USANATO-1GNC Soldiers, allies train during Exercise Austere Challenge 2015

By USANATO Public AffairsMarch 31, 2015

USANATO, 1GNC Soldiers at Austere Challenge-15
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – United States Army NATO Soldiers Lt. Col. Ken Wanless (left) and Maj. Steve Sams (center right) with NATO's 1st German Netherlands Corps, conduct operational planning with French and Norwegian counterparts from NATO Joint Forces Commands Brunssum and... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
USNATO, 1GNC Soldiers at Austere Challenge-15
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – United States Army NATO Soldiers Lt. Col. Ken Wanless (left) and Maj. Steve Sams (center right) with NATO's 1st German Netherlands Corps, conduct operational planning with French and Norwegian counterparts from NATO Joint Forces Commands Brunssum and... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

United States Army-NATO Soldiers and other allied officers with NATO's 1st German-Netherlands Corps​, conducted operational planning with allies and partners from across Europe and NATO during U.S. European Command's ​ computer-based command-post exercise Austere Challenge 2015 March 16-26, 2015 in Grafenwoehr, Germany.

During the exercise, Alliance representatives from NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Allied Land Command, Joint Forces Command-Brunssum, Joint Forces Command-Naples and 1st German-Netherlands Corps formed a planning cell to interact with U.S. EUCOM planners to plan for and respond to crises.

The recently concluded 11-day training event allowed EUCOM and NATO to identify possible mission command issues including computer network and communications interoperability. The exercise, which takes place in multiple locations within U.S. European Command's area of responsibility, focused on improving Alliance proficiency, reinforcing trust and understanding between the U.S. EUCOM and NATO organizations, and testing the relationship between European allies and partners to ensure regional stability.