NATO has numerous agencies and organizations and the NATO Communication and Information Systems Services Agency is one of them. A glorious in NATO's history began in 1970 with the formation of The NATO Communication and Information Systems Services Agency (NCSA) which transformed into different NATO organizations. The creation of NATO standardized the allied military procedures and technology. NATO Integrated Communications Systems Central Operating Authority (NICS-COA) was the first ever communications and information date delivering organization, established with a view to operate, maintain and control NATO communication system.

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History of NCIA Squadron Heidelberg and the
Heidelberg NATO Commands
Irfan A Iftekhar

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization popularly known as NATO; is basically a military
alliance established on 4 April 1949 with Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. NATO constitutes
a system of collective defense in which its member states agree to mutual defense in case of any
attack by any external element. The various agencies that NATO consists are:
NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency
Central European Pipeline System
NATO Pipeline System
NATO Euro fighter and Tornado Management Agency
Air Defense & Air Traffic Control bodies which include:
NATO ACCS Management Agency based in Brussels.
NATO Programming Centre
NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Programme Management Organization
NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency
Command and Control Organization
The SHAPE Technical Center (which was merged with the NATO Communications and
Information Systems Operating and Support Agency (NACOSA) based in Brussels
(Belgium), forming the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency)
NATO Communications and Information Systems Agency
Alliance Ground Surveillance Capability Provisional Project Office (AGS/PPO)
Battlefield Information Collection and Exploitation System (BICES)
NATO Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support Office (CALS)
NATO FORACS Office
Munitions Safety Information Analysis Center (MSIAC)

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NCIA Squadron Heidelberg
NATO has numerous agencies and organizations and the NATO Communication and
Information Systems Services Agency is one of them. A glorious in NATO's history began in
1970 with the formation of The NATO Communication and Information Systems Services
Agency (NCSA) which transformed into different NATO organizations. The creation of NATO
standardized the allied military procedures and technology. NATO Integrated Communications
Systems Central Operating Authority (NICS-COA) was the first ever communications and
information date delivering organization, established with a view to operate, maintain and
control NATO communication system. At the time of its inception the selected few elements of
these complex communications systems were as under:
1. Initial Voice 2.Switched Network (called the IVSN)
3. Telegraph Automated Relay Equipment (called the TARE)
4. Status Control Alerting and Reporting Network System (called the SCARS)
5. SATCOM systems and equipment
6. ACE High Tropospheric Scatter trunk communication Network.
Major revamping and reorganizing endeavors were carried out in the early 90's to update the
Communication and Information systems and support which was mainly due to the introduction
of new technology and systems.
As part of post-Cold War restructuring, NATO's military structure was cut back and reorganized,
with new forces such as the Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps
established. The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe agreed between NATO while

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in 1990 the Warsaw pact was signed in Paris. NACOSA thereafter also took command of 24
other subordinate elements which were:
1. Integrated System Support Centre
2. Allied Command Europe Communications Security
3. The NATO Communication and Information Systems School at Latina
4. Regional Signal Group.
NACOSA afterwards metamorphosed into an organization giving tactical support and the
communication and information systems on both sides of the Atlantic and for all NATO
Operational deployments was looked after and operated by it.
The famous Warsaw Pact came to a culmination in 1991 when the cold war ended and
strategically conceded with the historical fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1993 when the NATO
Communication and Information Systems Operating and Support Agency (NACOSA) was
formed and the job done by NICS-COA as well as some elements of the Information Systems
Division of the Allied Powers Europe, Supreme HQ (SHAPE CISD) was integrated unto it.
1. Integrated System Support Centre (called the ISSC)
2. Allied Command Europe Communications Security (called the ACE Comsec)
3. The NATO Communication and Information Systems School (NCISS) at Latina
4. Regional Signal Group.
NACOSA then developed into an organization working to give support and also operate the
communication and information systems on both sides of the Atlantic and for all NATO
Operational deployments. NATO Long Term Study, NACOSA was regrouped again with the
introduction of Partners of Peace and thus Regional Operating Centre Northwood (United
Kingdom) came under its direct control. In the December of 1997 The Charter for NACOSA was

