JFC Naples officially in command of the NATO Response Force Jan 16, 2019
In a short ceremony at Joint Force Command Naples, the NATO headquarters raised the colours of the NATO Response Force (NRF), signifying that it is now in command of the force for 2019.
Addressing the Headquarters Staff, Admiral James G. Foggo, US Navy, Commander JFC Naples, said the NRF provides the ability for the Alliance to respond to any emerging crisis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 360 degrees around the compass.
He added that JFC Naples must remain vigilant and ready in event the North Atlantic Council (NAC) decides to deploy the NRF.
As the lead headquarters for the NRF during 2019, JFC Naples will be supported by the 1st German / Netherlands Corps Force for Land operations, Italian Maritime Force NATO for Maritime operations, the Spanish Joint Force Air Component. The Joint Logistics Support Group from JFC Naples and the French-led Multinational Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear Battalion also are part of the NRF.
General Jim Jones, US Marine Corps, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) when the NRF initiative was approved at the 2002 Prague Summit said, "NATO will have agile and capable forces at graduated readiness levels that will better prepare the Alliance to meet any threat that it is likely to face in this 21st century.”
Combat forces from across the Alliance have been placed on high readiness and are available to support NRF 2019 if required.
Launched in 2002, the NRF consists of a highly capable joint multinational force able to react in a very short time to the full range of security challenges from crisis management to collective defence. NATO Allies decided to enhance the NRF in 2014 by creating a "spearhead force” within it, known as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). This enhanced NRF is one of the measures of the Readiness Action Plan (RAP), which aims to respond to the changes in the security environment and strengthen the Alliance’s collective defence. Overall command of the NRF belongs to the SACEUR. The decision to deploy the NRF is taken by the NAC, NATO’s highest political decision-making body.
Story by Sgt. 1st Class (OR-7) Michael O'Brien USA-A