Videos

SYNOPSIS In 2021, the Turkish Army is leading NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) – NATO’s spearhead force, designed to be deployed within two or three days should a crisis occur. Leadership of the VJTF rotates between Allies on an annual basis, and Turkey is leading the force from 1 January 2021 to 1 January 2022. Numbers of VJTF personnel fluctuate each year. In 2021, the VJTF consists of 6,400 troops from 12 countries. In May and June 2021, the force deployed to Romania to take part in exercise Steadfast Defender 2021. Lieutenant General Roger L. Cloutier Jr, Commander of Allied Land Command, explains more. Footage includes various shots of soldiers from different NATO countries training at Cincu exercise area in Romania as part of NATO exercise Steadfast Defender 2021. TRANSCRIPT --UPSOT (ITALIAN)— Spread out! Close up – Italian soldier shouts during training Aerial shots – armoured personnel carriers drive through smoke TEXT – WHAT IS NATO’S VJTF? Mid shot – Spanish sniper fires weapon Mid shot – Romanian soldier fires RPG Various shots – Romanian special forces soldiers rappel from helicopter during training --SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH)— Lieutenant General Roger L. Cloutier Jr, Commander Allied Land Command “A VJTF is a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force and it demonstrates NATO’s capability to have a highly trained, rapidly deployable unit on standby to respond to crisis or conflict if necessary.” TEXT - LTG ROGER L. CLOUTIER JR Commander, Allied Land Command Aerial shot – US M1 Abrams tank drives across field during exercise Steadfast Defender Various shots – Italian and Spanish soldiers conduct urban operations training at Steadfast Defender Aerial shots – Turkish soldiers and vehicles training at exercise Steadfast Defender TEXT – IN 2021 THE TURKISH ARMY IS LEADING THE FORCE Various shots – Turkish commander briefs multinational soldiers during exercise Steadfast Defender TEXT – THE FORCE CONSISTS OF 6,400 TROOPS FROM 12 COUNTRIES Split screen – soldiers from the various countries that make up the VJTF AND IS READY TO DEPLOY AT SHORT NOTICE IF NEEDED --SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH)— Lieutenant General Roger L. Cloutier Jr, Commander Allied Land Command “As NATO LANDCOM commander, I focus every day on the combat readiness of NATO’s land forces and the VJTF is the tip of the spear.” Various shots – ground movement exercises at Steadfast Defender