Ulm, 5-7 November 2025 - NATO Military Committee (MC) visited NATO's Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC) and high-tech service provider IABG (Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH), in Germany. The visit, which brought to Ulm NATO military representatives and members of the International Military Staff (IMS), was an important occasion to discuss several topics of paramount importance from an Alliance military point of view.
On the first day the NATO Military Committee discussed the topic of Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD). The simulated scenario and experts of this topic provided the opportunity to better understand strategic implications of the IAMD. For NATO, the IAMD is an essential and continuous mission in peacetime, crisis and conflict, safeguarding and protecting Alliance territory, populations and forces against any air or missile threat or attack.
Throughout the second day, the NATO Military Committee received a number of briefings at JSEC, starting from an overview of its capabilities and future strategic priorities. Later, discussions focused on the complexities involved in the NATO Reinforcement and Sustainment Network (RSN), a critical component of NATO's logistics and rapid response capabilities, in support to any operation as well as vigilance activities in SACEUR's area of operation.
"NATO needs to move further and faster to meet the growing threats we face. The Allied capabilities must and will grow in order to fulfil our defence plans. Consequently, we need to enhance our enabling capabilities, such as logistics, supply, transportation, and medical support in order to be able to move and to sustain hundreds of thousands of soldiers and equipment," said Chairman of the MC, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.
Later, the JSEC team provided an in-depth analysis of the possible scenarios with movement of troops around NATO territory. Practical discussions on RSN allowed the MC to identify valuable lessons for the NATO capitals.
"We have made significant strides in our ability to enable SACEUR's Area of Responsibility," said Commander of JSEC Lieutenant General Kai Rohrschneider. "Whilst we, as a headquarters, have successfully transitioned to the NATO Command Structure, there remains more work ahead of us, collectively with all NATO nations."
JSEC's mission is to contribute to enablement and help the Alliance set the theatre for reinforcement by forces, if and when required. During crisis and conflict, JSEC will coordinate reinforcement by forces, and the subsequent sustainment. With the motto "Enable - Deploy - Sustain", JSEC ensures the preparations of defence and deployments of troops, by accelerating, coordinating, and safeguarding the movement of Allied forces across Europe, whenever and wherever required.
These objectives demand an efficient network of contacts, integrating all relevant authorities, civilian, governmental, and non-governmental institutions of NATO members.
