“This exercise increased our collective “muscle memory” for multi-domain operations, while enhancing the rapid communication with Allies and Partners and across the force that are essential during any crisis or conflict,” said General Jeff Harrigian, Commander Allied Air Command. “We were also able to exercise the Deputy Commander Air role, filled by the Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejon, Spain in planning and executing the air campaign. The capability and resiliency of NATO Air and Space C2 to operate across the Euro-Atlantic Area was demonstrated once again. A job well done for all who participated,” he added.
The capability and resiliency of NATO Air and Space C2 to operate across the Euro-Atlantic Area was demonstrated once again
During the exercise, participants worked together on computer based training scenarios in a crawl-walk-run format. Additional complexity was layered into the 2021 exercise scenario to enable the Headquarters to test the new Deputy Commander Air concept. Staffs at HQ Allied Air Command, Germany and the Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejon, Spain delivered Air and Space Power across two Joint Operating Areas, synchronizing efforts with Allied Maritime Command and Allied Land Command.
Exercise Ramstein Ambition 21 hosted from 3 to 14 May 2021 at Headquarters Allied Air Command, in Ramstein, Germany, is a Command Post Exercise conducted to prepare the NATO Command Structure Joint force Air Component Staff. Photo by Sebastien Raffin.
Small teams from Sweden and Finland joined the exercise and were able to offer national insights into the coordination and de-confliction of air operations in the Baltic Sea Region. While this exercise is important to our Partners and Allies, visitors also came from different commands to observe the exercise.
“By visiting RAAM 21, the European Air Transport Command (EATC) is looking forward to detect unexplored opportunities and utilise them in common mission areas. As a multinational command and recognized centre of expertise, EATC is in the heart of generating, planning, tasking and controlling air mobility missions in support of the seven Nations being part of the EATC,” stated Brigadier General Paul Desai, European Air Transport Command Deputy Commander.
During the second week of the exercise, a number of senior officers visited Allied Air Command and this enabled key operational concepts, such as Air-Land Integration to be discussed.
“For Allied Land Command, as the designated Multi Corps Land Component Command, working jointly together with Allied Air Command under the umbrella of a Joint Force Command, is a key precondition for success,” underlined Brigadier General Uwe Becker, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations Allied Land Command.
Allied Air Command augmented the exercise layout within the headquarters to provide a COVID-19 secure environment for participants. Use of additional rooms and limiting numbers allowed for social distancing. Provision of industrial air cleaners, together with hand sanitizer stations and disinfected wipes provided additional layers of protection during the exercise.