQ AIRCOM in practicing Air C2 across the full range of Alliance operations now and in the future.
HQ AIRCOM: on the road to Full Operational Capability
HQ AIRCOM is NATO's single Air Command.
It is also the NATO Response Force (NRF) Air Component HQ for 2014, and includes the core of a NATO Joint Forces Air Component (JFAC).
In his capacity as Commander HQ AIRCOM, General Gorenc is responsible to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) for the Air and Missile Defence of the NATO Member Nations during peacetime operations. His command ensures the preservation of Alliance territorial integrity from Northern Norway to Southern Italy and from the Azores to Eastern Turkey, including every European NATO Nation.
HQ AIRCOM will achieve its Full Operational Capability this year.
Check JWC's Facebook page for more pictures of the ceremony: facebook.com/NATO.JWC