Missions and tasks

Military command and control is carried out at three levels: the strategic, operational and tactical levels. In this respect, the operational level of command is a mediator and translator between the political objectives of the strategic level and the tactical action at the local level.

Host nation support is the support provided for foreign armed forces in Germany. When the military forces of friendly nations pass through Germany, Germany – in its role as a host nation – provides a wide range of services in consultation with the allied troops. These services include food, accommodation, fuel, medical care and technical support, as well as legal advice and guarding activities. This support for allied countries’ troops staying in or moving through its territory is one of Germany’s most important commitments to NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is Germany’s contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Reinforcement and Sustainment Network.

Due to the new threat situation on NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastern flank and the growing number of trouble spots emerging in a globalised world, it is essential to be able to deploy troops efficiently at all times and quickly bring their military power to bear. Rapid strategic deployability is therefore a key element of national and collective defence. National RSOIreception, staging, onward movement and integration precedes strategic deployment. The Bundeswehr Joint Force Command acts as the command responsible for initial deployment of the German forces.

National risk and crisis management serves to protect German nationals abroad – by preparing for and managing crises, even by military means if necessary. The task spectrum ranges from advising Germany’s missions abroad and supporting diplomatic evacuations with aircraft of the Special Air Mission Wing to military evacuations, including rescue operations and hostage rescue operations. The Bundeswehr keeps forces available in a permanent state of readiness for national risk and crisis management. The Bundeswehr Joint Force Command is responsible for the planning of operations and command and control of the forces.

The Bundeswehr is particularly visible to the German population whenever it supports civilian organisations in the event of natural disasters and grave accidents. These support services are grouped under the term “administrative assistance and disaster relief”. Article 35 of the Basic Law requires all authorities at the federal and state levels to provide administrative assistance to each other; this also applies to the Bundeswehr. The Bundeswehr Joint Force Command is responsible for coordinating Bundeswehr assistance and support activities.