NATO exercise Noble Jump 2019 underway

The most visible phase of NATO’s exercise begins on June 3, 2019, with the deployment of nearly 2,500 German, Dutch and Norwegian troops and some 1,000 vehicles to the field training area in Zagan, Poland.

The exercise will increase and demonstrate the readiness andmobility of a critical element of the NATO Response Force.

The first phase of the exercise began May 24, when NATOalerted its Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, or VJTF.

Within 48 hours, the VJTF’s "Spearhead” battalion wasready to deploy. Three days later the complete VJTF brigade was on standby.

As part of the VTJF, a Spearhead Battalion is comprised of aGerman, a Dutch and a Norwegian company under German command, which completedfinal preparations and received the order to deploy.

"Noble Jump is a defensive exercise,” said U.S. AdmiralJames Foggo, who commands Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples and the NATOResponse Force 2019. "It will prove our very high readiness ground troopsare ready and rapidly deployable, wherever and whenever needed. Readiness andmobility are key to NATO’s deterrence posture.”

The 1st German-Netherlands Corps, commanded by German Lt.Gen. Alfons Mais, leads the VJTF.

Together, JFC Naples and 1 German/Netherlands Corps ledNATO’s Exercise Trident Juncture, the Alliance’s largest exercise since theCold War, which brought 50,000 troops together in and around Norway duringOctober and November 2018.

The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a multinational force madeup of land, air, maritime and special operations components. It istechnologically advanced and rapidly deployable. The NRF provides collectivedefense and a rapid military response in times of crisis. In addition, it canperform peace-support operations, provide protection to criticalinfrastructure, and support disaster relief. NATO created the NRF in 2002.Overall command belongs to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Tod D.Wolters.

The VJTF troops are part of the NATO Response Force.

Following the Wales Summit in 2014, Allies decided toenhance the NRF by creating an up to 8000-troop strong Spearhead Force withinit.

NATO formed the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force torespond to the changing security environment to the east and south of theAlliance’s borders.

Source: NATO