Civil-Military Cooperation in Large-Scale Operations
To manage large-scale operations, collaboration between civilian and military resources is essential. The logistical support required can be extensive. By taking responsibility for the civilian portion of the logistics chain, we free up capacity for the Armed Forces to focus on their core tasks.
SLarge operations place high demands on quick access to transport, accommodation, food, water, bases, ports, and airports. During the NATO exercise Trident Juncture 2018 in Norway—featuring participants from over 30 nations—massive resources were mobilized. Over one million meals and 1.6 million bottles of water were distributed, and more than 15,000 vehicles and containers were washed and cleaned. Tens of thousands of financial transactions were carried out—from million-dollar purchases to individual dollar transactions. Source: HOBS/WilNor
A Snapshot of NATO Trident Juncture 2018:
For operations involving more than 20,000 soldiers, civilian and commercial support is essential.
By complementing the Armed Forces’ capacity with coordinated civilian logistics, we contribute to a stronger total defense and ensure that the right resources are available when they are needed the most.To ensure everything runs smoothly, continuous training and established framework agreements with suppliers are needed to guarantee capacity.
How it works
“As a NATO member, Sweden takes on a more central role in defense, which requires us to rapidly receive and support allied forces. It’s about seamless coordination between civilian and military resources. We are ready to mobilize and ensure that all necessary logistics resources are in place quickly—from transport to accommodation and equipment,” says Calle Ortner, COO Nordic Way Services.
Nordic Way Services establishes readiness agreements with civilian suppliers and integrates them into the logistics system HOBS. External link, opens in new window. This enables rapid mobilization of supplementary civilian support for the Armed Forces during large operations or in the event of a crisis situation. Through the use of modern IT systems and planning tools, we ensure control, traceability, and efficiency throughout the logistics chain—from ordering to final delivery.
In close cooperation with our partner WilNor Governmental Services, External link, opens in new window. we gain access to an established network of logistics bases and accommodations in Norway, as well as logistics management capabilities with global reach.
Nordic Way Services offers logistics management for the entire process – from inquiry to invoicing – for all participating nations.
Whether it is host nation support during an exercise or a sharp crisis situation with heightened readiness, the model demonstrates a clear advantage: civilian infrastructure, when integrated with military planning, becomes a force multiplier.