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Greenland Command (Denmark)
Encyclopedia
Island Command Greenland , or simply "GLK", is a Level.II authority responsible directly to the Defence Command
.
It is, among other things, responsible for the military defense of Greenland
, maritime and sovereignty maintenance and enforcement, as well as search and rescue
.
Personnel assigned to the Danish liaison office at Thule Air Base
(FOTAB) as well as the Sirius Patrol are also a part of the Greenland Command.
It also functions as NATO's Island Commander Greenland, formerly part of Allied Command Atlantic
. ACLANT became Allied Command Transformation
in 2003, and since then it is not clear exactly how the command now fits into the NATO Military Command Structure.
. From the late 18th century up to World War II
, personnel from the Danish military
contributed very actively to the exploration of Greenland, by land, sea and air.
After WWII fishing inspections and sea measuring began again and the first dedicated Greenland command was erected, called the "Greenland Maritime Command", located at Nuuk
. On August 1, 1951 it changed name to the "Island Command Greenland", while simultaneously moving from Nuuk to the Naval base at Kangilinnguit
, where it has been ever since.
(Search And Rescue) response organization in the Greenlandic area of responsibility. This organization is administered by the Greenland Command.
The organization is divided into three sections, Land, Maritime, and Air, in order to simplify the command structure, which is absolutely vital on SAR operations.
The Greenland Command is authorised to request additional support from naval vessels
, police cutters, the Royal Danish Air Force, civilian ships, aircraft from Air Greenland
, and US
or Iceland
ic SAR units based in Iceland
if need be.
Currently there are about 150 total civilian and military employees employed by the command, from both Danish and Greenlandic decent.
Defence Command (Denmark)
The Defence Command of Denmark short FKO, is the Danish branch-combined military command and the top coordination and controlling authority of the Danish military...
.
It is, among other things, responsible for the military defense of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, maritime and sovereignty maintenance and enforcement, as well as search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
.
Personnel assigned to the Danish liaison office at Thule Air Base
Thule Air Base
Thule Air Base or Thule Air Base/Pituffik Airport , is the United States Air Force's northernmost base, located north of the Arctic Circle and from the North Pole on the northwest side of the island of Greenland. It is approximately east of the North Magnetic Pole.-Overview:Thule Air Base is the...
(FOTAB) as well as the Sirius Patrol are also a part of the Greenland Command.
It also functions as NATO's Island Commander Greenland, formerly part of Allied Command Atlantic
Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
The Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic was one of two supreme commanders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation , the other being the Supreme Allied Commander Europe . The SACLANT led Allied Command Atlantic, based at Norfolk, Virginia...
. ACLANT became Allied Command Transformation
Allied Command Transformation
Allied Command Transformation is a NATO military command, which was formed in 2003 after North Atlantic Treaty Organisation restructuring....
in 2003, and since then it is not clear exactly how the command now fits into the NATO Military Command Structure.
History
The Danish military can trace its activities in Greenland back to the time of Hans EgedeHans Egede
Hans Poulsen Egede was a Norwegian-Danish Lutheran missionary who launched mission efforts to Greenland, which led him to be styled the Apostle of Greenland. He established a successful mission among the Inuit and is credited with revitalizing Dano-Norwegian interest in the island after contact...
. From the late 18th century up to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, personnel from the Danish military
Military of Denmark
The armed forces of the Kingdom of Denmark, known as the Danish Defence is charged with the defence of the Kingdom of Denmark.The Chief of Defence is the head of the Danish Armed Forces, and is head of the Defence Command which is managed by the Ministry of Defence. Constitutionally, the...
contributed very actively to the exploration of Greenland, by land, sea and air.
After WWII fishing inspections and sea measuring began again and the first dedicated Greenland command was erected, called the "Greenland Maritime Command", located at Nuuk
Nuuk
Nuuk, is the capital of Greenland, the northernmost capital in North America and the largest city in Greenland. Located in the Nuup Kangerlua fjord, the city lies on the eastern shore of the Labrador Sea and on the west coast of Sermersooq. Nuuk is the largest cultural and economic center in...
. On August 1, 1951 it changed name to the "Island Command Greenland", while simultaneously moving from Nuuk to the Naval base at Kangilinnguit
Kangilinnguit
Kangilinnguit is a settlement and a naval base in the Sermersooq municipality, located at the mouth of Arsuk Fjord in southwestern Greenland. The settlement had 160 inhabitants in 2010, most of whom are Danish Navy personnel, attached to Island Command Greenland headquarters...
, where it has been ever since.
Civilian duties
Under the stipulations of several international treaties, Denmark has agreed to keep and maintain a SARSearch and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
(Search And Rescue) response organization in the Greenlandic area of responsibility. This organization is administered by the Greenland Command.
The organization is divided into three sections, Land, Maritime, and Air, in order to simplify the command structure, which is absolutely vital on SAR operations.
The Greenland Command is authorised to request additional support from naval vessels
Royal Danish Navy
The Royal Danish Navy is the sea-based branch of the Danish Defence force. The RDN is mainly responsible for maritime defence and maintaining the sovereignty of Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese territorial waters...
, police cutters, the Royal Danish Air Force, civilian ships, aircraft from Air Greenland
Air Greenland
Air Greenland A/S is the flag carrier airline of Greenland, jointly owned by the government of Greenland, the SAS Group, and the government of Denmark...
, and US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic SAR units based in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
if need be.
Currently there are about 150 total civilian and military employees employed by the command, from both Danish and Greenlandic decent.
Winter in Grønnedal
- http://forsvaret.dk/glk - official Greenland Command site (Danish)
- http://www.dpc.dk/sw5407.asp - Danish Polar Centre (English)