HQ NRDC-ESP

A military parade followed by a military concert has taken place in Betera on the ocassion of the 10th anniversary of Spanish NATO Rapid Deployable Corps (HQ NRDC- ESP) certification as a high readiness headquarters.

The parade took place in the “Paseo de la Alameda” in Betera to commemorate the ten years of history of HQ NRDC-ESP in Betera.  Local authorities such as the Betera Mayor, Germán Cotanda Gil, assisted to the military act which was chaired by NRDC-ESP Commander, Lieutenant General Rafael Comas Abad. Just after the parade, a military concert was performed in la Casa de la Cultura of Betera to give thanks to both the civilian and political authorities and the people of Betera who attended the event.

During the last decade, HQ NRDC-ESP has been deployed twice: the first one took place in October 2005 when the HQ was leading the Land Component Command as part of the NATO Response Force (NRF). Pakistan suffered the consequences of a terrible earthquake that devastated the north eastern part of the country and NATO, under the request made by the Pakistan authorities, deployed an assistant force and carried out a humanitarian operation to relief the suffering of the population. The second one was in 2012 in Kabul (Afghanistan) as part of the ISAF Intermediate Joint Headquarters (IJC HQ).

During today´s military parade, HQ NRDC-ESP has been awarded with two ribbons that commemorate the two missions carried out so far.

HQ NRDC-ESP is fully involved in a transformation process to adapt its procedures and structure to the new comprehensive approach concept to the military operations that NATO and the future challenges demand. In May 14, HQ NRDC-ESP is expected to be certified as the first Joint Task Force Headquarters in NATO.