From 13 to 31 March 2023, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) Southern Operational Centre (SOC), setup a first camp at Capo Teulada (Sardinia, Italy) to enable NATO Nations (Germany, The Netherlands, Norway) to conduct the NATO’s Deployment Exercise (DEPLOYEX) “NOBLE JUMP II 23”, to be held between 26 April and 13 May. The aim of the DEPLOYEX is to demonstrate the capability of a timely deployment and integrate NATO Forces as a contribution to NATO’s Deterrence and Defence (D2) posture.
It will enhance NATO’s responsiveness in the South of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)’s Area of Responsibility while practicing deployment and operational arrangements with local and regional actors. In addition, it will train the Stand-by Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF23) elements in conducting the deployment to a designated Allied Country. The VJTF is a “spearhead force” of around 20,000 troops, of which about 5,000 are ground forces – is able to begin deployment within two to three days wherever it is needed.
Within only seventeen working days, NSPA SOC deployed and setup ninety-seven CP1101 Medium and two Large Tents, in addition to one Medium Medical Treatment Facility Tent, and CP156 capability packages, to include fourteen KWA power generators, over thirty toilets and showers, laundry facilities and eight refrigerator containers. The team succeeded also thanks to the supporting workforce provided by Germany and Netherlands for the entire period. IECOLOG also provided support and contributed to the completion of the camp set up in record time.
The coordination with Italy, the Host Nation, was a key factor in terms of support provided to NSPA. Italian Army’s leadership surveyed and inspected the area, sharing satisfaction for the work done. The next phase of the project will start on 17 April 2023, when SOC staff will start setting up an additional camp for the 1 German-Netherlands Corps (1GNC), a multinational formation consisting of units from both the Royal Netherlands Army and German Army that will deploy for the same exercise.