The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a brigade sized deployable force available to the North Atlantic Alliance to intervene rapidly in a crisis. It includes land, sea, air and special operations components. The NRF proved its capability to deploy recently with the participation of the air component in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort and with the deployment of land, sea and air components to provide support to victims of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan. NATO nations contribute forces for one year or 6 month periods of commitment and standby. The command of the land component of the NRF rotates through each of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Headquarters (NRDCs). The host nation of each NRDC provides approximately 85% of the staff personnel with the remaining 15% coming from the other NATO nations. Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) must contribute to the development of the NRF and to enhance its effectiveness in every one of its missions. This article highlights several critical ways for FAOs to contribute.
NATO has six certified NRDCs. These include the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), the Eurocorps, the German-Netherlands Corps, the NRDC-Italy, the NRDC-Spain and the NRDC-Turkey. US personnel may serve in all but the Eurocorps. Positions vary but an international background, expertise in US doctrine (especially in deployable units and on corps level staffs), proficiency in English and a second or third language make FAOs valuable members of these headquarters. A well placed FAO in one of the NRDCs can provide current US doctrine and interpretation of US national strategy to the command and infuse US thinking into the discussion of the HQ to influence the entire staff. An assignment to one of the corps-level NATO HQs is an opportunity to enhance the NRF from within as part of a deployable command element.
Attachés or security assistance officers in countries where the NRF may deploy can also support the NRF. If a crisis situation develops where friendly outside forces may be called to intervene, the NRF is a candidate resource. Possible missions could include humanitarian relief, peacekeeping and more. Under direction of the North Atlantic Council, the NRF could deploy to intervene in the crisis and could, if directed by NATO, build up forces to a corps sized land element with corresponding air and maritime elements. The NRF could potentially resolve crisis situations without the need for US forces to intervene, saving costs and providing economy of force for US units. Attachés and security assistance officers in potential world hotspots or humanitarian crisis areas should be aware of the capabilities of the NRF and the possible applications within their respective countries. They should educate their country teams as well as host nations on NRF issues and maintain an awareness as the NRF continues to mature in its ability to execute its missions.
Additionally, FAOs assigned overseas have a wealth of information that would be of great value to the NRF during an operational deployment. If the NRF is deployed to their country, FAOs already on the ground could provide background information on the culture, political landscape, and geography. They could introduce NRF personnel to local points of contact, translators and local leaders as well as to provide crucial information on potential sites for encampments, lines of communication and operating areas. Forward deployed FAOs can also help to prepare the way administratively by working with the host government to streamline entry into the country, establish liaison with the host nation government and military and assist with letters of understanding or status of forces agreements. FAOs could also assist with logistical support by facilitating contact with local contractors, vendors and transportation companies. These are all things that FAOs do for US forces on a routine basis. The difference would be in providing support to a NATO element if the NRF deploys to their area.
Committing forces to the NRF should be a top priority for each of the NATO nations and FAOs in attaché and security assistance assignments in NATO nations can help to emphasize its importance within their country teams and with their host nations. FAOs in security assistance positions can also contribute to the long term success of the NRF by emphasizing the procurement of equipment, training and professional military education that supports contingency operations in austere environments to their host nation militaries. In terms of equipment, this can range from promoting the acquisition of expensive strategic lift assets such as C-17s or Roll on/Roll off ships, to lightweight field gear such as cold weather sleeping bags and mats for use in harsh underdeveloped operating areas. Training and education that builds knowledge of contingency operations and deployment will also support the NRF by increasing the host nation's knowledge of these types of operations.
The NRF is a valuable tool for NATO to intervene in a crisis and has proven itself in two operational deployments. FAOs from all regions should gain an understanding of it and contribute to its continued success.