The FP way in the EAG – A single set of experts
Force Protection projects and continuous activities are born, discussed and refined through STOX TA Coordination Board Meetings. This expert FP forum, formed by the undersigning Nations of the corresponding TA, convenes twice a year with the task to manage the EAG FP activities.[1] All nominated representatives are the single point of contact to the nations’ (Air) FP areas allowing for efficient and practical, consistent and co-ordinated project work through well-established working relationships and communication lines.
EAG FP Handbooks and Manuals
“Publish or perish” (unknown) – Interoperability requires Documentation & Standardisation.
The EAG FP Team has delivered some meaningful and fundamental documents in recent years, most of which in co-operation with the (Air) FP branch of the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC). On their basis, the EAG has taken on the work and published a Force Protection Command and Control Handbook in 2020 of which a comprehensively reviewed Version 2 was released in May 2022. The handbook is designed to inform FP Commanders and FP Personnel at the operational-tactical level in FP HQs and FP Command Posts (CP) during exercises and operations. It provides practical documents required for CP management and is adaptable enough to be used throughout all known threat environments.
With the work finalised on a handbook for the protection of individually deployed transport aircraft by a small team of FP specialists, the “Air Mobility Protection Team Handbook, Version 1” was just released in June 2022. It is the first multinationally agreed document on that topic and will play a significant role in boosting standardisation for the protection of the nation’s air transport fleets.
Currently, the EAG FP Team is drafting a publication capturing Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) for Air FP personnel to counter small UAS. Once finalised it will be another step forward to support FP interoperability of the seven EAG Air Forces and their partners in FP, Norway and Sweden.
EAG VOLCANEX FP
“The goal of education is understanding; the goal of training is performance.” (Frank Bell)
The VOLCANEX FP series has a successful history. Especially the Command Post Exercises (CPX) of the last years proofed their value for the training audiences but also for the mentors and organisers. Through the exercise’s international set-up, it enhances the understanding of the participants for each other’s approaches, procedures and ways of thinking. Further, its training focussed approach allows training audiences to test themselves in and experience an international CP environment. Through the feedback of highly experienced mentors, they develop their potential and performance for future operations and evaluations. In that respect, we are looking forward to the VOLCANEX FP CPX in March-en-Famenne, BEL at the Belgian Army Simulation Centre from 03 – 21 October 2022. Over three consecutive weeks, training audiences from 9 nations will have a chance to improve their understanding and performance not only in their field of expertise but beyond.
[1] The governing body and decision authority for all EAG projects is the EAG Working Group.
