Multinational CIMIC Group Interoperability Exercise with Portuguese CIMIC Unit

From 17th to 24th of November 2011 MNCG HQ and the Portuguese CIMIC Unit were involved in the first ever interoperability exercise conducted between the two structures.

 Bearing in mind that the achievement of operational capability of the MNCG Participating Nations CIMIC units is a national responsibility, this exercise was the answer to a common desire between the Portuguese Authorities and MNCG HQ.

 MNCG HQ was invited to participate in the ARMAGEDDON 2011 exercise, conducted yearly by the PRT CIMIC Unit. This exercise was conducted as an FTX and included in the Portuguese Mechanized Brigade CPX.

 MNCG HQ and PRT CIMIC unit main objective for this exercise was to test the interoperability capability while conducting operations.

 It was commonly agreed that the interoperability should be tested in two different areas: CIS capability and the use of common procedures. For this purpose the PRT CIMIC unit deployed its Command Group and its three CIMIC Detachments in Santa Margarida training field and MNCG HQ deployed a team of two Staff elements to this location and activated its Operation Centre in its peace time location in Motta di Livenza in Italy.

 The activities developed involved the PRT CIMIC Unit detachments and Command in various incidents where the CIMIC Techniques, Tactics and Procedures (TTP) were used. MNCG accompanied these activities both through its Team deployed in Portugal and via the reporting system set in place within the MNCG HQ in Italy.

 The CIS systems made available to the exercise were tailored to allow these activities and they even allowed the conduction of a mediation meeting between two City Hall Mayors from Abrantes and Constancia that kindly agreed to participate in this incident providing a valuable, close to reality, input for the incident. During this mediation, MNCG HQ was connected via a VTC system to the location where the mediation took place, providing a real time situation update. MNCG HQ provided also, as requested, Reach Back support through its functional specialists.

 As a secondary objective, MNCG HQ presented to the PRT CIMIC Unit a Web Portal which intents to be a share portal where non classified information might be posted and this, of course, with the participation of the civil entities present in the Area of Operations. Further development is desirable in order to spread the usage of this extremely useful tool within the CIMIC community.

 As a final remark, this exercise showed that, although there is room for improvement, MNCG HQ is completely interoperable with the PRT CIMIC Unit, as both entities use common procedures and are able to conduct CIMIC activities in two separate locations.

 It is MNCG HQ intention that similar type of activities will be conducted with all the Participating Nations CIMIC units in the near future.

Milites Civisque Alacriter

Multinational CIMIC Group is a dedicated CIMIC capability able to engage  CIMIC activities to support NATO and multinational operations,  to enhance the effectiveness of military operations and serve as an essential forum for CIMIC consultations, planning staff and centre of expertise.

In order to update its capabilities and its procedures, Multinational CIMIC Group (MNCG) HQ every year is taking part at NATO Exercises as the “NATURAL INTERFACE” between the CIVIL Environment ant the MILITARY FORCE.

This interface is realized through a light but very effective structure named CIMIC Implementation Detachment / CIMIC Deployable Module (DM).

DM  is considered a “plug and play” asset. Being its manning mission and situation tailored, the figures of personnel involved can consequently vary according to the theatre of operation. Reconnaissance and Assessments Teams will be deployed in the early stageof operations, Projects Team if CIMIC Projects will be required and Functional Specialist will be deployed because of a specific requirement for their expertise which cannot be found otherwise within the area of operation.

MNCG DM structure is flexible and adaptable during the force generation process accordingly to the requirements identified by the Force Commander. In principle, a standard structure is composed by a minimum of 10 up to 18.

A DM to fulfill its mission need a cell of specialized analysts (Subject Matter Experts) able to provide quick answers and deep/specialized assessments. This group of expert is concentrated within the “CIMIC Reach Back”.

To add more, Reach Back Capability is the process of providing products, services and applications in a timely manner, from static elements forming a “supportive HQ” to the deployed modules in order to achieve the required efficiency and effectiveness.

During the last years, MNCG DM took part at the following NATO Exercise:

• NOBLE LIGHT 08  SARAGOZA (SPAIN)  from 01 Oct. to 20 Oct. 2008;

• STEADFAST JOINER 08 SOLENZARA (FRANCE) from 30 Oct. to 15 Nov. 2008;

• LOYAL JEWEL 09 STAVANGER (NORWAY) from 26 Oct. to 07 Nov. 2009