NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS) has a new commander. On Friday, Italian General Salvatore Farina assumed command with effect 4 March 2016 in an official handover ceremony at the Hendrik Barracks in Brunssum (Netherlands), home of the JFC. Farina, who can look back upon extensive experience acquired in the Italian Army Staff, in the Italian Defensive General Staff, and abroad, as Military Attaché in London as well as NATO Force Commancer in Kosovo (KFOR) from 2013 to 2014, will be the first Italian to become JFCBS commander.
His predecessor General Hans-Lothar Domröse (German Army) leaves active duty after 43 years of service; highlights of his career include amongst others ISAF Chief of Staff in Kabul in 2008, and, as of 2011, the appointment as the German Military Representative to NATO and the EU in Brussels immediately prior to assuming command of JFCBS in December 2012.
The outdoor ceremony in “infantry weather” was led by General Philip M. Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and attended by more than 200 dignitaries and guests representing the NATO Command Chain, European capitals, the Netherlands as host nation, North America, national and international Organizations.
In his farewell speech General Domröse emphasized his primary focus throughout his time in command has been Afghanistan – a mission that will continue to be a priority for the HQs. In Domröse’s eyes the NATO Response Force has made excellent progress since the Alliance’s 2014 Wales Summit. “Multinational Corps Northeast and the newly established NATO Force Integration Units are well on track to meeting the required level of ambition and through a series of exercises in April and May 2016 we will have demonstrated a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force that is established, trained, exercised and useable”, he stated.
Looking back to 2015 Domröse expressed how pleased he was at the success of Exercise Trident Juncture. The largest NATO exercise in over a decade, Trident Juncture 2015 hosted by Italy, Spain and Portugal between the end of September and early November, saw circa 36000 troops from 27 NATO nations and five partner nations taking part. General Breedlove, in his remarks, praised Domröse for his “energy, enthusiasm, determination and passion” describing him as a “force of nature”. Breedlove then welcomed General Farina as the new JFC Brunssum Commander stating he is “very much the right man for the job as, amongst other achievements, is demonstrated by his magnificent leadership of KFOR”. Alexander Kolberg
Photos depict:
1)
General Hans-Lothar Domröse handing the JFC Brunssum flag to General Philip M. Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe. (Photo: NATO)
2)
General Philip M. Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, transferring the JFC Brunssum flag to General Salvatore Farina. (Photo: NATO)
3)
The new Commander Joint Force Command Brunssum, General Salvatore Farina, addressing the Visitors and his new staff during the ceremony. (Photo: NATO)
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Finally General Hans-Lothar Domröse left the parade ground in a WIESEL armoured weapons carrier. (Photo: NATO)
Alexander Kolberg
