NATO’s Military Committee visits the CCOMC at SHAPE

The heart of this enhanced approach to crisis operations management is the CCOMC, a new organisation divided in five task groups focusing on Crisis Identification, Current Operations, Estimations and Options, Response Direction and Crisis Review.

“The creation of the Comprehensive Crisis and Operations Management Centre at SHAPE helps us to think, plan, and act more strategically," said General Philip Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe. “The centre collaborates and cooperates in a fully-integrated manner, bringing together military and civilian expertise, and connects SHAPE Headquarters to the networked world," he added.

The CCOMC has been in operation for almost 18 months and is building towards full activation which is expected to come shortly after Exercise STEADFAST JAZZ in November of this year.

“The Military Committee acknowledge the capability demonstrated today at the SHAPE Comprehensive Crisis and Operations Management Centre," said General Knud Bartels, Chairman of the Military Committee. “Facing an increasingly complex security environment, I believe the centre will contribute to monitor emerging challenges in a more comprehensive and thereby effective way," he said.

Other changes to the command structure include the fact that ACO’s two Joint Force Headquarters (JFC Brunssum and JFC Naples) are now able to deploy into an operational theatre to exercise command and control of a major joint operation. In addition, the component command headquarters located in Izmir (Turkey), Northwood (U.K.), and Ramstein (Germany), are able to bring a high degree of focus and excellence to their respective land, maritime, and air domains.