Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples was activated on 15 March 2004, when its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH), was deactivated after nearly 53 years of successful activity in support of peace and stability in and around its designated area of responsibility.

Background:

The activation of the new command was a part of NATO’s transformation aimed at adapting the allied military structure to the operational challenges of coalition warfare, to face the emerging threats in the new millennium. The new NATO Command Structure is leaner, more flexible, more efficient, and better able to conduct the full range of Alliance missions. The transition process was set into motion by decisions taken by NATO Heads of State and Government in Prague in 2002, when it was also agreed to create a NATO Response Force (NRF) consisting of a technologically advanced, flexible force including land, sea and air elements ready to move quickly to wherever needed as decided by the North Atlantic Council.

Mission:

Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COM JFC Naples) is to be prepared to conduct the full range of military operations throughout the NATO Area of Responsibility (AOR) and beyond in order to deter aggression and to contribute to the effective defence of NATO territory and forces, safeguard freedom of the seas and economic lifelines and to preserve or restore the security of NATO nations. In addition, he is to contribute to crisis management and deterrence by ensuring that assigned headquarters and forces are at the designated state of readiness for the conduct and support of operations, and to conduct prudent operational level military analysis and planning that includes the identification of required forces. He is to contribute to the development, conduct and evaluation of exercises to train Allied and Partner HQs and Forces in NATO joint/combined procedures. He shall also contribute to stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic area through cooperation and dialogue under Partnership for Peace, the Mediterranean Dialogue, enhanced relations with Russia and Ukraine, as well as other initiatives in the field of consultation and engagement of non-NATO nations. He shall also work with Allied Command Transformation, in particular to promote the provision of capable combined/joint HQs, forces and capabilities.

COM JFC Naples has no permanently designated AOR but SACEUR can designate an approved Joint Operations Area (JOA) to meet the requirement for exercises and operations. He will be assigned by SACEUR Areas of Functional Responsibility (AOFR) for day-to-day activities and the conduct of routine operational and non-operational tasks. COM JFC Naples can be also assigned Areas of Interest (AOI) beyond NATO’s territory to monitor and analyse regional instabilities, military capabilities and transnational issues, in order to identify their potential military consequences which may directly or indirectly influence NATO’s security interests.

The assigned mission implies the need for each operational command to be capable of developing a military response to missions assigned to it for its expeditionary operations. The JFC Headquarters must therefore be able to mount a Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) HQ, or -- from within its own staff -- a smaller Deployable Joint Task Force (DJTF) as the “seed” for larger command and control formations which various missions may require. Each operational command will, on a rotational basis, assume responsibility to command the NRF and, during those periods, will constantly maintain the capability of deploying a DJTF headquarters within five days of notice.

Organisation:

At operational level the new NATO command structure consists of two standing Joint Force Commands (JFCs), one at Brunssum, Netherlands and one in Naples, Italy. In addition, a smaller Joint Headquarters (JHQ) was activated in Lisbon, Portugal, specifically designed to command a sea-based CJTF operation from an afloat command platform.

Each JFC is assisted by three component commands, each specializing in land, air and maritime operations. The JFC Naples Allied Land Component Command (CC-Land) was established at Madrid, Spain on 1 July 2004. The former headquarters Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe (NAVSOUTH) was converted on 5 July 2004 into the Allied Maritime Component Command (CC- Mar) Naples. Similarly, Headquarters Allied Air Forces Southern Europe (AIRSOUTH), previously based in Naples, was relocated to Turkey and became the Allied Air Component Command (CC-Air) Izmir on 11 August 2004. Operating under CC-Air Izmir, there are Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs) at Poggio Renatico, Italy and Larissa, Greece.

With the implementation of the new NCS, the Joint Sub-Regional Commands that were established in 1999 at Izmir (Turkey), Madrid (Spain) and Verona (Italy) will stand-down.

Contributing nations:

Twenty-two NATO nations contribute to the JFC Naples integrated military staff: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States. Several Partner nations are also represented within a PfP Staff Element.

More information can be found at http:/www.jfcnaples.nato.int