G5 Branch

Planning and decision-making: a commanders' business. In the end, the commander is responsible for the decisions he makes. Decision-making is both an art and a science. The planners generally belong to the scientists. They help the commander to assess a situation and support him in his decision-making. Until a couple of years ago, the operators did planning themselves. Given the growing complexity of the environment as well as the transformation of EC into a NATO Rapid Deployable Corps, the G5 branch was created in 2001 which is now established as a cornerstone of this HQ.
G5 is not only responsible for the "soldiers business" but it also acts in all domains and it requires planning with higher HQs, with the EC Framework and Sending Nations. The wide spectrum of G5 missions is mirrored within the sections it is composed of. These sections deal with independent but complementary duties.

Plans Section

One of the main missions of this section is the planning of future operations. In peacetime however, it also contributes to the general specifications for exercises, participates in exercise planning conferences, coordinates the Operational Planning Process (OPP) and develops contingency and operation plans. Therefore, G5 Plans chairs the Corps Planning Group (CPG), which involves representatives from all other staff branches.

Policy and Studies Section

This section contributes to the development of the Commanding General's guidance and directives, conducts ad hoc studies for the Command group and ensures a staff-wide co-ordination and integration of policy aspects into planning. The co-ordination, preparation and updating of the doctrine and concepts, as well as the improvement of all standardisation issues are of primary importance. This section also coordinates within the Staff all matters related to the elaboration and review of Eurocorps Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Standing Operating Instructions (SOIs).

Operational Analysis and Requirements (OPAR) Section

This section is responsible for the evaluation of the exercises in which Eurocorps is taking part. This task is of the utmost importance especially within the framework of the NRF preparation and certification. In operations, OPAR also prepares the Statements of Requirement and monitors the force generation process outside HQ EC. In addition, the section is in charge of the identification, collection, assessment and implementation of Lessons Learned during exercises and operations and deals with the "War gaming" phase of the OPP.

International Relations Section

This section establishes and sustains relationships with NATO, other multinational HQs, the EC's Framework Nations and other Sending Nations, the UN, the OSCE and the European Union. While the section provides the EC's secretary for both POLMIL and MIL Group meetings, ACOS G5 and the members of the international relations section are the Commanding General's official representatives in these groups and represent the EC's official positions and interests.

G5 IntRel is the official gateway to our Framework Nations. All the correspondence from HQ EC with the Framework Nations has to pass via this section to enable the preparation of the Common Committee (Meeting of the CHODs), Steering Committee, HQ EC Board and POLMIL and MIL Group.

Admin Section

This Section assures the administrative support of all other sections and takes care of all "real life support" issues of G5 personnel.

The G5 activities range from the military-political level to the tactical one, making it one of the most challenging and interesting branches.