Quadriga 2025: National Guardian

National Guardian is a nationwide exercise and a regular component of the Quadriga series of exercises. This year, it will take place from 29 August to 12 September. What is so special about National Guardian is that it is not just an exercise but also portrays real-world support services to military forces during deployment. The operation of the German hub is the core of the exercise since the support of multinational NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization reinforcements during their stay in and transit through Germany is one of Germany’s major obligations during an Article 5 contingency. In the event of an emergency situation, this may result in up to 800,000 soldiers as well as up to 200,000 vehicles requiring accommodation, supplies, maintenance and onward movement within six months. At the same time, German forces will deploy as well. Support is a task for society as a whole, and is detailed in the Operational Plan for Germany.

The exercise comprises the typical operation and protection of a loading station for the transport of tracked vehicles and heavy weapon systems within Germany as well as a seaport for the transport to NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastern flank. An airport serving for the deployment of military personnel will also be part of National Guardian. In addition, two convoy support centres will be set up as rest points for soldiers deploying to Lithuania by road to participate in other segments of the Quadriga exercise. For the first time, a civilian contractor will be responsible for providing all support services offered in one of the two convoy support centres: accommodation, catering, refuelling, replacement procurement, if required, and even guard and security tasks.

The Bundeswehr homeland defence and security forces are a central element of the National Guardian exercise. They secure and protect defence critical infrastructure such as ammunition and materiel storage sites, seaports, loading stations, or convoy support centres. In this way, the reserve duty personnel of the homeland defence and security forces can relieve active-duty servicemembers bound by collective defence tasks in case of emergency.