MCCE Common

Defender 20 Coalition Movement Working Group (DEF20 CMWG)

DEF20 CMWG was promoted, organized, and hosted by the MCCE on September 18th – 19th at Conference Centre Koningshof, Veldhoven, the Netherlands. 48 attendees composing 9 Nations’ delegations as well as NATO JFC Brunssum representatives and NSPA representatives were part of the meeting.

The working group aim was to synchronize the Nations on Defender 2020 National movement plans along with US support requirements to transiting/participating/bidding Nations.

DEF20 CMWG at Conference Centre Koningshof, Veldhoven, the Netherlands

The conference mainly focused the participants attention on US/USAREUR’s Continental movements into the joint exercise area (JEA) in conjunction with US support general needs coming from DEF20 Main Planning Conference (MPC).

21st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) team displaying Exercise Concept of Movement

The US 21st TSC planners team presented to the Partners coalition the initial inland surface movements requests for oversized and out of gauge equipment centred on exercise Concept of Movement, to bring together possible offers through partners’ national military fleets and transport contracts.

In addition, during this conference, the Regional Movement Coordination Centre (RMCC) concept was disclosed. Such organization will have the scope of de-conflicting, coordinating, enforcing and managing the execution of the movements of the Coalition Forces in support of DEFENDER 2020 – Europe. The RMCC will provide input from the national movement coordination centres (NMCC) into the overall movement picture.

Throughout the final review, actual offers from Transiting/Participating/Bidding Nations were assembled to respond to all US necessities presented.

The event was seen by the Nations as a highly valuable platform of cooperation among DEF20 Nations that doubtlessly helped the coalition to initially address and manage logistics key factors to the successful exercise outcome.

Change of Command

On August 21st, the MCCE hosted a sober but formal Change of Command Ceremony on the occasion of the changeover of the MCCE Director.

The outgoing Director, Col. FRA AF Eric HERBAUT, handed over the MCCE colours to Gr. Capt. GBR AF Stuart GREGORY.

In his speech, Col Herbaut expressed his gratitude to the MCCE staff who supported him with discharging his important responsibilities to provide strategic lift and AAR services to the Member Nations.

Gr. Capt. Gregory thanked the MCCE Steering Board for putting their trust in him to lead the MCCE to greater achievements in sharing vital operational and logistic capabilities, and he committed to generating yet further strategic co-operation between Member Nations by using the MCCE as a centre for innovation and debate.

The ceremony was chaired by Brigadier General AUT A Roman FISCHER, the Chairman of the MCCE Steering Board. Numerous national representatives of the Governance Bodies of the MCCE and related agencies attended the formal event and the hearty reception that followed during a sunny and cheerful day.

This gave the opportunity to the MCCE staff to present to Col. Herbaut a gift to mark their gratitude and respect that matured over the year spent under his leadership.

The MCCE is now ready to face new challenges and to aim to further achievements!

AMSCC Visit to MCCE

Athens Multinational Shipping Coordination Centre (AMSCC) fact-finding visit to MCCE

Eindhoven, 6th of March 2019

As a follow up on the DIR MCCE visit earlier this year in Athens, AMSCC visited MCCE in order to continue to discuss mutual options for cooperation between the two entities.

The need for a more coordinated planning of Sealift movements related to a.m.o.t. VJTF were discussed and also the possibility for AMSCC to be able to offer empty space in RO/RO ships already operating in the Mediterranean to MCCE members.

MCCE as well as AMSCC will follow up on this and other subjects in future talks.

AMSCC Visit to MCCE 3-2019
From right to left: CPT H. Gerwing DEU A, LTC A. Passaro, ITA AF, CDR Mauritzio Albine ITA, CPT(N) Spyropoulos Vasileios HE, CDR H.O. Nielsen DNK and LTC Róbert Kovács, HUN A.

2nd NMCC Commanders Conference

The 2nd NMCC Commanders Conference was held in Eindhoven on 21-23 January 2019.

In total, 23 nations as well as Multi-national organisations such as, EATC, EDA, EUMS, HAW, NATO JFCB, NATO JFCN, NATO SHAPE, NATO SJLSG, NSPA and SALCC were present at the conference.

After the welcome address Col. Boekolt, the Eindhoven AB Base commander, the 74 representatives discussed several topics like (not exhaustive):

  • Maximising the Capacity of Limited Strategic Lift
    • Member Nations capacities in Africa
    • Middle East practices
    • UN capabilities in Africa
  • EX TRJE18 – Lessons Learned/HNS/RSOM
  • Panel discussion, Lead nation concept for TRJE 2018
  • EUMS: Military Mobility, CSDP missions and operations with a focus on Africa
  • PESCO
  • EATC: Shuttle project, EGOM

2nd NMCC Commanders Conference - Group Photo
The conference was a great meeting opportunity for our member nations and Multi-national organisations to exchange information and points of view on many important movement and transportations related issues.

2nd NMCC Commanders Conference - Session

Signing of Letter of Intent with NSPA

On 15th January 2019, with a discrete and symbolic ceremony, held in the NSPA Head Quarters, in Capellen (LUX), the General Manager of the NSPA and the Director of the MCCE signed a Letter of Intent (LoI), with the aim of enhancing their cooperation and, therefore, improve their support and services for customers.

Three possible areas for cooperation were identified:

  • Developing and supporting multinational transportation solutions across the full spectrum of multimodal lift opportunities.
  • Supporting each other in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the respective organisations, for example in identifying synergies and potential overlaps between their transportation tasks/solutions.
  • Promoting opportunities to make best of use of spare lift capacity.

In their talks, the NSPA General Manager and the MCCE Director acknowledged their mutual interest and shared their intent to deepen and expand their relationship.

 

 

AT Ops Meeting Budapest

The 27th At Ops Meeting was held in Novotel Budapest City, kindly hosted by Hungary over 13 to 16 November. The meeting was opened by the Hungarian J4 Cdr, Col Baros with 17 nations being represented by 48 attendees from member nations.

Col Baros Opening the 27th AT Ops Meeting

The highly successful event saw updates on MCCE business given by the Deputy Director, AT Cell Chief, Plans and ATARES Secretariat. External presenters included Jetex, Skytech, Heavy Airlift Wing, EATC and SALCC. Included in the National updates for the first time was a presentation from NSPA.

Read moreAT Ops Meeting Budapest

MCCE Visit to AMSCC

On 7th November 2018, the Director and Deputy Director MCCE visited the “Athens Multinational Sealift Coordination Centre” (AMSCC) as part of the program for exchange visits with the stakeholders and other organisations within the M&T business.

With the intention of increasing MCCE visibility and knowledge about the additional opportunities and capabilities available in the realm of strategic lift.

Col Herbaut and Lt.Col. Passaro met their counterparts in the AMSCC and exchanged a large amount of valuable information whilst exploring the possible opportunities for mutual collaboration and support.

MCCE support to Frisian Flag and European Air-to-Air Refuelling Training (EART)

From 08 to 20 April 2018, Leeuwarden Airbase again hosted one of the largest international fighter pilot exercises: Exercise Frisian Flag 2018.

For two weeks more than 70 fighter aircraft from various countries were exercising the execution of offensive and defensive missions, with the support of Airborne Warning and Control System, Electronic Warfare airplane, and Air to Air refueling tankers.

Air Refueling (AAR) was recognised in 2012 as a capability shortfall in Europe. To address this, the European Defence Agency has developed a European AR initiative looking at the three following objectives: increase the overall AAR capacity, reduce fragmentation of the fleet, and optimise the use of assets.

Read moreMCCE support to Frisian Flag and European Air-to-Air Refuelling Training (EART)