Ten Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from HQ MNC NE participated in a three week military training exercise named Unified Endeavor 11-2 in the United States. With their recent Headquarters ISAF Joint Command (HQ IJC) mission experience, these SMEs supported the training of three Regional Command headquarters scheduled for deployment to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) this spring.
Exercise Unified Endeavor 11-2 (UE 11-2) was the last training exercise to train three Regional Command headquarters scheduled to deploy to ISAF this spring. It was a Mission Rehearsal Exercise and the final test for the headquarters prior to their deployment. The U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM), located in Suffolk, Virginia, USA, was overall responsible for coordinating, managing and operating the exercise. Unified Endeavor 11-2 was a unique exercise because it was the first time that three regional command headquarters trained simultaneously from several different locations using both digital training networks and live feedback. The three participating regional commands were the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division participating from Fort Hood, Texas; United States Marine Corps’ II Marine Expeditionary Force participating from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and the 1st German Armored Division participating from Bydgoszcz, Poland. The exercise was controlled from the USJFCOM Headquarters in Suffolk, Virginia.
The exercise setup was quite extraordinary and a lot of effort was put into providing the best possible training for the three regional command headquarters also referred to as the training audience. The training audience consisted of about 2,000 people while the total exercise control organization numbered more than 2,700 personnel. The 10 officers and non-commissioned officers from HQ MNC NE participated as part of the Higher Control (HICON) located at USJFCOM. They were part of the team that played the role of HQ ISAF Joint Command (IJC). With their recent ISAF deployment and IJC experience, the MNC NE delegation supported the exercise by providing important information about how the IJC actually operates and explained what the three headquarters could expect to see when they deploy later this year. Even though the HQ MNC NE contribution of 10 out of more than 2,700 exercise control participants was relatively small, their expertise was highly appreciated. As it turned out, they were the only members of the HICON with real world IJC experience. The exercise provided a very good opportunity for HQ MNC NE to pass on their deployment experiences and lessons identified to the three regional command headquarters preparing for their next deployment.
The photo of MNC NE delegation presenting the MNC NE Crest to the Joint Forces Warfare Center J7, Major General Stephen R. Layfield:
