The Functional Staff of the Host Nation Support Coordination Joint Command, at full capacity in Trident Juncture

The Functional Staff of the Host Nation Support Coordination Joint Command, known as EMF HNSC, is operating at full capacity to tackle the significant logistic challenge posed by the development of Trident Juncture, the largest exercise organised by NATO since 2002.

More than 35,000 troops from 30 countries are taking part in the exercise, 20,000 of them deployed in the Spanish fields of operations: The “San Gregorio” and “Chinchilla” training centres; the “Álvarez de Sotomayor” and “Sierra del Retín” shooting and training fields; and the Zaragoza, Torrejón, Albacete and Son Sant Joan air bases.

In the area of logistics, one of the main challenges of the exercise is providing Host Nation Support, which requires considerable effort. 102 requests for support have been received so far, 52 of them involving the Army – including those from six multinational HQs.

In order to rise up to the challenge, EMF HNSC was set up with personnel from the Operational Logistic Force HQ at its base in Atocha (A Coruña). It includes the following departments: planning & operations; joint logistics; medical coordination; joint movement & transport; joint financing; force security & protection; information & communication systems; communication office; liaison officers; and legal counsel.

Members of the Functional Staff cells (Photo: FLO)

Using SIRDEE for medical evacuations

On the other hand, the Operational Logistic Force (FLO, by its Spanish acronym) is resorting to SIRDEE (Spanish Digital Emergency Radio Communication System) to guarantee medical evacuations during the exercise.

Based on Tetrapol technology, SIRDEE is the digital radio communications system used by the Spanish security forces. Its use has been possible thanks to the collaboration of the SIRDEE Programme Office at the Ministry of the Interior and of the Military Emergencies Unit, which as well as improving coverage to areas where it was deficient and extending it to where it did not previously exist, have also configured the terminals at the request of FLO.

In addition, SPOT satellite trackers have been used to locate the air and land medical evacuation teams in real time, thus ensuring its rapid deployment to provide appropriate medical evacuation. The Army’s CIS and Technical Support Command and the ICT Section have assisted in the use of those devices.

50 days of activation of the Joint Logistic Support Group

Although the exercise has only been running for ten days in its Command Post phase, some of the components of the Joint Logistic Support Group (JLSG) have been deployed at the facilities of the “San Gregorio” training centre for nearly two months. On 24 August the core of its HQ was established at the Casiopea building and its other components arrived gradually after that. At present, the HQ is activated to over 85% of its capabilities and its units have reached 62% pending the arrival of a medical component, a ROLE 2, which will be provided by the US Army. It is expected to achieve full operational capability on 20 October.

JLSG HQ is both combined and joint. Its members are 54% Spanish; the rest come from 15 other nations, mostly from the US. The bulk of the Spanish personnel come from the Logistic Brigade (BRILOG), but some have been provided by the High Readiness Force Land HQ, based at Bétera (Valencia). All of them are under the authority of BRILOG commander, General José L. Sánchez Alor.

JLSG faces the challenge of being the first group set up by NATO to provide real logistic support during an exercise. It has made a significant contribution to the planning and execution of RSOM (Reception, Staging, Onward Movement) for the deployment of over 36,000 troops in three nations: Spain, Italy and Portugal.