Page 30 - RADC 2020

Defence Engagement: Flying the flag for the United Kingdom in NATO
Resolute Support Mission (RSM)
JFC Brunssum’s role, as the out of theatre operational command, is to provide appropriate C2 to RSM in Afghanistan (Direct – Empower – Enable). NATO RSM is designated a non-combat mission, which has been established to provide a training, advisory and assistance function. It is separate from, but complementary to, the US-led Operation FREEDOM SENTINEL. The legal framework for RSM was signed in Kabul on 30 September 2014, which marked the formal transition from ISAF mission. Resolute Support now sees
the Alliance mission working closely in partnership with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; with a focus to ensure the sustained operational effectiveness of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANDSF).
The medical mission is divided into
two lines of effort: A train, advise, assist mission which actively seeks to develop and enhance the medical capability of
the ANDSF and HN healthcare systems; and a Real Life Support medical mission, to deliver comprehensive healthcare for deployed Coalition Forces. It is this line
of effort which occupies most of the time for my team in Brunssum – dealing with requests for support; healthcare policy; and
theatre of operation. It therefore comes as no surprise that readiness and exercises form a significant part of the headquarters battle rhythm. In November 2019 NATO undertook its largest and most complex CPX since the end of the Cold War – Exercise TRIDENT JUPITER 19. Two years in the planning, the exercise gathered over 3,000 personnel, with participation from
17 major headquarters (NATO Command Structure, NATO Force Structure, and national) and was spread out over 9 different locations across Europe. The scenario linked two exercises ranging from SJO to MJO+ and was set in the context of high intensity Article V operations against a peer adversary, contesting NATO in all warfare domains. TRIDENT JUPITER culminated with the certification of the NRF20 force package, NRF20 Component Commands, and Naval Striking & Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) as an expanded Task Force, improving military interoperability and readiness.
From a medical perspective the team was challenged by large numbers of casualties, limitations to MEDEVAC (operating in an A2AD environment); MEDLOG resupply; and the legal, diplomatic and political implications of CPERS (both friendly forces
and adversary). All of this coalesced to
form a series of challenging operational dilemmas for the Command Group to consider and decide upon. I don’t think
I’ve ever experienced an exercise where
the Medical domain has been given such
a high profile and pre-eminent role within
the exercise scenario; but nevertheless, TRIDENT JUPITER 19 succeeded in demonstrating the Alliance’s unwavering commitment to Collective Defence and willingness to embrace change. For some of the older readers this may all sound rather familiar, but it’s fair to say that after 20 years of campaigning and Counter Insurgency operations there was a need for NATO to re-learn the art of more traditional Collective Defence; at scale and in the context of high tempo Article V operations against a credible peer adversary.
International Staff Officers from JFC Brunssum Joint Medical Division in 2019
28 RADC BULLETIN 2020
C&S JOBS