STAVANGER, Norway – Exercise planners and representatives from EUROCORPS and the Spanish Joint Logistic Support Group (JLSG) gathered at the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) to continue the strategic-level crisis response planning for NATO Exercise STEADFAST JACKAL 2023 (STJA23).

Sponsored by Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and directed by the JWC, STJA23 will train and certify EUROCORPS as a NATO Joint Task Force Headquarters for 2024, together with its JLSG and the Spanish Joint Force Air Component (JFAC).

The exercise will test the readiness of EUROCORPS in planning and conducting non-Article 5 small joint operations, focusing on the land, but significantly incorporating all of the domains to include air, maritime, space and cyberspace.

Following the JWC-led Joint Operations Planning Group (JOPG) Leaders’ Workshop at EUROCORPS Headquarters in early February, which is designed to increase proficiencies in the NATO Operations Planning Process, the EUROCORPS deployed both their JOPG and the Operational Planning Liaison Element (OPLE) to the JWC from March 11 to 15.

The aim of this event was to provide operational advice to the strategic-level plans, continue coordination with the higher headquarters, and enhance the stakeholders’ overall understanding of the Comprehensive Operational Planning Process by utilizing the complexities of the STJA23’s joint operational environment.

“EUROCORPS and Spanish JLSG’s contribution of an OPLE to the strategic-level crisis response planning here at the JWC was intended to enable the refinement of their learning and understanding of how a Joint Task Force Command can contribute to this essential process,” said Lieutenant Colonel Eric from the JWC’s Scenario Branch, and Deputy Chief Higher Control (HICON).

Eric added: “This is a critical aspect of SACEUR’s strategic planning, which requires shared understanding of doctrine, appreciation of the mission and finite attention to details. Through this process, the JWC-led HICON is providing a critical role in making NATO better.”

Colonel Geraud, the lead planner for EUROCORPS, said: “EUROCORPS prepared itself thoroughly to take maximum advantage of this exercise to enhance its preparedness. The JWC supported our preparation and led two much-appreciated JOPG Leaders’ Workshops, which brought JOPG skills at the adequate level. The setting set by the JWC during this phase of STJA23 was the sole and unique opportunity to work in coordination with our OPLE. I can state it was a success; and JOPG proved its ability to master NATO’s planning process.”

 

The aim was to provide operational advice to the strategic-level plans, continue coordination with the higher headquarters, and enhance the stakeholders’ overall understanding of the Comprehensive Operational Planning Process by utilizing the complexities of the STJA23’s joint operational environment.

 

 

 

 

For more information on the JOPG Leaders' Workshop, send us an email at pao@jwc.nato.int