Exercise Brilliant Jump 24, an annual NATO exercise designed to train and test the Alliance’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), commenced on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 with the unloading of military equipment and personnel in Emden, Germany. Some 600 vehicles from the British Army’s 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team (‘The Desert Rats’) off-loaded from RO-RO-ships and began their journey through Germany towards the Drawsko Pomorksie training area in Poland. Once they arrive, they will be met by a Spanish contingent and other troops from Albania, Türkiye, and Poland. Conducted under the command of Headquarters Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS). This is an operational and tactical level Alert and Deployment exercise aimed at strengthening the Alliances’ deterrence and defence capabilities. This rapid deployment will also enhance the interoperability of Allies with 3,000 soldiers and 700 vehicles from five NATO nations participating.
“A multi-national, rapid deployment force, to deter aggressors and defend NATO territory, that is the role of NATO Response Force. It is my honour to command this force and exercise Brilliant Jump will highlight the capabilities of these troops to operate at tempo and provide decisive action in the face of crisis,” said JFCBS Commander General Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta.
Overall, NATO has begun deploying troops to Central Europe for the largest exercise since the end of the cold war. Under the overarching umbrella of Steadfast Defender 2024, NATO will conduct a series of exercises, mainly taking place in Central and Northern Europe, involving some 90,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen from all 31 NATO countries as well as NATO partner Sweden. The exercises will test the ability of the Alliance’s forces to deter and defend against a potential adversary. These are defensive exercises and not targeted at any specific country. Poland, as one of host nations of Steadfast Defender, will host a significant number of Allied troops and equipment on its territory. Exercise Brilliant Jump meantime is the only exercise within Steadfast Defender that is led by JFC Brunssum. At the conclusion of Brilliant Jump, the VJTF will move across Poland to join other troops taking part in Polish-led exercise Dragon 24.
