An important part of the preparations for the mission in Afghanistan in 2010 is ensuring the continuity of running current business of the Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast (HQ MNC NE) here, in Szczecin. For that purpose, a Garrison Headquarters consisting of remaining military and civilian personnel had to be created. This particular structure was tested during the Baltic Assistance exercise, conducted from 16 to 19 November 2009.
New structure, new tasks
The aim of the Baltic Assistance exercise was, first of all, to activate the Garrison Headquarters to the extent possible so that the staff could familiarize with the structure, train completing the tasks assigned as well as to observe how the Garrison Headquarters actually works. New elements within the structure include e.g. the Operations Centre (OPSCEN), a point of contact between the Garrison Headquarters in Szczecin and the deployed personnel in Kabul, Afghanistan, or the Family Care Centre supporting the families of the deployed servicemen.
This temporary structure will keep functioning throughout the whole mission of the Headquarters personnel in Afghanistan and directly afterwards. As a result, the expected time to reestablish the previous structure will be in the autumn next year.
Training
The exercise scenario was based on the real situation in Afghanistan and all incidents played during it were to imitate events that might take place during the mission. With the use of the Joint Exercise Management Module, all incidents reached the training audience in the right time to create the conditions resembling the real world. The participants trained, for example, establishing contacts and coordinating activities between the OPSCEN, the Family Care Centre as well as National Support Elements or Senior National Officers. The most difficult situations to deal with were the cases of injury or death of an MNC NE soldier.
Most of the Garrison Headquarters personnel performed all tasks from their work positions, just like it will be during the mission time. The exceptions were the OPSCEN and Family Care Centre, which were fully activated.
The exercise was evaluated by a special team consisting of the Headquarters personnel and representatives of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps in Lille, France. Their assessment will help to improve the procedures to make sure that the personnel of the Garrison Headquarters are well prepared for their mission in Baltic Barracks.
Way ahead
Baltic Assistance was the most important exercise preparing the personnel of the Garrison Headquarters to run the current business of the Headquarters and complete all additional tasks. Obviously, the preparations of the officers and non-commissioned officers for the mission are still ongoing. The servicemen are about to accomplish their national training and then, they will go to the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway, to take part in the final Mission Rehearsal Exercise, completing the whole preparation process.
Comments