Origins
There were many factors that contributed to the establishment of a new Corps and its headquarters in Poland. Apart from geographical and military reasons, the Corps was also to serve as a political symbol that would significantly accelerate the integration of the Armed Forces of Poland and other new partners into the multinational NATO structure, thus fostering the stability in Europe.
Germany, Poland and Denmark had been developing cooperation in many spheres throughout the 1990s. A close trilateral military cooperation between the three had existed since 1995. It gained momentum when the decision was taken in July 1997 at the NATO summit in Madrid to invite the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland to become members of the organisation. Thereafter, the Ministers of Defence of Denmark, Germany and Poland decided, in Omulew, Poland, to establish a new Danish-German-Polish Corps. This Corps would be named MULTINATIONAL CORPS NORTHEAST (MNC NE) with its headquarters located in Szczecin, Poland. The Headquarters "Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland" (LANDJUT) in Rendsburg, Germany, was to form the nucleus of this new command authority. English has been established as the Corps´ official working language.
In March 1998, the Tri-National Working Group began to work on a report concerning the establishment of MNC NE, which, among other things, clarified missions and tasks of the future Corps as well as the legal basis and financial aspects.
When the Ministers of Defence of the three Framework Nations, i.e. Denmark, Germany and Poland signed the Corps Convention in autumn 1998 thus forming a common corps, Poland was not a member of NATO yet, but the date of the country’s accession (12th March 1999) had already been set. In retrospect, the early signing of this document turned out to be a wise step taken with foresight. As early as 18 September 1999, the three founding nations were able to hoist their flags in Szczecin, and the Corps Headquarters moved into the renovated buildings of the Baltic Barracks.
Growing Corps’ family
A lot has happened in Szczecin since that time. MNC NE has become a big draw to many, in particular the new NATO-members. Since April 2004, the flags of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been fluttering in the Headquarters. In January 2005, Slovakia joined Multinational Corps Northeast. Its neighbour, the Czech Republic, sent their officers just a few months later, in October 2005. Then, the US flag was hoisted in November 2006 and the United States officially became the ninth nation of the Corps. In July 2008 Romania sent its officers to serve in the HQ. Finally, Slovenia entered the Corps' family in August 2009 and officially became the eleventh nation of the Corps.
Fulfilling the Corps’ tasks
In terms of military achievements, the Corps passed the Full Operational Capability (FOC) test with outstanding results during the exercise Compact Eagle in November 2005. Subsequently, the Corps was officially certified by the North Atlantic Council as a NATO Deployable Headquarters and, at the same time, as a part of the NATO Deployable Structure. In 2007, the MNC NE was contributing successfully to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, thereby proving its Full Operational Capability in a real mission environment. The personnel of MNC NE as a standing headquarters manned the key positions at the composite Headquarters International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) X/1.
In December 2007, the thirtieth meeting of the Corps Committee accepted the new Corps structure that meets the headquarters’ needs more adequately. Furthermore, the infrastructure project related to building a new facility gained approval. Finally, a contract was signed for the Command, Control and Information System (C2IS) SZAFRAN, which gave the Corps a tool for being interoperable with other headquarters or, in other words, for being able to "talk and exchange information" with other headquarters. Both the implementation of the new C2IS system and the construction of a new building were launched in 2008.
The highlights of 2009 included the Little Eagle exercise and the 10th Anniversary of the Multinational Corps Northeast celebrated in September 2009. However, the greatest focus was placed on the mission preparation process, lasting for several months. Along with the final Mission Rehearsal Exercise, which took place at the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway, in December 2009, the Corps staff accomplished the preparations for their second mission in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Consequently, the year 2010 is marked by mission challenges. Around 130 Corps personnel left to Afghanistan in February 2010. They are expected to spend there six months. The remaining personnel who form so-called Garrison Headquarters are to run the Headquarters’ current business in Baltic Barracks. Their efforts, especially in terms of assisting families of the deployed personnel, are supported by the Family Care Centre activated for the mission time.
