Multinational Corps North-East Certified as High Readiness Forces HQ During Exercise Saber Strike 2017

Szczecin, Poland - On 14 June Multinational Corps North-East (MNC NE) was certified as a NATO High Readiness Forces Headquarters and Land Component Command.

This milestone was achieved after the Combat Readiness Evaluation carried out during Exercise Saber Strike 2017, led by US Army Lieutenant General Darryl Williams, Commander LANDCOM. The positive outcomes of these demanding tactical tests were presented to the Commander JFC Brunssum during a distinguished visitors’ day hosted by Headquarters MNC NE and attended by high ranking officials from the Corps’ framework nations including: the Chief of Defense of Poland (Lieutenant General Leszek Surawsky); the Deputy Chief of Defense of Denmark (Lieutenant General Per Ludvigsen); and the Deputy Chief of the German Army (Lieutenant General Carsten Jacobsen); together with representatives from SHAPE and other Allied commands.

With this certification MNC NE, under the Command of Lieutenant General Manfred Hofmann, was accorded full responsibility for land operations on the eastern flank of the Alliance. This translates to a military task that incorporates a permanent readiness to react to crisis situations and sustained preparedness to deploy promptly to a conflict area in the region.

The Corps’ new capability will be employed promptly in the next few days as it assumes command and control over Allied units participating in Exercise Saber Strike 2017. This includes command and control of enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroups established in Lithuania, Estonia and Poland.
This is another step in the adaptation process of the Alliance in order to cope with the challenges of a changed security environment.

Story by JFC Brunssum Public Affairs Office