United States European Command

By U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kenya Shiloh Combined Endeavor 2013 Public Affairs|9/12/2013 5:18:37 PM

Combined Endeavor 13 kicks off in Grafenwoehr, Germany.

U.S. ARMY GARRISON GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Nearly 40 NATO, Partnership for Peace and coalition partner nations were present for the opening ceremony of Exercise Combined Endeavor 2013 which takes place Sept. 13-26, 2013. Combined Endeavor 2013 prepares nations to collaborate, plan and execute complex command, control, communications and computers (C4) systems in crisis response and combat operations. The exercise began in 1995 to build partnerships between nations.

1 photo: Opening ceremony for Combined Endeavor 2013.

Photo 1 of 1: U.S. ARMY GARRISON GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - Nearly 40 NATO, Partnership for Peace and coalition partner nations were present for the opening ceremony of Exercise Combined Endeavor 2013 which takes place Sept. 13-26, 2013. Combined Endeavor 2013 prepares nations to collaborate, plan and execute complex command, control, communications and computers (C4) systems in crisis response and combat operations. The exercise began in 1995 to build partnerships between nations. Download full-resolution version

U.S. ARMY GARRISON GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- More than 2,500 communicators from 40 NATO, Partnership for Peace and coalition partner nations gathered at U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr, Germany, for the opening ceremony of Combined Endeavor 2013, Sept. 12, 2013.

"Coalition Network for Tomorrow's Fight" is this year's theme for Combined Endeavor 2013 which takes place Sept. 13-26.

Combined Endeavor, sponsored by United States European Command, is the world's largest command, control, communications and computer systems exercise designed to build and enhance communications and network interoperability between 40 nations and international organizations.

"This year as we focus on mission partner environment and the validation of the joining, membership, and exiting instructions - our influence will be global," said U.S. Army Col. Lemuel Thomas, EUCOM Coalition Partner Interoperability division chief. "Combined Endeavor not only allows partner nations to validate and integrate innovative, technical solutions on their organic C4 equipment, it also provides an opportunity for the sharing of best practices, encourages peace through security cooperation, and promotes understanding and trust."

The goal of this year's Combined Endeavor exercise is to conduct a series of operationally-focused interoperability tests in order to enhance joint and multinational C4 solutions for use in coalition operations and promoting coalition information dominance.

Combined Endeavor participants this year include Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United States, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, Belgium, Mexico and the United Kingdom.