Material, vehicles and personnel participating in Trident Juncture are now transported out of Norway.
For the last two months the NATO-led Joint Logistic Support Group (JLSG) has been in command of deploying and redeploying material and participants for Trident Juncture in Norway. During a ceremony Wednesday, NATO handed over the official command to the Norwegian Armed Forces.
"This is a major logistics operation, and we hope to continue the work as efficiently and safely as JLSG has done since the first material arrived in Norway," says General Major Lars Christian Aamodt, Deputy Commander at the Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Headquarters (FOH).
The exercise is now in its redeployment phase. Around 50.000 personnel from 30 different nations have participated. In addition, 10. 000 vehicles, 65 vessels and 250 aircrafts have been deployed.
According to plan, all material and personnel will be transported out of Norway by 06 December except a very small Italian element that will leave by 30 December.
Stress-test in logistics
"This has been a stress-test in logistics, and you have passed”, stated Major General Werner Haumann, the representative of NATO's headquarters in Naples during the handover-takeover ceremony at Sessvollmoen this week.
He also stated that JLSG now will serve as a showroom for how logistics should be done.
"This has not only been an exercise, but also a 24/7 live operation deploying, sustaining and redeploying all the troops and their vehicles and equipment in and out of Norway. Despite all challenges of such a complex and demanding operation coupled with black ice and challenging Norwegian winter conditions, all plans were met. JLSG as one team made sure entire logistic support has been executed in a very coordinated and synchronised way, timely, safely and with minimal disturbance to local population”, says Brigadier General Darko Pintaric, Commander of JLSG.
Shows the importance of the alliance
"This exercise has taken place in the midst of the population and not in military training areas. We are pleased that our friends in NATO have taken this into account and conducted the work with respect for the surroundings, "says Aamodt.
He believes JLSG is a good example of cooperation in NATO.
"In JLSG 24 different nations have worked together. That’s a challenging task. But they have managed to work towards a mutual goal. This proves the nations of NATO work well together”.
Expressed gratitude
Brigadier Pintaric expressed his gratitude towards Norway as host nation and underlined the good cooperation with both the Norwegian Armed Forces and the civil emergency services, as well as the public road and railway services.
"Ever since we arrived we have met smiling, helpful and friendly Norwegians both inside and outside the Armed Forces. This has been much appreciated,” states Pintaric.
Story by JFC Naples Joint Logistic Support Group