NATO NRF

The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a highly ready and technologically advanced, multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and Special Operations Forces (SOF) components that the Alliance can deploy quickly, wherever needed. In addition to its operational role, the NRF can be used for greater cooperation in education and training, increased exercises and better use of technology.

NRF consists of:

• Command control element. The management of the NRF in a rotation order lasting 12 months since 2012 shall be carried out by one of the two operational command commands of NATO Joint Forces in Brunswick and Naples;
• Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). It consists of a multinational brigade with approximately 5000 troops supported by a component of maritime, air and special operations. Some elements of this unit are able to expand within two or three days;
• Initial Follow-On Forces Group (IFFG). They are high-readiness forces that, in response to the crisis, can quickly turn out immediately behind THE VJTF. These are made up of two multinational brigades;
• Naval component. It is based on NATO Standing Naval Maritime Groups (SNMG) and NATO Standing Naval Mine Counter Measures Groups (SNMCMG);
• Air and air-defence component;
• Special operations forces;
• Forces for protection from chemical, biological, radiological hazards and against weapons of mass destruction;
• Follow On Forces Group FFG.

Highlights:

• Launched in 2002, the NRF consists of a highly capable joint multinational force able to react in a very short time to the full range of security challenges from crisis management to collective defence.
• NATO Allies decided to enhance the NRF in 2014 by creating a “spearhead force” within it, known as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF).
• This enhanced NRF is one of the measures of the Readiness Action Plan (RAP), which aims to respond to the changes in the security environment and strengthen the Alliance’s collective defence.
• Overall command of the NRF belongs to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).
• The decision to deploy the NRF is taken by the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s highest political decision-making body

Latvia in NRF:

Latvia started contributing to NRF in 2006 with Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, ready to deploy within 5 days notice.