Military forces can only be deployed effectively if they are ready for a conflict in good time, fully equipped and combat capable. Rapid strategic deployment is therefore a key component of NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization defence planning. Each member of the Alliance is responsible for the initial deployment of its national troops. The Bundeswehr Joint Force Command (BwJFCBundeswehr Joint Force Command) commands initial deployment for the Bundeswehr.
The Bundeswehr’s exercises and operations abroad always require strategic deployment to the respective mission area. The initial deployment of military forces serves as a link between the provision and the deployment of military capabilities. It both precedes and is a prerequisite for strategic deployment to a mission area. This is because during initial deployment national troops are moved to the assembly and starting points for strategic deployment: the so-called points of origin.
These locations can be railway stations, seaports, inland ports, airports or – when moving by road – training areas and other military sites. This is where transport to the mission area begins: by air, by sea, by rail or by road.
It is important to coordinate transportation so that the military personnel reaches the target area at the same time as its equipment and weapon systems and is then able to continue seamlessly to the operations area. Only then can the troops fulfil their reassurance or combat mission effectively and without delay.
Collective defence means parallel deployments
It is not only a country’s own forces that need to be coordinated and deployed to the mission area in the event of a crisis, but also the troops and materiel of allied nations. Germany is integrated in a system of collective defence. This means that Germany always acts together with its NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization partners and the European Union. Its armed forces are therefore never on operations alone. When Bundeswehr soldiers are on the move, so too are troops from other nations.
This means that: although transporting and supplying own forces is a national task carried out under national responsibility, it still demands careful planning and complex coordination at the multinational level, due to the large number of simultaneous deployments by different nations.
In an Article 5 contingency, Germany is needed as a hub and support network. In this situation, up to 800,000 military personnel from NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization armed forces would need to be transported through Germany to NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization’s external borders within 180 days and as quickly as possible, together with their weapon systems and materiel. They would also need support during their stay in Germany – a task that is reflected in the Operational Plan for Germany in the context of Germany’s overall defence.
Prioritisation according to NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization defence planning
Germany serves as a hub for allied forces, especially in deployments to, in and across Europe, for instance to NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastern flank. In this respect, the Bundeswehr Joint Force Command is tasked with the command and control of initial deployment.
It is not only responsible for German troop movements at home and subsequent strategic deployment to the mission area. It also has the task of maintaining a situation picture of the troop movements of all nations deployed on German territory and of coordinating these movements so as to prevent overlapping transport routes and congestion of transport networks.
At the same time, the BwJFCBundeswehr Joint Force Command must ensure that the military capabilities required for a particular operation are available in the mission area in good time. If several nations wish to use one route at the same time, prioritization is determined based on military requirements. These decisions are based on NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization defence planning.
Support for German and allied forces
The BwJFCBundeswehr Joint Force Command also coordinates support services for troops on the move and in transit. It does this not only for the Bundeswehr but also as part of host nation support for the armed forces of other nations. These support services include overnight accommodation, meals and medical care as necessary, as well as refuelling, maintenance and repair facilities, transport planning, transport escorts, and protection and security measures.
Initial deployment: always people and materiel
Initial deployment always comprises people and materiel. The mere transportation of weapons and ammunition does not count as initial deployment. However, this does not mean that troops, weapon systems, ammunition and supplies are transported on the same route and at the same time.
While soldiers are often deployed to a mission area by aeroplane, battle tanks, armoured infantry fighting vehicles, command and transport vehicles, other equipment and materiel storage containers are usually transported by ship or by rail. This is because road movements across long distances place huge demands on personnel and equipment.
Initial deployment ends upon arrival in the specified area. Reception in the mission area (Reception), bringing together personnel and materiel (Staging), onward movement to the operations area (Onward Movement) and, if necessary, integrating military forces in a multinational NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization formation (Integration) is abbreviated as RSOMReception, Staging, Onward Movement+I. This does not count as part of initial deployment.
What is initial deployment, what is a command tasked with initial deployment, and what is the role of the regional territorial commands? You can find answers to these and other questions here: