Enhancing NATO Interoperability

As the United States rebalances its efforts to the Asia Pacific Region it must reassess its alliance relationships in other parts of the world. The most enduring of these alliances is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO has proven to be a steadfast partner of the United States for the past 60 years. To ensure this relationship remains relevant well into the future requires enhanced military interoperability amongst alliance members, and the United States must play a prominent role. Three meaningful ways to achieve the goal of an enhanced interoperable capability in the landpower and joint arenas include the development of stronger military-to-military relationships utilizing U.S. units currently stationed in Europe, in consonance with other available reinforcers, such as the National Guard State Partnership Program, the integration of alliance and partner officers and non-commissioned officers into joint training centers, such as the Joint Multinational Readiness Center and the further development of the NATO Response Force training and certification program as a multinational, multi-echelon capstone event that challenges command control and communications across the European continent at a minimum.