The Land Component Conference held at Rheindahlen on 8th December was an important opportunity to validate the restructuring of the HQ better to meet the needs of hybrid conflict against the challenges posed by reality as expressed by an authoritative and experienced group of outside speakers.   These included: Beth Cole (Executive Director US Institute of Peace), Martin Howard (NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Operations), General Sir David Richards (UK CGS), Lord Ashdown (former leader of the Liberal Democrats and former High Representative in Bosnia), Alastair Campbell (Tony Blair’s former press secretary) with the UN and NGO perspective being provided by Paul Larsen (World Food Programme) and Dr Christophe Fournier (International President Médecins Sans Frontières)  The speakers were complemented by an eclectic, multi-disciplinary audience from the diplomatic world, the UN and NGOs, the media, academe, the EU together with strong representation from within NATO and the UK Armed Forces. After an excellent pre-Conference dinner which cemented old friendships and generated new in the convivial atmosphere of the HQ ARRC Officers Mess, we had a most stimulating and valuable day of presentations and wide-ranging discussions around the issue of achieving unity of purpose in hybrid conflict. more…

Lt Gen Richard Shirreff CBE - Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps

So ends the ARRC’s annual exercise – ARRCADE FUSION 09 (link to web page): ambitious, ground breaking and designed to test HQ ARRC’s ability to integrate planning and execution with key non-military players in a complex and demanding scenario in order to achieve unity of purpose and effort in hybrid conflict. The hard work of drawing out all the lessons and implementing them started with the After Action Review and there remains much to be done to ensure that we extract every ounce of value. However, from my perspective, I can say conclusively that the experimental restructuring of HQ ARRC has been a resounding success. The exercise highlighted many areas we need to get right and there were inevitable shortcomings which we need to work on. Nevertheless, thanks to the efforts of all who contributed to the exercise, both from within and without HQ ARRC and both civilian and military from across NATO, I really think we might be on the edge of something revolutionary in terms of command and control.

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Lt Gen Richard Shirreff CBE - Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps

Since my first blog last month, Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) has now been alerted by SHAPE to be prepared for operations in Afghanistan as the core of the soon to be established ISAF Joint Command in Kabul in January 2011 for one year. The separation of 4 star theatre command from 3 star tactical command is good news and offers the opportunity to do what needs to be done properly at the appropriate level of command. In particular, I see the task of a 3 star tactical commander as binding in national contingents to a single, well thought through operational design through firm leadership while sequencing and concentrating scarce resources in order to tee up subordinate formations for success on the battlefield. As a well-trained, cohesive European led Corps HQ with 15 partner nations and a strong US spine as lead of the Operations Division and with multinationality deep in its DNA,  HQ ARRC is particularly well placed to work within a multi-national operation and drive COMISAF’s concept of operations down to the tactical level with the necessary vigour and energy. However, if this partnership is to be fully exploited it requires the best team in the fight now. more…