LANDCOM conducts Exercise Loyal Bonus

IZMIR, Turkey – NATO Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) completed Exercise Loyal Bonus at the LANDCOM Headquarters today.

The purpose of the five day exercise was for LANDCOM military and civilian personnel to prepare and rehearse the systems they would use during Exercise Trident Jupiter scheduled for November 2019 in Norway.

During his opening remarks Monday, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John Thomson, Commander of LANDCOM, explained his intent for the exercise. "This [event] is about transparency,” Thomson said. "This is about teamwork. This is about improvement.”

Turkish Army Col. Hakan Demirel, LANDCOM’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Training and Exercises (G7) agreed. The battle staff training this week and the table top exercise are part of Execise Loyal Bonus to prepare LANDCOM staff for their role as a multi-corps land component command, he explained.

"We have great people,” Thomson concluded. Our world is changing, so is NATO, to ensure we remain fit for purpose, we must be ready.

By U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Olson, LANDCOM Public Affairs