The vaccination of STRIKFORNATO’s multi-national staff, composed by 13 different nations, took place at the facilities of the Portuguese Army Military Academy, in Amadora.
This vaccination effort is critical to the European maritime stability as STRIKFORNATO provides a Joint Battle Staff under the Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s (SACEUR) direct Operational Command (OPCOM) delivering a rapidly deployable and scalable headquarters capable of planning and executing full spectrum joint maritime operations, primarily through the integration of U.S. naval and amphibious forces, in order to provide assurance, deterrence, and collective defence for the NATO Alliance.
STRIKFORNATO’s staff remains on an enduring 5-day notice-to-move (NTM) alert status to rapidly respond to developing crises. The battle staff maintains a heightened state of readiness through the preparation and conduct of an aggressive exercise program, while refining standard operating procedures, maintaining habitual relationships with select subject matter experts, participating in several boards, meetings, and conferences with adjacent units and higher headquarters, and by conducting recall and mobility drills.
STRIKFORNATO expects to have the majority of their staff vaccinated by mid-June 2021.
STRIKFORNATO appreciates the continued outstanding support from Portugal and the Portuguese Armed Forces in providing the COVID-19 vaccine to forward deployed and strategic forces, allowing this key NATO headquarters to remain fully operational.
