40 nations launch Exercise Combined Endeavor 2013

Photo By Master Sgt. Kenya Shiloh | A German delegation were among the audience members during the opening ceremony of Exercise Combined Endeavor 2013, Sept. 12, 2013. Germany was among 40 nations represented for the annual exercise that takes place Sept. 13-26, 2013.Combined Endeavor, a U.S. European Command-sponsored event, explores and resolves multinational tactics, techniques and procedures and builds command, control, communications and computers (C4) planning experience and knowledge among participating nations.  

GRAFENWOEHR, BW, GERMANY

09.12.2013

Courtesy Story

Combined Endeavor

By U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kenya Shiloh
Combined Endeavor 2013 Public Affairs

U.S. ARMY GARRISON GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — More than 2,500 communicators from 40 NATO, Partnership for Peace and coalition partner nations gathered at U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr, Germany, for the opening ceremony of Combined Endeavor 2013 Sept. 12, 2013.

"Coalition Network for Tomorrow's Fight" is this year's theme for Combined Endeavor 2013 which takes place Sept. 13-26.

Combined Endeavor, sponsored by United States European Command, is the world's largest command, control, communications and computer systems exercise designed to build and enhance communications and network interoperability between 40 nations and international organizations.

"This year as we focus on mission partner environment and the validation of the joining, membership, and exiting instructions - our influence will be global," said U.S. Army Col. Lemuel Thomas, EUCOM Coalition Partner Interoperability division chief and opening ceremonies guest speaker. "Combined Endeavor not only allows partner nations to validate and integrate innovative, technical solutions on their organic C4 equipment, it also provides an opportunity for the sharing of best practices, encourages peace through security cooperation, and promotes understanding and trust."

The goal of this year's Combined Endeavor exercise is to conduct a series of operationally-focused tests to enhance joint and multinational C4 solutions for use in coalition operations and promoting coalition information dominance.


Combined Endeavor participants this year include Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United States, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, Belgium, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

First held in 1995, Combined Endeavor enhances collaboration between nations – especially through an interoperability guide of communications and network systems which has been used by participating nations as an electronic roadmap to respond to major military and humanitarian relief efforts around the world like the 2004 Tsunami, 2006 evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon and NATO operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

• Date Taken: 09.12.2013
• Date Posted: 09.13.2013 11:34
• Story ID: 113584
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, BW, DE