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signed by the NATO Consultation Command and Control Board and it lived until 2003. Then
after a detailed study the under mentioned recommendations were endorsed by North Atlantic
Council.
NCSA reports directly to the North Atlantic Council and closely works with NATO
Consultation, Command and Control Agency the job of relates to the provision of scientific
support, common funded acquisition of Consultation, Command, Control, Communications,
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities to the NATO Consultation, to which
even the Director of NCSA is accountable.
The Director is also accountable to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe for operational
support or deployment as well as CIS assets. Even today after six decades of its inception,
NATO is the key security structure in Europe. NATO is ultimately governed by its member
states. The North Atlantic Treaty outlines the rules of decision making within NATO.
Comprising of 28 members where each member sends a delegation to NATO’s headquarters in
Brussels, Belgium. The senior permanent member of each delegation is known as the Permanent
Representative he is usually a senior civil servant or an experienced ambassador.
The NATO Heidelberg Headquarters
When the famous North Atlantic Treaty was signed it allowed NATO to gain a consolidated
command structure along with a military Headquarters. On July 1, 2004, the Headquarters once
again transitioned in a ceremony marking its designation to Component Command – Land
Headquarters Heidelberg. The transformation was part of a major NATO restructuring and
incorporated a fundamental change to its mission and operations to assume the mission and roles
as one of only two land centric headquarters in the NATO Command Structure, designed to
provide expeditionary command and control at the operational level of conflict.

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NATO Headquarters again transitioned to the Land HQ Heidelberg. It was a form of major
NATO revamping and changes to its operational and mission control systems ad assume the
roles as one of only two land centric HQ in all of NATO's command structure. This was done
with a view to offer strategic command and control at all levels of conflict.
Under an agreement in 2006 it was required of NATO Command Structure to be in a position to
provide Command and Control at any time and any moment for multiple operations, thus NATO
redefined its so called Level of Ambition. For this purpose a modular “Deployable Joint Staff
Element” concept was developed by NATO.
This was the reason that CC-Land Headquarters Heidelberg was given the job to transform it into
an Allied Force Command Headquarters and keep two deployable Joint Staff Elements to
Brunssum, Naples and Lisbon' operational Headquarters. In 2008 this major transformation was
carried out by CC-Land HQ Heidelberg which transitioned it to a Deployable Joint Staff
Element.
Headquarters Allied Force Command Heidelberg formally came into existence on 1st of March,
2010 and in the month of November, 2010, member countries' Head of State and Government
gathered at Lisbon to ponder upon the future of NATO. They envisaged a Strategic Concept for
the next decade. This time an agile, capable and cost effective alliance. NATO's geographic
footprints were decided on 8th June, 2011 at Brussels, and Izmir in Turkey became the single
Land entity along with this on 1st April, 2013 came the deactivation of Allied Force Command
Heidelberg.
Central Army Group:
CENTAG had four national corps in the late 1970s - two German and two U.S.-which together
comprised the equivalent of 13-2/3 divisions. Because France no longer belongs to NATO's

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military alliance, it is not included in this discussion of alliance forces. In the event that French
troops did participate in a NATO war, however, they could be most easily deployed to
CENTAG. French forces are also stationed in the western portion of CENTAG, near the French-
German border.
During the 80’s ground forces of this group comprised of the Central Army Group, which
included 4 corps with 11 divisions; several independent brigades and 2 tank regiments. In its
armaments were included 48 Lance launchers, up to 5,000 tanks, about 3,500field artillery pieces
and mortars, more than 6,700 anti-tank weapons, and over 1,200 helicopters. CENTAG strength
exceeded 300,000 American, West German and Canadian officers and soldiers.
The ground forces would be supported by the 4th Allied Tactical Air Force, to which American,
West German and Canadian formations and units were assigned from their national air forces.
There were about 900 combat aircraft, 36 PERSHING 1A launchers and up to 150 surface-to-air
missile launchers in it. Air defense missile units from the American forces, concentrated in
CENTAG's area, were also operationally subordinate to this command.
Deactivation of the 4ATAF and CENTAG was completed on June 30th 1993 when 4ATAF
elements constituted the NATO component command Air Cent in Ramstein, Germany. The
Northern Army Group along with CENTAG amalgamated and formed Allied Land Forces
Central Europe (LANDCENT) on 1st July, 1993.
Headquarters Allied Land Forces Central Europe (LANDCENT)
It was activated on 1st of July, 1993 because of the "New Strategic Concept" adopted by the
Alliance in 1991 in the Rome summit. Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, U.K.
and U.S. and a French Military Mission constitute LANDCENT. LANDCENT has a
Commander who is usually a four-star General either from Germany or the U.S or Netherlands.

