Practice makes perfect – in military command and control

By: Sofie Tedenstad – 21 May 2010 kl: 12.29
Last updated: 8 July 2013 kl: 14.30
Archived news

Training as a group with regard to military command and control is essential given that Sweden always has assignments in different parts of the world together with other nations. Staff from over twenty countries trained together for two weeks at the Swedish Armed Forces’ command and control training centre.“We will now learn from this,” says Mikael Frisell, who is Chief of Staff for the Nordic Battlegroup’s headquarters.

The command and control of military operations is all about allocating the forces in the best possible way. The situation can change quickly and it is important to constantly adapt to new events. Photo: Sara Högström/Försvarsmakten
The Nordic Battlegroup’s Chief of Staff, Mikael Frisell, welcomes the Minister for Defence, Sten Tolgfors.
The Nordic Battlegroup’s Chief of Staff, Mikael Frisell, welcomes the Minister for Defence, Sten Tolgfors. Photo: Rickard Wissman/Försvarsmakten
Sweden cooperates with many different countries in military operations abroad. Twenty different nations were represented during the Combined Joint Staff Exercise in Enköping.
Sweden cooperates with many different countries in military operations abroad. Twenty different nations were represented during the Combined Joint Staff Exercise in Enköping. Photo: Sara Högström/Försvarsmakten
The staff of the Force Headquarters of the Nordic Battlegroup in one of their briefing rooms. Their command centre consists of tents, containers and vehicles that can be flown away and set up almost anywhere in the world.
The staff of the Force Headquarters of the Nordic Battlegroup in one of their briefing rooms. Their command centre consists of tents, containers and vehicles that can be flown away and set up almost anywhere in the world. Photo: Sara Högström/Försvarsmakten
The Nordic Battlegroup’s Chief of Staff, Mikael Frisell, welcomes the Minister for Defence, Sten Tolgfors. Photo: Rickard Wissman/Försvarsmakten
Sweden cooperates with many different countries in military operations abroad. Twenty different nations were represented during the Combined Joint Staff Exercise in Enköping. Photo: Sara Högström/Försvarsmakten
The staff of the Force Headquarters of the Nordic Battlegroup in one of their briefing rooms. Their command centre consists of tents, containers and vehicles that can be flown away and set up almost anywhere in the world. Photo: Sara Högström/Försvarsmakten

The staff of the Force Headquarters of the Nordic Battlegroup trained outside their normal office premises for the first time. If the force is deployed, the operation will be able to be controlled from the command centre, which consists of tents, containers and vehicles. Everything has been set up and looked after by a headquarters company from the Armed Forces Command and Control Regiment.

“This was the first time the staff and the company trained together and it went very well,” says Mikael Frisell, Chief of Staff.

1,500 people took part in the exercise, known as the Combined Joint Staff Exercise or CJSE, which was also observed by the Minister for Defence, Sten Tolgfors.

“My impression is that the minister was very pleased with what he saw,” says Mikael Frisell.

When the exercise is over, the evaluation work begins. It is important to clarify what we need to train more on in the future.

“We will now learn from this – both when it comes to the staff’s internal processes and how cooperation can be further improved. I already look forward to the next exercise,” says Mikael Frisell.