Corps de réaction rapide France
Encyclopedia
Created on 1 July 2005, Headquarters Rapid Reaction Corps-France (HQ RRC-FR) is a French headquarters, NATO certified, able to command a national or multinational land component of between 5 000 to 60 000 personnel.
With more than 400 military and civilians coming from 13 different nations, HQ RRC-FR is stationed in Lille, within a 17th century citadel also known as « the Queen of the Citadels », designed by the famous French Field Marshal Vauban.
Reactive, flexible and open to the world, HQ RRC-FR is, par excellence, a purpose built organisation, designed to handle the complexity of military operations of the early twenty-first century.
Once placed on alert, it is able to deploy reconnaissance teams to an operation area within two days, following a political decision to commit troops, and a light command post (CP) in less than 10 days.
It can be committed within a multinational environment, in the framework of NATO, European Union (EU) or even under a national mandate.
Thus:
- From 1 July to 31 December 2008, it assumed NATO Response Force (NRF11) Land Component standby period.
- From January to May 2009, part of the HQ staff members contributed to reinforce European Force (EUFOR) in Chad and the Central African Republic.
- From August 2010 to January 2011, about 180 personnel (including about thirty allies) were deployed to Afghanistan, to man part of the positions of ISAF (International Security and Assistance Force) tactical headquarters positions, ISAF Joint Command (IJC).
Indeed, in the planning process of NATO-led operations in Afghanistan, NATO certified headquarters (including HQ RRC-FR) regularly contribute to ISAF rotations.
Stabilisation operation: creating the necessary conditions for the normalisation of the situation, particularly in the field of security, and thereby enabling functioning state institutions.
A multinational headquarters subordinated to Land Forces Command (LFC) based in Lille, the HQ RRC-FR is open to all EU and NATO members (16% of its strength).
Though stationed in France, its working language is English.
In crisis, French and Allied operational reinforcements would augment its strength up to 750 personnel, to enable HQ RRC-FR to conduct long term high intensity operations.
Everything is done to draw on the military experience of each nation. A constant exchange is facilitated by the use of English as a common working language.
- NATO and European Union members (strength)
•
Belgium
(15)
•
Bulgaria
(1)
•
Germany
(13)
•
Greece
(2)
•
Italy
(5)
•
Netherlands
(5)
•
Portugal
(1)
•
Romania
(2)
•
Spain
(3)
• United Kingdom
(10)
- NATO members
•
Turkey
(2)
• United States of America (11)
All of them can be projected, via satellite link to an operational theatre providing HQ RRC-FR with the capacity to command, if needed, an operation from its Citadel based Command Post, thanks to a rear Homebase Operation Center (HBOC).
As for now, HQ RRC-FR benefits from the sole French phone exchange directly connected to the NATO network.
A 24 person-team is responsible for assembling, maintenance and operation on these networks, which offers HQ RRC-FR complete autonomy in this domain, compared to other headquarters.
When deployed, HQ RRC-FR can use up to five thousand square metres of tentage, four hundred and fifty modular CP shelters, seventy kilometres of electrical cable, one hundred and twenty kilometres of fibre optics and sixteen hundred computers.
It has been certified as a "High Readiness Force" (HRF) by NATO since 2007.
With more than 400 military and civilians coming from 13 different nations, HQ RRC-FR is stationed in Lille, within a 17th century citadel also known as « the Queen of the Citadels », designed by the famous French Field Marshal Vauban.
Reactive, flexible and open to the world, HQ RRC-FR is, par excellence, a purpose built organisation, designed to handle the complexity of military operations of the early twenty-first century.
Reactive
Following a detailed examination of its capabilities, the Headquarters Rapid Reaction Corps-France was certified « High Readiness Force » (HRF) by NATO in July 2007. Only 7 Headquarters are certified as such in Europe.Once placed on alert, it is able to deploy reconnaissance teams to an operation area within two days, following a political decision to commit troops, and a light command post (CP) in less than 10 days.
Flexible
HQ RRC-FR is able to perform a wide variety of missions, ranging from an initial entry to stabilisation operations.It can be committed within a multinational environment, in the framework of NATO, European Union (EU) or even under a national mandate.
Thus:
- From 1 July to 31 December 2008, it assumed NATO Response Force (NRF11) Land Component standby period.
- From January to May 2009, part of the HQ staff members contributed to reinforce European Force (EUFOR) in Chad and the Central African Republic.
- From August 2010 to January 2011, about 180 personnel (including about thirty allies) were deployed to Afghanistan, to man part of the positions of ISAF (International Security and Assistance Force) tactical headquarters positions, ISAF Joint Command (IJC).
Indeed, in the planning process of NATO-led operations in Afghanistan, NATO certified headquarters (including HQ RRC-FR) regularly contribute to ISAF rotations.
Stabilisation operation: creating the necessary conditions for the normalisation of the situation, particularly in the field of security, and thereby enabling functioning state institutions.
Open to the world
HQ RRC-FR completes the range of French Land Forces Headquarters. Its creation allows France to contribute according to its position and international commitments, while remaining consistent with the requirements of national security and defence, within the framework of the EU or NATO.A multinational headquarters subordinated to Land Forces Command (LFC) based in Lille, the HQ RRC-FR is open to all EU and NATO members (16% of its strength).
Though stationed in France, its working language is English.
In crisis, French and Allied operational reinforcements would augment its strength up to 750 personnel, to enable HQ RRC-FR to conduct long term high intensity operations.
12 Contributing nations
In addition to France, HQ RRC-FR framework nation, 12 different nations contribute to the staff on a permanent basis, representing a total of 70 personnel.Everything is done to draw on the military experience of each nation. A constant exchange is facilitated by the use of English as a common working language.
- NATO and European Union members (strength)
•
BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(15)
•
BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
(1)
•
GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(13)
•
GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(2)
•
ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(5)
•
NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(5)
•
PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(1)
•
RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
(2)
•
SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(3)
• United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(10)
- NATO members
•
TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(2)
• United States of America (11)
A 21st Century Headquarters
HQ RRC-FR benefits from the best fibre optic equipped site among the French Army: about 300 km fibre deployed between and inside its 17th century walls. There, are 18 (French + NATO) computer and phone networks.All of them can be projected, via satellite link to an operational theatre providing HQ RRC-FR with the capacity to command, if needed, an operation from its Citadel based Command Post, thanks to a rear Homebase Operation Center (HBOC).
As for now, HQ RRC-FR benefits from the sole French phone exchange directly connected to the NATO network.
A 24 person-team is responsible for assembling, maintenance and operation on these networks, which offers HQ RRC-FR complete autonomy in this domain, compared to other headquarters.
When deployed, HQ RRC-FR can use up to five thousand square metres of tentage, four hundred and fifty modular CP shelters, seventy kilometres of electrical cable, one hundred and twenty kilometres of fibre optics and sixteen hundred computers.
A strategic crossroads
In between Paris, Brussels (NATO and EU Headquarters), Mons (SHAPE Headquarters) and Strasbourg, (European Parliament), HQ RRC-FR is ideally located towards key decision centres.It has been certified as a "High Readiness Force" (HRF) by NATO since 2007.
See also
CRR-FR- Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction CorpsHeadquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction CorpsThe Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation High Readiness Force Headquarters ready for deployment worldwide within five to thirty days.-History:...