The next step in the direction of training the personnel of Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast (HQ MNC NE) was made on 9 and 10 June 2011: the Main Planning Conference for exercise Little Eagle II 11 continued the preparation and planning for this next training event.
In response to the changes in the operational environment where the military are tasked to be also in support of the nation building, but realising that HQ MNC NE will not be able to copy the present personnel structure of a big headquarters, like for example in Kabul, HQ MNC NE has developed and prepared necessary requirements and commitments in order to progress and improve the Field Headquarters (FHQ) structure, processes and efficiency.
The logical conclusion is to focus now on the main processes which are being currently conducted in ISAF: Situational Understanding, Assessment, Planning, Activities Synchronization and Command & Control. In order to appoint “owners” to these processes, the entire FHQ structure has to be reconsidered and re-assembled. The newly introduced Information Dominance Centre performed very successfully and will be the future basis for understanding the entire situation in a Crisis Response Operation. Information Dominance Centre will help HQ MNC NE to not only recognise and identify the issues in Crisis Response Operations environment, but also to look for reasons lying behind those issues, answering the question ‘why?’ and not only ‘what?’. All planning capacities of HQ MNC NE will be gathered in one place to maximize the effort and outcome. On the other hand, supporting processes to maintain the HQ’s sustainability requires strong presence of functional areas (e.g. logistics, medical support and communications): structures which are not directly appointed to the main tasks, but very important, though.
During this Main Planning Conference, the major tasks were to adjust the present structures and organisation to these processes, find appropriate positions for the newcomers and reinforcement personnel and to develop a sufficient scenario and storylines to test the assigned responsibilities practically.
The exercise Little Eagle II as a major step towards the next years’ highlight, the Crystal Eagle 12 exercise, will serve as the preparation as well: the artificial exercise scenario, the same for both exercises, has to be suited to the training audience from four different countries that will be trained during Crystal Eagle 12. The HQ MNC NE staff will also get another possibility to learn and improve personal skills and capabilities as well as prepare themselves to be ‘trainers’ for subordinate formations in Crystal Eagle 12.
The conference was a successful event and moved forward the planning process visibly. But the preparations and the extensive ‘to do’ list will keep the staff personnel busy even during the summer leave period.
