NATO Response Force 2005

Applying the NATO Response Force (NRF) Concept

In November 2002 at the Prague Summit, NATO decided to build up a robust, high readiness, fully trained and certified force that is prepared to tackle the full spectrum of missions, including force. The force should be ready to deploy in five days and should be able to sustain itself for 30 days. The NRF will be tailored to a specific operation as required. It might be based on a brigade size land element, including special operations forces as well as a joint naval task force and an air element. The forces will be drawn from NATO’s force structure.

The Initial Operational Capability of the NATO Response Force was scheduled for October 2004. When Final Operating Capability was reached by the fall of 2006, its troop size was set at 21,000. The NRF operates on a rotational basis. The cycle is based on a period of unit and interoperability training, followed by a six-months 'on-call' period. HQ 1 GNC is one of the six High Readiness Force (Land) Headquarters designated by NATO to prepare for operations as a NRF. It was successfully 'on-call' for NRF-4 from January 2005 – June 2005 and for NRF-10 from January 2008 - June 2008.