NATO Organization:
Joint Force Training Centre [External Link]
JFTC Welcome Packet:
JFTC Welcome Packet
History of the Joint Force Training Centre:
Officially established in 2004 in Bydgoszcz, Poland, the Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC) quickly assumed a significant role within the Allied Command Transformation training network.
In 2009 JFTC moved into a newly built, state-of-the-art facility with modern CIS architecture. Capable of supporting up to Joint Force Command level exercises, JFTC provides NATO with a flexible, cost-effective training center for current operations, emerging requirements, readiness, and certification exercises.
In only 13 years, the training events, conferences, and courses at JFTC have proven it a critical part of NATO’s training capability.
The Centre is manned by 160 officers, non-commissioned officers, NATO international civilians, and contractors from 16 NATO nations (Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, and the USA) and 1 Partnership for Peace nation (Georgia).
JFTC has a distinct and unique role within NATO, focusing on joint and combined training at the tactical level. Additionally, it co-operates with Allied Command Transformation, its sister organizations, national training centres, and NATO Centres of Excellence to ensure application of NATO standards and doctrine and to achieve joint tactical interoperability from Brigade to Corps level.
The Centre’s motto, “Transformation Through Training,” reflects its mission. JFTC plays a key role in the NATO transformation process by delivering joint pre-deployment training, supporting current operations and emerging requirements, and by offering a platform for experimentation, testing, and interoperability.
Prior to 2014, JFTC focused on ISAF pre-deployment training. Now the Centre continues its efforts in preparing soldiers for their deployment to Afghanistan by conducting Resolute Support (RS) Mission training. It supports commanders by ensuring advisors achieve a high level of interoperability and flexibility; that NATO headquarters are fully prepared to execute the assigned missions of training, advising, and assisting the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces; and ensuring NATO contributes to the long-term sustainment of those forces.
The JFTC is the premier location of NATO’s annual Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXploration, eXperimentation, and eXamination eXercise (CWIX). Involving upwards of 1,000 participants from over 20 NATO and Partner Nations and multiple NATO commands, agencies, and organizations, the JFTC is integral to increasing capability development and interoperability amongst the Alliance and Partner Nations.
JFTC actively supports NATO Command Structure and NATO Force Structure exercises by facilitating certification exercises for NATO and National Headquarters as well as providing capable Training Teams to augment Exercise Control in others. Simultaneously, JFTC is working intensively on completely new endeavours. In 2016, JFTC assumed lead roles in developing the first NATO-Georgia exercise and training NATO Advisory and Liaison Team for Kosovo.
Whether through testing or supporting current operations, JFTC is at the very heart of the NATO’s aspirations and transformation. The importance of both training and testing will undoubtedly grow, and JFTC remains on the cutting edge of enhancing NATO’s ability to defend the Alliance and project stability.