An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir November / December 2024 www.military.ie/magazine J4 www.military A fter a year of intensive planning, liaison and collaboration, in Ireland and internationally, the Logistics Operations Team (J4) in Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) successfully pre-deployed the EU Battle-Group (EUBG) equipment and vehicles into a Logistics Hub (LogsHub) in Germany. This unheralded pre-deployment is for a period of 16 months, or for the duration of the 2025 designated Stand-By period. Each EU Member State is obliged under the Common Security and Defence Policy to routinely provide troops and capabilities to the EUBG Concept for crisis management support. Due to the ongoing global security situation, the timelines for deployment of the EUBG have been shortened under the newly devised Rapid Deployment Concept (RDC) from 10 days to 5 days. How could an island nation like Ireland, with limited strategic lift capabilities adhere to the stricter parameters of the new RDC? This was the problem faced by the Logistics Operations Team (J4) in Defence Forces Headquarters. Throughout the planning process, the J4 HQ Team conducted the detailed planning for this entire operation using the following planning processes: The Military Decision Making Process, the Logistics Planning Process and the Operational Planning Process. These processes were adhered to in order to ensure interoperability with our International Military Partners and a situational awareness of the ongoing Geo-Political situation. As a result of this strategic and detailed planning, numerous visits and conferences were attended including the following: • Visit to the German Army Joint Logistics Command. • SME reconnaissance visits to Logistics Hubs (LogsHubs) in Germany and Belgium. • Attendance at EU PESCO Military Mobility and LogsHub Conferences. • Fact-finding visits to Dublin and Antwerp Ports. PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES The overall project was to logistically support Ireland's commitments to European Security through the EUBG and RDC. This was an extremely large undertaking, one of the biggest in DF History. As previously stated, the standby period had reduced from the previous 10 Days to the newly revised 5 Days' Notice to Move (NTM). As an island nation, this was a near impossible tasking and to have a ship on standby to move DF military equipment at 5 days NTM, entailed a multi-million euro contract. As an alternative solution and advocating innovation and initiative, the DF approached this problem using our EU partners. Through the PESCO Military Mobility and in particular, the LogsHub projects, Ireland agreed to gain full 'Participation Status' in order to get permission and international support to store our vehicles and equipment in Germany throughout the RDC standby period. This innovation using PESCO increased Ireland's military effectiveness and considerably reduced our costings/budget by 50%. Additionally, this seriously enhanced our logistical capabilities and interoperability with our EU Partners. During Quarter 2 of 2024, the DF successfully withdrew all our equipment and vehicles out of the UN Mission in Syria, through Beirut Port, during a regional conflict. As a result of this successful withdrawal, throughout the summer of 2024, the DF compiled, manifested and stored over 30 combat vehicles (mostly armoured) and nearly 50 containers of equipment for transportation to the LogsHub in Pfungstadt, near Frankfurt Germany. After detailed liaisons with our Belgian and German Colleagues through the PESCO Project, the correct military and civilian documentation were completed in order to facilitate this extremely complex cross border move. In late September 2024, the RO-RO ship docked in Dublin Port and using excellent co-operation and collaboration with the Port authorities, the ship was loaded for onwards movement to Antwerp. LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO EUBG 2025 ARTICLE BY COL GARETH PRENDERGAST, D J4 A large RO-RO Ship was also contracted for the sole use of this move 16 |

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