Finland hosted a Logistics Exchange, or LOGEX, workshop in cooperation with U.S. European Command at the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre in Tuusula, Finland, from Dec. 2 - 13, 2013, to focus on the development of multinational logistics and host nation support, or HNS.
The workshop was attended by 64 participants from 26 NATO and Partnership for Peace nations as well as Japan, a U.S. Pacific Command partner, with the aim to enhance interoperability among participants in the planning and execution of forming, deploying, sustaining and redeploying units.
All the planning, movement and sustainment of exercises and operations typically takes a backseat in publicity to the actual event itself, but U.S. Navy Capt. David Shealy, Deputy Director ECJ4, knows where his logistics personnel -- affectionately referred to as “loggies” in the field -- stand.
“I was very impressed with the way the workshop played out,” Capt. Shealy said. “The operations directorate does many exercises, but none of their exercises touch the number of nations the LOGEX touches. LOGEX is very unique in that regard. Operators can plan all they want, but the loggies are the ones that make it happen.”
The workshop brought together experts from a wide range of specialties. Loggies, legal, financial and contracting representatives shared their knowledge and best practices on conducting host nation support. The participants worked in syndicates preparing agreements that are developed in the NATO HNS planning process.
Captain Shealy briefed the NATO Logistics Committee on LOGEX and received a lot of positive feedback from the nations.
“LOGEX is a big bang for the buck,” he said, “meaning that the benefits for the nations and NATO are substantial for a relatively low cost.”
This event was an extensive program in NATO logistics to develop and enhance initial capabilities of Partnership for Peace officers. The workshop methodology combined information from lectures, practical experience and they gained valuable information from the syndicate work. They applied the knowledge and concepts learned in the development of HNS products.
“We learned a lot during this event and I was impressed with the personal and professional relationships developed during LOGEX among the high number of nations involved,” Capt. Shealy said.
