Multinational Medical Coordination Centre/European Medical Command

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Multinational Medical Coordination Centre - Europe (MMCC-E)
Coat of arms of the MMCC-E
ActiveApril 2018
CountryGermany, Rhineland-Palatinate
AllegianceEuropean Medical Services (DoI)
TypeMedical Unit
Garrison/HQRhein-Kaserne, Koblenz
Motto(s)"Combining Efforts in Medical Support"
Website[1]
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier General (MD) Stefan Kowitz

The Multinational Medical Coordination Centre-Europe (MMCC-E) is a medical coordinating centre in support of the European medical services.[1] It is directly subordinated to the German Armed Forces' Joint Medical Service Command and the German Surgeon General. It was formed on 1 April 2018 in the Rhine-Barracks, Koblenz, Germany, where it also has its HQ.

History[edit]

On 2 May 2017, the Surgeon Generals from eight European NATO members states signed a fundamental document towards an intensified and sustainable cooperation within the context of NATO's Framework Nations Concept (FNC) Cluster Medical Support. After signing this Declaration of Intent at the cornerstone-laying ceremony at the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz, Germany, a collective planning and coordinating unit for European Armed Forces was going to be formed - the Multinational Medical Coordination Centre. To support the collaboration of Medical Commands on a multinational level in an effective and goal-oriented way, this Multinational Coordination Centre was set up under the lead management on the German Armed Forces Joint Medical Service Command and is run together with all participating nations. The multinational staffed department started working in April 2018. In the following year, the cooperation with the Centre of Excellence in Military Medicine (MilMedCoE) regarding some fields was intensified. Also, the British Defence Medical Service (DMS) joined the MMCC as the then ninth member.[citation needed]

In 2019, the PESCO project European Medical Command (EMC)[2] was ordered to work with the MMCC by the German Surgeon General. This meant virtually merging both projects into one entity, and setting up staff for both at the same time - following the motto "two initiatives – one task". Consequentially, the MMCC/EMC was formed, celebrating its Initial Operation Capability (IOC) on 3 and 4 September with an opening ceremony at the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress and Rhine-Barracks both in Koblenz, Germany. Here, the Surgeon Generals of 14 nations signed a Declaration merging both organizations, the MMCC (NATO/FNC) and EMC (EU/PESCO), into one: MMCC/EMC. This unique department proves the growing cooperation between NATO and the EU.[citation needed] Signing the Declaration of Initial Operational Capability MMCC/EMC during the COMEDs Plenary in Brussels on 27 November 2019, Slovakia became the 15th member nation. In the course of 2020, Poland, Spain and Lithuania also signed the Declaration on the Initial Operational Capability of the MMCC/EMC, so that currently 18 nations are member states of the MMCC/EMC.[citation needed]

Through its recent agreement with the United States Army the Multinational Medical Coordination Center/ European Medical Command (MMCC/EMCy) is tightening its network of international contacts once again. On May 11, 30th Medical Brigade Commander Colonel Jason Wieman and MMCC/EMC Director Surgeon General Dr. Stefan Kowitz signed the protocol for the assignment of a United States Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) Liaison Officer to MMCC/EMC in Koblenz.[3]

The Full Operational Capability (FOC) of the MMCC/EMC was signed by the nations during the NATO COMEDS Plenary in Madrid on 30 May 2022.[4]

In August 2022, the MMCC/EMC continued to consolidate its network of international contact points through an agreement with the Confédération Interalliée des Officiers Médicaux de Réserve (CIOMR).

The wargaming exercise taking place in April will focus on a conflict scenario in the context of national and alliance defence. In this exercise, the focus is on the complete evacuation of injured and wounded from the front to their respective home country.

Through a series of medical service simulation games (Medical Wargamings), the MMCC/EMC has gained a solid reputation. Thus, it influences, for example, the conceptual development of patient transport from conflict zones. The member nations recently discussed what role the MMCC/EMC could play with regards to this in the future.

The next major exercise of the MMCC–E, “Casualty Move 2024” (CAMO24), currently under development, will draw on a major joint operation scenario with activation of the collective defence and mutual assistance clauses to train the national echelons of health crises management on bulk patient flow, with the prospect of a enhanced civil-military cooperation.”

In autumn 2023, the representatives of the MMCC/EMC participating nations agreed to change the name to “Multinational Medical Coordination Centre – Europe”, in short “MMCC-E”.

Mission[edit]

The main mission of the MMCC-E is the creation of the necessary conditions for the multinational medical support of Armed Forces within their wide range of tasks, supporting the already growing development towards more international cooperation. It also functions as a catalyst for the field of Capability Enhancement.

Specific tasks include:

  • Setting up a resource-saving network of existing and new specialists and respectively coordinating this hub,
  • Maintaining a coordinating function in multinational Capability Enhancement within the Framework Nations Concept Cluster Medical Support,
  • Working together with military units and NATO departments, the EU and other national and international organizations and task forces in the Medical Capability Enhancement [5] [6] as well as setting up Larger Formations. [7]

Structure[edit]

Subordinated to Director MMCC-E

  • Directory – Leading/Steering
    • Deputy Director NATO matters
    • Deputy Director EU matters
    • Executive Officer
      • Support Element – Coordination & Support
      • Branch Ops/Plans
      • Branch Wargaming/Exercises
      • Branch Medical Logistics
      • Branch Telehealth/medCBRN
      • Branch Medical Situational Awareness / Civil-Military Interface

Leadership[edit]

Director
Nr. Name Country Commencement of post End of post
2 Brigadier General (MD) Stefan Kowitz  Germany August 2019 ongoing
1 Brigadier General (MD) Bruno Most  Germany April 2018 July 2019
Deputy Director NATO Matters
Nr. Name Country Commencement of post End of post
1 Colonel Jürgen Muntenaar [8]  Netherlands May 2021 ongoing
Deputy Director EU Matters
Nr. Name Country Commencement of post End of post
2 Colonel (MD) David Lacassagne  France September 2022 ongoing
1 Colonel (MD) Thierry Lanteri  France September 2020 August 2022
Executive Officer (XO)
Nr. Name Country Commencement of post End of post
4 Colonel Andreas Klaus Godau  Germany 19 December 2023 ongoing
3 Colonel (GS) Jochen Thumser  Germany November 2019 18 December 2023
2 Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jäckel  Germany August 2018 October 2019
1 Colonel (MD) Egon Ritter  Germany April 2018 July 2018

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "European Military Medical Services (EMMS)". 13 August 2020.
  2. ^ "European Medical Command". 12 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Multinational coordination element expands network". 8 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Multinational Medical Coordination Centre/ European Medical Command is operational". 3 June 2022.
  5. ^ "MASCAL Course at Balkan Medical Task Force". 25 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Biosensors in the Medical Service: Workshop for the future". 21 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Challenges for Medical Support in National and Collective Defence". 8 August 2020.
  8. ^ "High-ranking visitor from the neighbourhood". 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.

External links[edit]

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