In seeking to create viable personnel (PR) recovery capability in Europe, the European Defence Agency supported Joint Personnel Recovery Staff Course (JPRSC) recently concluded its 29th edition. Hosted from September 5 - 15 at Germany's Air Operations Command, this course provided significant elements for the process to enhance Europe's (PR) capabilities for the participants from six Member States.
The course was attended by experts from Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Romania, Ireland, and Germany. Throughout the training event, a challenging combined and joint learning environment was created to qualify the 15 students to organise the rescue of personnel in distress according to NATO and EU standards. In line with the primary objective of the course - to provide staff members with the knowledge, skills and expertise required to effectively assist their commanders in PR-related matters - all relevant aspects of Planning and Execution were covered, in addition to promoting interoperability amongst the forces.
Empowering the Vanguard of Personnel Recovery
The JPRSC places a significant emphasis on training personnel earmarked for an employment in JPR C2 nodes such as: Tactical Operation Centres (TOCs), Personnel Recovery Coordination Cells (PRCCs) and Joint Personnel Recovery Centres (JPRCs). By doing so, it provides the participating European nations with a robust pool of proficient personnel that can execute PR operations with seamless precision as a precursor for the establishment of support structures in future operations.
The next and 30th edition of the JPRSC is already under development and will be organised and hosted by Sweden from 28 November to 8 December. With PR already identified as an operational shortfall in many Member States, the JPRSC provides a unique benefit to enhance European PR capabilities by enhancing interoperability through training standardisation in a cost-effective way by pooling and sharing Member States’ available PR resources.
EDA’s wider role
EDA supports all EU Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative capability projects, the Agency has become the hub for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks spanning the whole spectrum of defence capabilities.
Member States use EDA as an intergovernmental expert platform where their collaborative projects are supported, facilitated, and implemented. For more details, please see here.