14 June 2017

Szczecin, Poland

 

Today at a ceremony in Szczecin, Poland, LTG Darryl Williams certified Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC-NE), one of nine NATO Graduated Readiness Forces, as a High-Readiness Force Headquarters (LAND). The ceremony, which was attended by a number of distinguished visitors, marked the conclusion of the Corps certification process conducted by Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) during Exercise SABER STRIKE.

 

"This readiness provides deterrence through resilient and relevant forces that are trained to coordinate and synchronize tactical effects, strengthening not only the Alliance, but our Partners too,” said Williams. "Multinational Corps Northeast has accomplished what speaks volumes – the ability to project greater stability for NATO that will garner the positive effects for all of us.”

 

During the ceremony, LTG Williams presented the assessment results to General Salvatore Farina, Commander of Joint Force Command Brunssum. The ceremony was also attended by Lieutenant General Leszek Surawski, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Danish Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Per Ludvigsen, Lieutenant General Jacobson, Commander of the Joint Operational Command, and other NATO representatives.

 

Multinational Corps Northeast, a headquarters sponsored by Denmark, Germany and Poland, confirmed its readiness to command and control NATO high-readiness forces if deployed to north-eastern Europe. The Corps now serves as a rapidly deployable High-Readiness Force Headquarters and is on permanent stand-by to take the lead in combat operations across the north-eastern flank of NATO as a Land Component Command. It has the ability to command and control up to five divisions and 20 support units, but also to plan, organize and coordinate land operations within a joint operations area.