General Officer Commanding’s Intent

My principal purpose in achieving my Mission and carrying out my specified tasks is to give substance to the Firm Base in BFG and the ESG dependencies, whilst preparing for and conducting the necessary early transformation of our structures as we prepare for Programme BORONA and beyond. Throughout, I will continue to seek to strike an appropriate balance between meeting current requirements, adapting as necessary to change and supporting our people which is what the work of the Support Command is all about. In order to achieve this, I direct we must:

Support the Soldier

We need to improve our infrastructure and maximise the Capital Works Programme. One way of doing this is through implementation of the Soldier First initiative, by re-empowering commanders and listening to what our soldiers have to say about the estate in BFG. This process includes identifying possible economies of scale or effort so that we can apply scarce resources into areas of high priority, benefit and impact, thereby achieving best value for money. In this respect, I am particularly keen to see efforts redoubled to seek further efficiencies in the ENCON area as funding for utilities continues to get ever tighter.

Support the Community

We must continue to refine plans for improved services, with particular regard to the comparable provision of Education, Healthcare and other community services, to ensure that people feel valued and that serving in Europe remains attractive for single and accompanied personnel alike. Being the conscience for the ‘quality of life’ of our people in Germany and across Europe must remain at the forefront of what we do and I will continue to drive forward the Safeguard and Simplify initiative to reduce the administrative burden on individuals and units whilst safeguarding the rights and obligations set out in the SOFA and SA, whilst developing plans further to support veterans.

Engage with the Host Nation

We must ensure that we continue to engage effectively with our Host Nations, our ‘Wider Community’, so that together we remain fully at ease as close neighbours and that no misunderstandings can arise from Programme BORONA or other Defence change programmes. In particular, I intend to maintain a comprehensive communications strategy with our German partners, both civilian and military, and our community at large, by seeking a sustainable level of CE, whilst implementing the restructuring of BFLO(G) in order to facilitate better Host Nation (HN) and CE, and to help set the conditions for the BORONA end-state in Germany.

Provide Support to Operations

As a Support Command we must continue to assist formations, units and troops in their preparations for operations, facilitate the deployment and recovery of Germany-based force elements and provide training support where necessary in order to support CinC LF’s principal purpose; success in Afghanistan and other hybrid operations.

Transform

We must prepare the Command for change by coordinating and facilitating the planning for Programme BORONA in Germany. This includes undertaking work to establish a Germany Support Group in Germany and a UK-based Overseas Support Group, charged with providing Firm Base to the enduring Garrisons and (isolated) detachments in the post-BORONA era, whilst establishing the necessary mechanisms to manage the drawdown and closure of Rhine Garrison and Münster Station under the HQ LF directive, Op ROMULUS. This will require an agile approach when reacting to change; reassigning savings through early rationalisation of the estate, where possible, to areas of high priority such as Soldier First. In addition, we will continue to support, inform, and when appropriate, implement CRF’s structures work to support the Firm Base of BFG and ESG communities.