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The General is assisted by a German Brigadier who acts as the Assistant Chief of Staff
Operations, the Director of Support is a British Major, the responsibilities of Logistics and
manpower relies on him as well as Communications and Information Systems" Division. The
Controller of Finance administers the financial aspects of the HQ.
In cases of sudden deployment or on Peacekeeping missions an American Brigadier assists the
Chief of Staff in the capacity of Chief of Crisis Planning Staff. Other elements of liaison are
attained from:
Head Quarters Allied Forces Baltic Approaches (BALTAP)
The French Forces (French Military Mission/FMM)
The host Nation, represented by "Heeresfuhrungskommando" (HFuKdo)
2nd (GE/U.S.) and 5th (U.S./GE) Corps.
Mission of LANDCENT:
1) Protection of peace and deterrence of aggression
2) Planning, preparations and operational guidance of allocated land forces
3) Planning, coordination, and provision of synchronized air and land operations i
4) To be ready to conduct peace support operations
In the Former Republic of Yugoslavia LANDCENT provided troops during 1993. For the
implementation Force LANDCENT served as the Headquarters for SFOR in Bosnia-
Herzegovina. In the year 1999 NATO acted in Kosovo by starting operational maneuvers in
Pristina, Kosovo and Skopje.
NATO Component Commands
Allied Land Component Command - Heidelberg
Allied Air Component Command - Ramstein

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Allied Maritime Component Command - Northwood
Allied Land Component Command - Madrid
Joint Command Southwest (JCSW) (1999-2004)
Allied Air Component Command - Izmir
Allied Maritime Component Command - Naples
Allied Land Component Command - Heidelberg
A multinational NATO Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. Acts as a subordinate component
command of Joint Force Command Brunssum: CC-Land Heidelberg has a white flag with its
crest in the center.
Allied Air Component Command
Allied Air Forces Central Europe’s successor that was earlier established at Ramstein Air Base
on 28th June, 1974 as subordinate to Allied Forces Central Europe and On 1 July 2004, it came
to be known Component Command-Air Headquarters Ramstein, Germany.
Flag of CC-Air Ramstein is medium blue with its crest in the center.

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Allied Maritime Component Command - Northwood
It is located at Northwood in the United Kingdom; giving specialist Maritime knowhow to the
Joint Force Commander in Brunssum, the Netherlands. It consists of three subordinate maritime
groups. Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 and 2 are multinational, integrated maritime forces
which are made up of vessels from various allied nations, performing operrations together as
single teams
It has a blue Flag is blue and a crest in the center of the flag.

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Allied Land Component Command
Joint Command Southwest of NATO located in Madrid, activated in 1999, was transferred into
in 2004, as new military NATO structure.
It has a green Flag with blue and white NATO emblem in the center.
Joint Command Southwest
The ISAF Joint Command is responsible for operations throughout Afghanistan. ISAF came into
existence when the Russians invaded Afghanistan.
Allied Air Component Command
Successor to the former NATO Air Force Command Southern Europe (AIRSOUTH) on 11th
August 2004 in Izmir, Turkey it was activated and came to be known as NATO CC-Air HQ. The
flag is medium blue with its badge in the center.

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Allied Maritime Component Command - Naples
Inaugurated on 1 July 2004, replaced the Headquarters Allied Naval Forces Southern Europe,
acts as a subordinate command and is located on the Nisida islands at Naples, Italy. It is situated
on the Island of Nisida, Naples, Italy.
With its emblem in the center, it is a while flag and has a badge which has a blue bordered disk,
consisting of a yellow map of Europe.

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References:
Retrieved on May 17th 2013
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/nat-ccds.html#oviewFinance Map of the World:
NATO OTAN: Retrieved on May 17th, 2013: http://www.nato.int/fchd/FCHD/history.html
ISAF: Retrieved on May17th, 2013: http://www.isaf.nato.int/subordinate-commands/isaf-joint-
command/index.php
Retrieved on May 17th:http://www.dtic.mil/bosnia/fs/land_for_ceneuro.html
Retrieved on May 17th, 2013: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/NATO#cite_note-50
Centag: Retrieved on May 17th 2013, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/int/nato-
centag.htm
Retrieved on May 17, 2013:
http://www.usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm?http&&&www.usarmygermany.com/units/hqusareur
/USAREUR_CENTAG.htm
Retrieved on May 17, 2013:
http://www.tutorgigpedia.com/ed/Command_Component_Land_Heidelberg
Retrieved on May 17, 2013: http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/other/nato2008a.pdf