Between 1 and 12 September, over 50 commanders and senior staff officers shared and increased their knowledge of operational planning and ability to lead within the NATO Command Structure and NATO Force Structure. Exercises STEADFAST PYRAMID and STEADFAST PINNACLE 2025, held at the Joint Headquarters of the Latvian National Armed Forces in Riga, gathered participants from close to 20 NATO countries.
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) serving as the Officer Scheduling the Exercise was responsible for the planning and organisation of the exercises. Both General Alexus Grynkewich, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and his deputy, Admiral Sir Keith Blount, engaged with the participants to ensure expertise on the highest level. The NATO Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC) as the Officer Conducting the Exercise, delivered the exercise with a team of exercise planners, subject matter experts and facilitators, led by the Centre’s Commander, Major General Bogdan Rycerski. The exercises were conducted under expert guidance of NATO senior mentors, to include General (Retd) Sir James Everard, and General (Retd) Sir Timothy Radford.
“The Alliance needs commanders who are proficient in knowledge of the NATO ‘Family of Plans’ for deterrence and defence, and skilled in utilising both the Operational Planning Process and operational art. Today, such leaders are required more than ever,” said General Rycerski. “Exercises STEADFAST PYRAMID and PINNACLE, focused on the commander’s perspective and interactions with Operational Forces and Allied higher headquarters, are a perfect response to this requirement,” the general added.
NATO has conducted the STPYPI exercise series for three decades. The exercises are designed to prepare senior commanders and senior staff officers assuming appointments across NATO to plan, prepare and conduct joint operations through application of informed decision-making, operational art, and the operations planning process. As every year, Exercise STEADFAST PYRAMID prepared senior staff officers to support commanders during NATO operational planning and joint operations. Exercise STEADFAST PINNACLE broadened the knowledge and understanding of flag officers who will lead within the NATO Command Structure as well as NATO Force Structure. It provided them with detailed insight and guidance from the political, military, strategic and operational levels of the Alliance.
NATO Joint Force Training Centre has been responsible for preparation and execution of STEADFAST PYRAMID and STEADFAST PINNACLE exercises since 2018. Supported by experts and facilitators from across NATO, including the Joint Headquarters of the Latvian National Armed Forces, JFTC yet again provided realistic scenario-based training, an engaging curriculum, and valuable networking opportunities for all participants.