NATO Force Model

The NATO Force Model is a framework through which the Alliance organises, manages, activates and commands Allied national forces in support of NATO’s three core tasks: deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security. It enables a more proactive NATO force posture by increasing responsiveness, readiness and combat power.

How does it work?

Under the NATO Force Model, Allies designate national forces that are available to NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) to carry out the Alliance’s operations, missions and other activities during peacetime. They also identify a larger pool of available forces that can be deployed if they are needed during a crisis or conflict.

The Model thereby helps ensure that NATO defence plans are supported by ready, pre-assigned, forward-deployed forces and reinforcements. The NATO Force Model improves NATO’s ability to respond at very short notice for collective defence and other crises.

It is based on a three-tiered readiness system:

Tier 1 is composed of forces at 0-10 days of readiness,
Tier 2 includes forces at 10-30 days of readiness, and
Tier 3 represents forces at 30-180 days of readiness.

The Model is continuously strengthened through a focused and ambitious training and exercise programme, including large-formation collective defence exercises. The forces that Allies make available to the NATO Force Model are also subject to verification, ensuring that they align with NATO standards. The Model harnesses regional expertise and leverages geographic proximity, taking advantage of the local knowledge of national and regional forces to support effective and timely responses in all strategic directions.