The European Air Group: The Command Brief

Improved Capability Through Interoperability

Improved Capability through Interoperability

Scope •  History of the EAG •  The Mission •  EAG Structure •  Achievements •  Projects, Activities and Tasks •  Interaction with other Organizations •  VOLCANEX •  The Budget Process


EAG Mission

‘to improve the operational capabilities of

the Parties’ Air Forces to carry out

operations in pursuit of shared interests,

primarily through mechanisms which

enhance interoperability’

1998 3 Member Nations (EAG)

1999 7 Member Nations

1995 2 Member Nations (FBEAG)

Seven Air Forces that are able to operate together as one across the spectrum of conflict


The Aim •  To be the first organization thought of to improve European

interoperability

•  To be relevant and to make a difference

•  To avoid duplication

•  To avoid un-winable and protracted projects


How We Work •  The EAG works with the Nations for the Nations

– Demand driven – Operational benefit – Tangible output – Permanent staff (not simply a working group) – Tactical level, but with strategic effect


EAG

‘The EAG is currently the only full spectrum Air minded Defence organization within Europe’


EAG Top Level Structure STEERING GROUP

Chiefs of Air Staff

Working Group Op Air Cmd, Air Staff

Operational Subject Matter Experts

Joint & Single Service

Permanent Staff

EAG HQ RAF High Wycombe


The EAG Command Group

* All rotational posts

Deputy Director Brigadier General Giacomo De Ponti

Director Air Chief Marshal

Sir Andrew Pulford

Chief of Staff Colonel

Ron Hagemeijer


CIS

Logistics

Force Protection

Air Ops Ground

Air Ops Flying

Director (OF-8)

Deputy Director (OF-6)

Chief of Staff (OF-5) EPRC IT Leader (OF-5)

Executive Secretariat Support

Joint Personnel Recovery

RAF High Wycombe

21 Staff Officers 2 Augmentees 7 Support Personnel

Matrix Management


Director Air Chf Mshl Pulford

Deputy Director BG De Ponti

Chief of Staff Col Hagemeijer

Permanent Staff Located at EAG HQ

Fin Mgr (DEU)

Reg/Trg Mgr (GBR)

C & E Mgr (BEL)

IT Mgr-1 (ESP)

Outer Office (FRA)

IT Mgr-2 (ITA)

SO 009 (ITA)

SO 010 (ITA)

AM/SRNO BEL

SO EPRC Maj Coucke

AM/SRNO DEU

AM/SRNO ESP AM/SRNO FRA AM/SRNO ITA AM /SRNO/ExO GBR

SO EPRC LtCol Schleimer

SO 004 (DEU)

SO 003 (DEU)

SO 006 (ESP)

SO 007 (FRA)

SO 011 (NLD)

SO 012 (NLD)

SO 013 (GBR)

Adjutant (GBR)

-‐ Staff Officers

-‐ Admin & Support

-‐ Executive

VNC EPRC Col Fanelli

VNC EPRC Maj Doesburg

VNC EPRC Sqn Ldr Merritt

SO 005 (ESP)

SO 001 (BEL)

SO 002 (BEL)

SO 008 (FRA)

SO 014 (GBR)

VNC EPRC Lt Col Wesseling

AM/SRNO NLD

Improved Capability through Interoperability 13

RAF High Wycombe


Weaknesses Strengths

Small

Permanent

Air Minded

Direct access to CAS

Security Level


A Benefit of the EAG

‘There are not many international defence organizations that are prepared to agree some

5 or 6 key decisions around a table in one meeting, without recourse to seeking further

guidance or National approvals’.


Achievements •  European Air Transport Command (EATC) •  Air Transport and Air Refuelling Exchange of Services

(ATARES) •  Combined Air Terminal Operations (CATO) •  Forward Arming and Refuelling Point (FARP) •  Aeromedical Evacuation Medical Officers Course •  European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC) •  Combined Joint Personnel Recovery Standardization Course

(CJPRSC)

Projects, Activities and Tasks


What do we offer?

• SEMINARS • WORKING

GROUPS • TA • EUROVOX

• CATO • EATC • EPRC • FARP •  FP

• VOLCANEX • COURSES • EXCHANGES • MANUALS

EDUCATION & TRAINING EXERCISES

NETWORKING OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES AT TACTICAL

LEVEL

•  4th /5th Generation Aircraft Integration •  Predator User Group •  Advanced Training Master Plan (ATMP) •  Eurofight •  Euro Typhoon Interoperability Project

Projects, Activities, Tasks


•  Force Protection •  Works under the umbrella of the STOX-TA •  Promotes multinational training activities (e.g. FP

Master Plan) •  Expeditionary Air FP Capability Matrix •  Air Mobile Protection Team Manual •  EAG FP Publication for Air Operations •  Annual FP Seminar

•  Logistics •  High Cost Equipment Exchange of Services TA and

Implementing Arrangement (IA) for AvMed •  Aeromedical Evacuation TA •  NATO Deployable Air Activation Modules (DAAM) •  Interoperable Load Clearance TA •  Combined Air Terminal Operations •  Dangerous Goods by Air •  Advanced Aviation Medicine Course


•  Communications & Information Systems (CIS) •  Policy & Planning •  Provide Manuals and SOPs •  EUROVOX •  Cyber



•  EPRC Joint Personnel Recovery (JPR)

•  Combined Joint PR Standardization Course (CJPRSC)

•  Multinational Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract (SERE) training school Leaders Working Group

•  Establishment of the European PR Centre (EPRC) in Poggio Renatico, Italy in Jul 15


Executive Officer

•  Deputy COS •  Point of Contact for WG Members •  Coordination of EAG TAs and studies •  Coordinates Steering Group / Working Group

activities •  Corporate Communications •  Chair of Legal (Financial) Coordination Board

25 19-Nov-14

European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC)


European Personnel Recovery Centre

•  The EPRC was established on the direction of the 7 Chiefs of Air Staff

•  The interim location is at RAF High Wycombe

•  In July 2015 it will be in Italy at Poggio Renatico

•  EAG has OPCON of personnel until move


EAG Interaction With Organizations •  National Air Component Commands •  NATO International Staff •  Air Command Ramstein •  Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC) •  European Air Transport Command (EATC) •  European Defence Agency (EDA) •  EU Military Staff (EUMS) •  FINABEL (Land equivalent) •  Movements Coordination Centre Europe (MCCE) •  Air & Space Interoperability Council (ASIC)

(GBR, USA, CAN, AUS, NZL)



VOLCANEX

•  Tests and refines EAG products •  Bespoke training adding value to existing exercises •  VOLCANEX FP, VOLCANEX LOGS etc

•  However: •  Steering Group endorsed major exercise every 2 years. •  Multi-activity •  Multinational interoperability opportunity


‘Gentlemen, we have run out of money; now we

have to think’

Inspired by the words of Winston Churchill


Budget vs Output •  EAG provides for travel cost •  Nations share running cost of the HQ

–  EAG reimburses the UK all utility costs (building rental, electricity, gas, water and cleaning)

•  EAG manages its own Admin and procurement of provisions •  EAG is independent from GBR support on Information

Technology


Conclusion •  The EAG is 7 key European Air Forces cooperating •  Tactical focus but with operational up to strategic impact •  Interoperability at its core •  A broker for interaction between 7 nations and partner

organizations •  Small Permanent Staff with a very short step to the Chiefs •  Essential in these times of reduced budget and of manpower

drawdown

www.euroairgroup.org

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The European Air Group: The Command Brief