From the 1st July 2004 NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Italy has assumed the Land Component Command role for NATO Response Force 3 (NRF 3).
NRDC-IT will be on stand by phase for a six months period that will end on 15th January 2005. In this phase it will work under the Command of Admiral Gregory G. Johnson, Commander Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples, who received the NRF colors in a ceremony held on the 27 June 2004 in Istanbul.
The High Readiness Force Headquarters based in Italy has recently completed its NRF preparation phase with a major Exercise, Allied Action 04, played in Civitavecchia together with Taurinense Alpini Brigade designated as NRF Brigade, and the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Battalion.
NATO has decided to save resources and exploit expertise inside the Alliance forces by extracing the Land Component Command (LCC) structure and staff from the six -already existing- high readiness forces (HRF) Headquarters, ready for the Alliance since 2002: the ARRC based in Rheindallen, EUROCORPS in Strasbourg, NRDC-T in Istanbul, NRDC-S in Valencia, GE-NL Corps in Munster and NRDC-IT in Solbiate Olona.
The Land Component Command staff will have a staff of about 160 men out the 400 HRF staff members plus all the logistic and communication assets needed to be rapidly deployable and self sustainable for 30 days; the Land package will be based on a Brigade size formation comprised of combat and combat service support units.
The NRF3 stand by period will be characterized by the achievement of the Initial Operational Capability (IOC), scheduled for next October 2004 during Exercise Destined Glory in Sardinia, Italy.