Bundeswehr Joint Force Command
Missions and tasks
The BwJFCBundeswehr Joint Force Command is responsible for operational-level planning and the operational-level of command throughout the Bundeswehr’s entire spectrum of operations, including its core task of national and collective defence, administrative assistance and disaster relief, international crisis management, military evacuation and special forces operations.
The Bundeswehr Joint Force Command is evolving from the Bundeswehr Homeland Defence Command and the Bundeswehr Joint Forces Operations Command. The Bundeswehr Homeland Defence Command has previously been responsible for all the Bundeswehr’s tasks at home and for national territorial defence. Bundeswehr Joint Forces Operations Command currently still exercises command and control over the Bundeswehr’s operations abroad in international crisis management.
The tasks involved in reception, staging, onward movement and integration (RSOIreception, staging, onward movement and integration) and host nation support – supporting Germany’s own and allied forces during initial and further deployment – and the seamless organisation of Germany’s role as a central hub, further development of the Operational Plan for Germany, and administrative assistance and disaster relief in accordance with Article 35 of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, have already been integrated into the new Command. More tasks will be integrated when the Bundeswehr Joint Force Command has achieved full capability by the end of March 2025.
Operational Level of Command
Military command and control is carried out at three levels: the strategic, operational and tactical levels. In this respect, the operational level of command is a mediator and translator between the political objectives of the strategic level and the tactical action at the local level.
Host Nation Support
Host nation support is the support provided for foreign armed forces in Germany. When the military forces of friendly nations pass through Germany, Germany – in its role as a host nation – provides a wide range of services in consultation with the allied troops. These services include food, accommodation, fuel, medical care and technical support, as well as legal advice and guarding activities. This support for allied countries’ troops staying in or moving through its territory is one of Germany’s most important commitments to NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is Germany’s contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Reinforcement and Sustainment Network.
RSOIreception, staging, onward movement and integration: from provision to effectiveness
Due to the new threat situation on NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastern flank and the growing number of trouble spots emerging in a globalised world, it is essential to be able to deploy troops efficiently at all times and quickly bring their military power to bear. Rapid strategic deployability is therefore a key element of national and collective defence. National RSOIreception, staging, onward movement and integration precedes strategic deployment. The Bundeswehr Joint Force Command acts as the command responsible for initial deployment of the German forces.
Administrative assistance
The Bundeswehr is particularly visible to the German population whenever it supports civilian organisations in the event of natural disasters and grave accidents. These support services are grouped under the term “administrative assistance and disaster relief”. Article 35 of the Basic Law requires all authorities at the federal and state levels to provide administrative assistance to each other; this also applies to the Bundeswehr. The Bundeswehr Joint Force Command is responsible for coordinating Bundeswehr assistance and support activities.
