HQ NRDC-ESP

2020

On January 1, 2020, the Headquarters NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Spain (HQ NRDC-ESP) begins its stand-by period as Joint Task Force Headquarters (Land Heavy) of the Alliance.

On January 8, 2020, Lieutenant General Fernando García-Vaquero takes command of the Headquarters NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Spain (NRDC-ESP) during a ceremony presided over by the Chief of the Spanish Army, General Francisco Javier Varela Salas. The ceremony is held at Jaime I Military Base in Bétera (Valencia).

On March 11^th the World Health Organisation raises the emergency situation due to COVID-19 to pandemic. On March 14^th, the Spanish Government declares the State of Alarm which meant strict measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

The Spanish Armed Forces were included in the response from the very beginning. On 12 March Operation Balmis kicked off with the activation of a Response Cell in the ESP Army General Staff. The CGTAD/NRDC-ESP began, in turn, its internal planning process by identifying military capabilities and by activating its NRDC-ESP Crisis Cell, as a 24/7 operations structure to assess and support the Commander, monitor the operation, and direct the subordinate Units. The CGTAD/NRDC-ESP and its subordinate Units were able to maintain their capabilities and a high readiness status to carry on with their commitment as a JTF HQ and fulfil any additional commitment related to the pandemic

The HQ NRDC-ESP conducts the exercise DEPLOYEX II/20 from the beginning of September in Bétera military base. The exercise starts with the deployment of the Initial Command Element (ICE) and the activation of the Situation Centre (SITCEN). This exercise is the culminating event in a series of activities in its JTF HQ (Joint Task Force Headquarters) role, prior to starting the preparation for its next commitment as Warfighting Corps. An important challenge for this exercise is to carry out a deployment that guarantees security conditions against COVID 19, maintaining the social distance and implementing a strict sanitary hygiene protocol.

2019

From May 6 to 14, the High Readiness Force Land Headquarters (CGTAD in Spanish) conducts the JFX 19 exercise, organized and led by the Spanish Operations Command (MOPS). During the exercise the Headquarters deployed its main command post in Valencia. Around 1300 soldiers from the Spanish army, navy and air force participated in the exercise to test the Spanish Operations Command (MOPS) capability to command and control the land, maritime, air, special operations and cyber component commands. 

During September and October, the execution phase of the Trident Jackal 2019 exercise (TRJA19) takes place at the San Isidro military base (Menorca), where the HQ NRDC-ESP deploys its command post as JTF (Joint Task Force) Headquarters and its associated JLSG (Joint Logistic Support Group). The aim of this exercise was to evaluate the ability to lead a multi-national allied Joint Task Force with army, navy, air forcé and special operations elements as part of a small joint operation (land heavy) assigned by NATO to opérate in a designated area of operations. 

The exercise Trident Jackal 2019 (TRJA19) came to an end after a 20 day deployment on Menorca Island. On October the 7th, the Headquarters NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Spain (HQ NRDC-ESP) succeeded in its evaluation to obtain the certification as Joint Task Force Headquarter (JTF HQ).

2018

From May 20 to 28, the execution phase of the "Valiant Lynx 18" exercise is conducted, the largest and most important commitment of the Spanish Army with NATO during 2018. Valiant Lynx 18 exercise is organized and led by the HQ NRDC-ESP from Chinchilla training area. Around 5000 soldiers are deployed mainly in Chinchilla (Albacete) and San Gregorio (Zaragoza) training áreas.

Valiant Lynx 18 exercise consists on two phases, a computer-assisted exercise (CPX), and another phase LIVEX with real deployment of forces in San Gregorio. The XII Brigade Guadarrama of the San Marcial Division with Leopard 2E tanks and Pizarro armoured vehicles, with helicopters from the Army Aviation unit (FAMET) and fighters of the Spanish Air Force are the main assets deployed in San Gregorio.

From June 20 to 27. the High Readiness Force Land Headquarters (CGTAD in Spanish) participates in the JFX MOPEX 18 exercise as the Land Component Command deploying its main Command Post.

