The centerpiece of NEST 22.2 is the George H.W. Bush Service Strike Group (GHWBCSG), which arrived within the Mediterranean Sea in August on a scheduled deployment within the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) space of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and companion pursuits.
Throughout NEST 22.2, SIXTHFLT will conduct a switch of authority (TOA) of the GHWBCSG to STRIKFORNATO. Whereas beneath STRIKFORNATO command and management, the CSG and different allied items will ship results in Allied Joint Forces Command (JFC) Naples and JFC Brunssum joint working areas (JOAs), demonstrating Alliance cohesion and the power to concurrently function all through European waters.
Allied and companion nations scheduled to take part in NEST 22.2 embody Albania, Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Türkiye, the UK and the US.
NEST 22.2 is the eighth section of NATO’s long-planned Venture Neptune collection, constructing on earlier phases of the challenge together with Neptune Problem in October and November 2021, Neptune Strike in January and February 2022, and Neptune Protect in Could 2022. As in earlier phases of Venture Neptune, NEST 22.2 brings NATO instructions all through the Alliance collectively to plan and execute multi-domain real-world vigilance actions.
“The Neptune collection is a tangible demonstration of the ability and functionality of the NATO Alliance in all area operations,” mentioned Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander SIXTHFLT and STRIKFORNATO. “Neptune Strike 22.2 is a major instance of NATO’s means to combine high-end maritime warfare capabilities of an allied provider strike group, guaranteeing our collective means to discourage and defend.”
Throughout the body of Deterrence and Protection of the Euro-Atlantic Space (DDA), this vigilance exercise will enhance interoperability of allied CSGs, STRIKFORNATO, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and the broader Alliance and companions.
“The Neptune Collection of peacetime vigilance actions, integrating provider strike and amphibious strike functionality into NATO operations, has turn into routine work for this battle workers – producing results within the maritime, air and land domains, offering deterrence and reassurance, and providing highly effective alternatives for Allied interoperability,” mentioned Royal Navy Rear Adm. James Morley, STRIKFORNATO’s deputy commander. “I’m excited to look at this excellent workforce of pros come collectively once more and show the ability and cohesion of our NATO Alliance.”
Vigilance Actions are a bottom line, or regular day-to-day actions, occurring in all domains, and throughout SACEUR’s space of accountability to make sure applicable strategic consciousness and drive readiness required to maintain peace.
Throughout deployment workups in June, STRIKFORNATO participated as NATO Headquarters in GHWBCSG’s Composite Coaching Unit Train (COMPTUEX), training command and management from Oeiras to the strike group on the US’ east coast, marking STRIKFORNATO’s third vignette with allied forces throughout coaching and certification occasions.
GHWBCSG’s fast integration into NATO planning and workouts early in its deployment exemplifies the worth that these vignettes present to U.S. provider strike teams getting ready to deploy, in addition to an indication of NATO Allies’ means to cooperate and combine successfully.
“The GHWBCSG has labored carefully with our counterparts at STRIKFORNATO and inside the NATO Alliance since our pre-deployment coaching occasions,” mentioned Rear Adm. Dennis Velez, commander, GHWBCSG. “We sit up for persevering with to strengthen {our relationships} whereas additionally coaching with our Allies. The teamwork, belief, and fight readiness constructed by these occasions are our aggressive benefit.”
STRIKFORNATO, headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal, is Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s (SACEUR) premier, quickly deployable and versatile, maritime energy projection Headquarters, able to planning and executing full spectrum joint maritime operations.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces within the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of accountability. SIXTHFLT is completely assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces by the complete spectrum of joint and naval operations.
