A huge modular headquarters complex capable of providing office space for hundreds of personnel was deployed, set-up, and will be utilised in Latvia during Exercise Steadfast Jazz in November of this year. The complex, known as Capability Package 156 (or CP 156) is a rapidly deployable facility that gives NATO the capability to conduct the command and control of operational forces when permanent infrastructure is not available, such as on military operations in austere areas.
The CP 156 deployable headquarters suite contains all the mission essential vehicles and support equipment needed to set an operational headquarters in an austere area. These state of the art containers are equipped with heating and air conditioning; lighting, access control points, and the necessary generators to supply power to the deployable command post. NATO maintains several suites of deployable headquarters and is able to quickly transport and deploy them virtually anywhere in the world in order to support potential operations. This capability is maintained by the NATO Support Agency (NSPA) and stored at its Southern Operational Centre in Taranto, Italy.
A stop-motion video of a CP 156 headquarters was filmed while the temporary camp was being set-up at the Adazi Base near Riga, Latvia in order to support the upcoming Steadfast Jazz exercise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkY4nAZx1JQ
Exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013 will take place in early November in a number of Alliance nations including the Baltic States and Poland.
The purpose of the exercise is to train and test the NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed. The NATO Response Force is a key-component of NATO's collective defence capabilities.
The Steadfast series of exercises are part of NATO's efforts to maintain connected and interoperable forces at a high-level of readiness. To date, 17 exercises have been held in the series, with elements hosted in 14 different countries. The goal is to make sure that NRF troops are ready to deal with any situation in any environment.
The NATO Response Force is also a crucial tool to maintain and enhance the ability of forces from all across NATO to work together. And its importance in this respect will continue to grow as the Alliance reduces its presence in Afghanistan and prepares for future challenges.
Supreme HQ Allied Powers Europe