The JFX MOPEX 18 is a CPX exercise (computer assisted exercise) based on component commands to train the operational structure of the Spanish Armed Forces and certify the Full Operational Capability of the Spanish Operations Command (MOPS  in Spanish).

2017

From 17th to 18th of October, the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Spain Headquarters (HQ NRDC-ESP) hosts a new edition of the Land Command Corps Commanders´ Conference (LC3) in Valencia. 

This conference, organized by Allied LANDCOM, was supported by the HQ NRDC-ESP. These semi-annual conferences are hosted by the Alliance Headquarters within Europe on a rotational basis and this time the city of Valencia was designated to host it. Being chaired by Lieutenant General Darryl A. Williams, Commander Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), it brought together Corps Commanders and leaders from the NCS for collaboration, development and refinement of NATO’s land strategy. In particular, the shared objective for the 11th edition of this forum was to develop the land adaptation strategy using the theme ‘Command and Control: How we fight’. 

From November 3 to 18, around 100 military personnel of the HQ NRDC-ESP participated in the TRIDENT JAVELIN 17 exercise (TRJN17) held at the facilities of the Joint Warfare Center (JWC) in Stavanger (Norway). The aim of this exercise was the certification of the Allied Land Command (LANDCOM in its acronym in English) of the Command Structure of NATO as a Land Component Command. 

From the NRDC-ESP Headquarters, a simulated multinational Army Corps Command Post was deployed in Stavanger.

2016

Spain commits with the NATO allies to contribute with the Land Component Command (LCC) of the new enhanced NATO Response Force (eNRF), improving its capabilities, availability and deployment time based on the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Spain  Headquarters (HQ NRDC-ESP in its acronym in English) of Bétera, and also providing the Brigade "Galicia VII" with a battalion as a spearhead and able to deploy in 48 hours, which could be added another 4 multinational battalions.

As a result of this commitment, the HQ NRDC-ESP as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) of the NATO Response Force, performs the exercises BRILIANT JUMP 16 and VALLIANT FALCON 16 deploying in Poland, and putting into practice the demanding criteria of this new concept VJTF.

2015

At the end of the year, the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Spain Headquarters (HQ NRDC-ESP) held the TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2015 exercise deploying its Command Post to the "General Ricardos" Base in Zaragoza (Spain).

The exercise, which was played from the 3rd October to the 6th of November in different locations of Spain, Italy and Portugal, had two phases.

The first phase, from the 3^rd to the 16^th of October, was a Command Post Exercise  to certify the enhanced NATO Response Force for 2016 (eNRF 2016). The second one, from the 21^st of October to the 6^th of November, was a Joint Combined Military Operation carried out by land, air and sea, overarched by NATO Connected Forces Initiative (CFI) to guarantee the interoperability of NATO units.

During the exercise, the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force concept (VJTF) will also be experienced. In 2016, a Spanish Brigade and various Battalions of allied nations will lead the VJTF under the command of HQ NRDC ESP, located in Bétera (Valencia).

NATO Rapid Deployable Corps (HQ NRDC-ESP) was certified as Land Component Command of the new NATO Response Force 2016.

2014 

The NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Spain Headquarters (HQ NRDC-ESP) carried out the TRIDENT JAGUAR 14 exercise to be certified as the first deployable Joint Task Force Headquarters (JTF HQ) for Small Joint Operations-Land Heavy (SJO-L(H)) at the NATO Force Structure. 

The exercise was held in Menorca island (Spain) in May.

2013

2012

As part of the NATO Long Term Rotation Plan, HQ NRDC-ESP was deployed in Afghanistan. Around 200 members of the staff deployed to the ISAF Joint Command Headquarters in Kabul.

The mission was to coordinate the military units and the regional commands of the International Security Assistance Force for Afghanistan at the operational level. HQ NRDC-ESP COS, Major General Cabeza Taberné, became DCOM of IJC HQ while HQ NRDC-ESP DCOS OPS, Brigadier General Antolín García took over responsibilities as the new Communication Director.

 

2011

During this year, the HIREX 11 exercise was carried out in order to prepare HQ NRDC-ESP deployment in ISAF Joint Command Headquarters in 2012.

2010

2009

 

2008

2005 

2004

2003