Focuses on Enabling and Coordinating Efficient Reinforcement

NATO’s Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC) held its Reinforcement and Sustainment (RSN) fall conference in Ulm, 8-10 November.

Discussions focused on requirements, perspectives and experiences for further development of close cooperation and partnerships between JSEC and allied nations and headquarters – the premise for JSEC to fulfil its core tasks of contributing to the enablement and coordination of reinforcement by forces and their sustainment in a 360° approach in SACEUR area of responsibility (AOR). “After the initial RSN Conference in June 2022, the Fall Conference with nearly 160 participants from NATO member states, Finland and Sweden and NATO entities like SHAPE and the Joint Forces Commands in Brunssum, Naples and Norfolk, represents the second milestone towards the finalisation of the RSN,” explained Lt Gen Alexander Sollfrank, JSEC Commander.

Part of a wider JSEC effort, the network is based on the principal ideas on how to enable SACEUR’s AOR. The development of a toolbox to realise these ideas is essential – the multi-domain RSN is that toolbox. It includes both civil and military stakeholders, to ensure a state-level approach. Together with allied nations and partners, information on infrastructure, installations and other elements are brought together. Legal, contracting and administrative regulations are also illuminated and cumulated, as all these details are of importance for the transport of troops, materiel and supplies.

JSEC’s compilation of the provided information generates an overview used by NATO commanders and allied nations. The assessments give advice and recommendations on how to organise movements, so that required forces are in the right place at the right time. “JSEC is to have the RSN prepared and ready for activation anytime when required, by establishing it in cooperation with the allied nations in peacetime. The main role for the RSN will be to support any operation as well as vigilance activities in SACEUR’s AOR […] This contributes to a credible deterrence and if required an effective and efficient defence of every inch of allied territory,” Sollfrank observed.

By establishing the RSN in peacetime already, JSEC is well prepared and capable of enabling SACEUR’s AOR in crisis and conflict. Meanwhile, the military headquarters is also executing the role of reinforcement and sustainment domain advisor for SACEUR, providing him with all relevant information in this functional area and assisting in making the right strategic level decisions. “Working together through digital channels naturally works and gets us the results we need, but meeting in person at a conference like this adds great value, as discussions with all the different NATO entities and partners face-to-face, both in briefings and one-on-one talks, intensify the exchange of different views and expertise. I am very satisfied with the last couple of days here in Ulm and the progress we’ve made,” commented a Spanish participant.