Special Operations Component Command HQ participates in NATO exercise 'Steadfast Dagger 24'

• This exercise brings together militaries from all Alliance member countries in Norway to test the operational capability of the Allied Response Force 25 (ARF25)

Steadfast Dagger 24 (STDA24) is a command post exercise, planned and coordinated by the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SACEUR), in order to evaluate the different multinational Component Commands of the Allied Response Force (ARF) 25, including the Spanish Special Operations Component Command (SOCC).

This exercise takes place from November 20 to December 5, 2024 at the NATO Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) facilities in Stavanger (Norway). The STDA24 is composed of different phases according to the scenario. Among them, a first one of preparation or Battle Staff Training (BST); as well as another one of development of the exercise that includes a series of events, whose objective is to test the reaction capacity of the different Component Commands under the command of the ARF HQ.

To carry out the exercise, the SOCC has provided a total of 43 military personnel from the Joint Special Operations Command (MCOE), Army, Air and Space Force and Navy. In addition, representatives of different units of the General Staff of Defense (EMAD), which are deployed in the JWC; as well as two liaison officers with the different Component Commands, who are stationed in Rota (Spain) and Turkey, are participating.

Following the preparation, certification and evaluation phase, which took place during the first half of 2024, the MCOE (in the fulfillment of its functions as SOCC ARF24) is in Stand By phase as of July 1, 2024.

On the other hand, STDA24 is included in the schedule of preparation and certification activities for ARF 25, in which also MCOE will act as SOCC ARF until June 30, 2026.

NATO exercise 'Steadfast Dagger 24'

Steadfast Dagger 24' is NATO's primary crisis prevention and management training activity, and is conducted as a computer-aided command post exercise. Its main objective is to instruct Allied Reaction Force 25 (ARF 25) in the planning and execution of multi-domain operations - non-Article 5 and outside NATO territory - to combat hybrid security threats. This enhances training in a multi-domain environment, which is one of NATO's three main tasks set out in the Strategic Concept 2022 agreed at the Madrid Summit.

STDA24 has been programmed by Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), coordinated by the Allied Joint Force Command Naples and directed by the Norwegian Joint Warfare Centre.