What is NATO Response Force?
The NATO Response Force (NRF) is an immediate and urgent task force made up of several military branches. The NATO Response Force was initiated in 2002 at the Prague Summit. A year later, in June 2003, the Defense Ministers of the member countries approved the concept of the NRF in Brussels. In October 2004, at an informal meeting of NATO Defense Ministers in Poiana Brasov, Romania, the NATO Secretary-General and Supreme Allied Commander Europe announced that the NRF had achieved initial operation capabilities. According to the then NATO Supreme Allied Commander General of Europe (SACEUR) General James Jones, NATO will no longer have the forces, large-scale units needed for the Cold War. But, to protect themselves and help friends, there will be agile and capable soldiers to carry out every mission. This force will better prepare NATO to face any threat in this 21st century. The NRF is also an international force of land, air and naval units, designed to respond to major incidents in a short period of time. The soldiers involved in this are expert in their respective skills. They have every skill and technology, all of which are rarely available with any one country.
NRF specializes in carrying out multi missions
Apart from education and training, this force is also used for military exercises, relief operations during disasters and proper use of technology. This force is commanded by Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). The NRF was also deployed in Afghanistan last year. This force had greatly assisted in the evacuation of American soldiers and allied Afghans from Kabul. NRF is a military force built on rotational system. The soldiers posted in this have to serve only for 12 months. After which they are sent back to the army of the country concerned. After the approval of the North Atlantic Council, this force can be immediately deployed anywhere in the world. The operational command of the NRF is headquartered one year at Brunssum in the Netherlands and the other at the Allied Joint Force Commands in Naples, Italy.
The Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF)
NATO allies at the 2014 Wales Summit decided to make NATO’s NRF more powerful and capable, leading not only in skills but also in technology. The Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), the first part of the NATO Response Force, consists of about 20,000 strong soldiers. These include air, sea and ground troops. The great thing is that these soldiers can be deployed anywhere on short notice of just one to two days.
Initial Follow-on Forces Group (IFFG)
The second part is known as the Initial Follow-on Forces Group (IFFG). This is a very well trained force. Those who are sent for deployment after VJTF in times of crisis. They are made up of two multinational brigades. The first is The Maritime Component – which includes the NATO Maritime Group and the NATO Mine Countermeasures Group.
- Combat Air-to-Air Support Component
- special operations forces
- Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense task force
VJTF has shown its skills in Poland
The VJTF was first deployed in Poland in Eastern Europe in 2015. During this, the force had practiced on its ability to face any crisis and deploy. The leadership of the VJTF changes every year. In this, one partner is designated as the principal country and the rest play the role of the member country within it. Overall the increased NRF comprises a total of 40000 soldiers.