Naples - Info on NATO & JFC
Viale della Liberazione, 80124 Napoli, Italy
Further information on JFC HQ Naples and its organization may be found at http://www.afsouth.nato.int 
or http://www.nato.int/
Further information on USN activities and the larger NATO community can be found at the USN base paper site of: http://www.nsa.naples.navy.mil/panorama
A map of the NATO's site
Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples was activated on 15 March 2004, when its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH), was deactivated after nearly 53 years of successful activity in support of peace and stability in and around its designated area of responsibility.
Background : The activation of the new command was a part of NATO’s transformation aimed at adapting the allied military structure to the operational challenges of coalition warfare in order to face the emerging threats of the new millennium. The new NATO Command Structure is leaner, more flexible, more efficient, and better able to conduct the full range of Alliance missions. The transition process was set into motion through decisions taken by NATO Heads of State and Government in 2002, when it was also agreed to create a NATO Response Force (NRF) consisting of a technologically advanced and flexible force, including land, sea and air elements, ready to move quickly to wherever needed as dictated by the North Atlantic Council.
Mission: Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples’ (COM JFC HQ Naples) mission is to be prepared to conduct the full range of military operations throughout the NATO Area of Responsibility (AOR) and beyond in order to deter aggression and to contribute to the effective defense of NATO territory and forces, safeguard freedom of the seas and economic lifelines and to preserve or restore the security of NATO nations. In addition, he is to contribute to crisis management and deterrence by ensuring that assigned headquarters and forces are at the designated state of readiness for the conduct and support of operations, and to conduct prudent operational level military analysis and planning that includes the identification of required forces. He is to contribute to the development, conduct and evaluation of exercises to train Allied and Partner HQs and Forces in NATO joint/combined procedures. He shall also contribute to stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic area through cooperation and dialogue under Partnership for Peace, the Mediterranean Dialogue, enhanced relations with Russia and Ukraine, as well as other initiatives in the field of consultation and engagement of non-NATO nations. He shall also work with Allied Command Transformation, in particular to promote the provision of capable combined/joint HQs, forces and capabilities. COM JFC HQ Naples has no permanently designated AOR but SACEUR can designate an approved Joint Operations Area (JOA) to meet the requirement for exercises and operations. He will be assigned by SACEUR Areas of Functional Responsibility (AOFR) for day-to-day activities and the conduct of routine operational and non-operational tasks. COM JFC HQ Naples also can be assigned Areas of Interest (AOI) beyond NATO’s territory to monitor and analyze regional instabilities, military capabilities and transnational issues, in order to identify their potential military consequences that may directly or indirectly influence NATO’s security interests.
The assigned mission implies the need for each operational command to be capable of developing a military response to missions assigned to it for its expeditionary operations. The JFC Headquarters must therefore be able to mount a Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) HQ, or -- from within its own staff -- a smaller Deployable Joint Task Force (DJTF) as the “seed” for larger command and control formations which various missions may require. Each operational command will, on a rotational basis, assume responsibility to command the NRF and, during those periods, will constantly maintain the capability of deploying a DJTF headquarters within five days of notice.
Organization: At operational level the new NATO command structure consists of two standing Joint Force Commands (JFCs), one in Brunssum, Netherlands and one in Naples, Italy. In addition, a smaller Joint Headquarters (JC HQ) was activated in Lisbon, Portugal, specifically designed to command a sea-based CJTF operation from an afloat command platform.
Each JFC is assisted by three component commands, each specializing in land, air and maritime operations. The JFC HQ Naples Allied Land Component Command Headquarters (CC-LAND HQ) was established at Madrid, Spain on 1 July 2004. It is responsible for Command and Control (C2) of Land Operations and will be the Land Focus HQ, responsible for the oversight, planning, coordination and execution of all Land-related tasks. The former headquarters Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe (NAVSOUTH) was converted on 5 July 2004 into the Allied Maritime Component Command (CC- MAR HQ Naples). It is responsible for sea control, protection of the sea lines of communication, and naval control of shipping in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Mar-COM Naples has two of NATO’s Immediate Reaction Forces, the NATO Standing Naval Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and the Standing Naval Mine Counter Measures Group 2 (SNMCMG2), under his control. In addition, MAR-COM Naples coordinates, on a 24-hour daily basis, maritime surveillance within the Mediterranean area. CC MAR HQ is located on the Island of Nisida in Naples. Allied Air Forces Southern Europe (AIRSOUTH), previously based in Naples, was relocated to Turkey and became the Allied Air Component Command Headquarters (CC-Air HQ) Izmir on 11 August 2004. Operating under CC-Air HQ Izmir, there are Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs) at Poggio Renatico, Italy and Larissa, Greece. CC-Air HQ Izmir is charged with the air defence in its AOR.
JFC HQ Naples is, or recently has been, engaged in supervising six major 'out-of-area' operations or missions: SFOR, KFOR, NHQS, NHQT, Operation Active Endeavour and NTM-I in IRAQ.
As part of the NATO re-structure, Headquarters Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO - SFN) previously STRIKFORSOUTH has transformed into a member of the NATO Force Structure and a High Readiness Force Expanded Task Force (HRF ETF) Headquarters. The new name, adopted on 1 July 2004, is designed to reflect the fact that the Headquarters now has a remit to operate NATO-wide under the direct operational command of SACEUR. Considering that the Headquarters will continue to reside in Naples it will maintain only an administrative relationship with JFC HQ Naples.
Included in the NATO re-structure, a new agency was created which is responsible for all CIS support within NATO, it is the NATO CIS Support Agency (NCSA). The Agency is co-located at SHAPE HQ. NCSA Sector Naples is a sub-element of this Agency located in Naples and responsible for the CIS support of the entire JFC HQ Naples command.
Note. A ground-breaking ceremony was conducted on 28 January 2004 at Lago Patria, some 20 kilometers north west of Naples, at the site where a completely new facility will be built for Joint Force Command HQ Naples. Completion of the new building is not expected before 2010 with delays possible.
