Exercise Joint Viking 2023 is one of the largest winter Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) deployments to Norway’s High North.
During the deployment, the troops will endure austere conditions as they collaborate, train and operate together with Norwegian Army and US Marine Corps (USMC) units, to enhance their collective capability and further develop interoperability with our JEF Partners and Allies.
What is the JEF
The JEF is a framework of like-minded Northern European nations focused on mutual support and cooperation. It includes Norwegian land, sea and air forces; in addition to troops and units from NATO and its Partner Nations.
The JEF often conducts large-scale military exercises and regularly deploys its headquarters to one of its Participant Nations to demonstrate interoperability, capability and flexibility in its operations. Elements of the JEF can be deployed as Joint Task Forces to provide credible options to respond to overseas crises which require a military contribution. They can be tailored to the mission, environment and threat.
Exercise Joint Viking is a JEF exercise that focuses our commitment and the development of an arctic warfare capability; this is the first deployment of its kind for some time.
The Exercise will comprise of Joint land activity between JEF Partners and Allies. C Company of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) have been deployed in Norway for 4 months preparing for this.
The main goal of Joint Viking is to test the British Army’s ability to operate in demanding winter conditions. It is also important for demonstrating our ability to defend Norway.
The last time 2PARA operated with USMC was in Kabul eighteen months ago on Operation Pitting, working to evacuate over 15,000 NATO-affiliated Afghans to safety.
The Colchester-based Parachute Regiment’s core role as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, the British Army’s Global Response Force, is to deploy at short notice by parachute, helicopter or air landing.