NATO Logistics Handbook October 1997

Chapter 12: Host Nation Support HNS Planning 1207. HNS planning is part of the overall Operational Planning Process. The operational environment that may generate HNS requirements includes the deployment of NATO HQs, multinational HQs and forces for exercises or for operations during peace, crisis, or conflict. 1208. MC 334 confers upon the NATO Commander a significant role in HNS planning. NATO Commanders are expected to establish the overall force requirements for HNS, to initiate and conclude HNS agreements on behalf of NATO and multinational HQs, and to initiate negotiations with Host Nations when the Sending Nations are not known. The NATO Commander must carefully structure the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) so as to enable the Sending Nations, once identified, to accede to the agreement with minimal modifications. 1209. How to plan for HNS and how to prepare HNS arrangements and agreements is the subject of the Allied Logistics Publication 12 (ALP-12). The mechanisms for obtaining HNS for Multinational Forces are valid for multinational military activities in peacetime, crisis and conflict, and could also be applied when HNS is bilaterally arranged directly between nations. The planning and implementation process consists of five stages. Stage 1: The NATO Commander during his Mission Analysis identifies the need for HNS in support of the contingency plan taking into consideration the require-ments of the Sending Nation where these can be identified. He drafts a Requirement Statement (RS) which, after validation by the appropriate MNC, is sent to the Host Nation. For operations where the Sending Nations can be identified, the MNC should seek their authoritization to negotiate on their behalf. Stage 2: The objective of the second stage is the development of an MOU to be first approved by the NATO Funding Committees and then agreed by the MNC and the Host Nation at governmental level. This MOU is a strawman paper covering inter alia the responsibilities for the various parties involved, and financial considerations. For detailed arrangements reference is made to Technical Arrangements (TA) which will be developed at the next stage. Stage 3: A Joint Planning Committee (JPC) is established by the Designated Major Subordinate Command (MSC) and the Chief of Defence Staff (CHOD) or Ministry of Defence (MOD) of the Host Nation. TAs are produced. Broad functional support requirements (land, air, maritime, security, transportation, telecommunications, facilities, financial, etc.) are considered at military level and Annexes to the TAs address the generic support agreed upon. Stage 4: The NATO Commander and the Host Nation then develop and sign a Joint Host Nation Support Plan (JHNSP) spelling out in detail how the requirements will be met by the Host Nation. This JHNSP still remains a generic plan which is the fifth and final stage will become an executable plan. Stage 5: At this time, operational plans are mature and Sending Nations have committed forces. Joint Implementation Committees (JIC) do detailed planning which will result in specific plans called Joint Implementation Plans (JIP). Signature by NATO Commanders, Host Nation and Sending Nations is required prior to implementation (in peace, crisis and conflict).