Vigilance:Navy Ships and Marines Placed Under NATO Command for Force Integration

Several US Navy warships have been placed under NATO command (STRIKFORNATO) as part of major warfighting drills in the Baltic,Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas,NATO announced.These include the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG 8) and the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).It is only the second instance of a transfer of a CSG to NATO since the end of the Cold War,NATO pointed out.This transfer of command is designated Vigilance Activity Neptune Shield 22 (NESH 22).It integrates high-end maritime expeditionary strike capabilities of Air,Sea and Land assets.NESH 22 will occur in the Baltic,Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas from 17-31 May.Participating in the Vigilance Activity are the following NATO Allies:Albania,Bulgaria,Croatia,Denmark,France,Germany,Greece,Italy,Latvia,Lithuania,the Netherlands,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Slovenia,Spain,Turkey,the UK and the US.* The purpose of this Vigilance Activity is to overcome the complexities of integrating Command and Control of a Carrier Strike Group;an Amphibious Ready Group;and a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) into NATO.We will thus conduct the handover of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and Combined Task Force 61/2,which consists of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit,from U.S. 6th Fleet to STRIKFORNATO and the wider Alliance.It establishes the unity that NATO strives for throughout the Alliance,according to Supreme Allied Commander Europe US Air Force General Tod D. Wolters,who noted that: Vigilance Activities like NESH 22 strengthen our ability to seamlessly integrate maritime strike capabilities to support deterrence and defence.We continue to do everything necessary to shield the Alliance.* Such Vigilance Activities ensure the appropriate strategic awareness and force readinesss required to sustain peace.Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO),headquartered in Oeiras,Portugal,is SACEUR'S premier,rapidly deployable and flexible maritime power projection HQ.It plans and executes full spectrum joint maritime warfighting activities.*