Exercise PURPLE STAR
1. On 25 April, a major United Kingdom/United States combined field training exercise - called PURPLE STAR - began on the eastern seaboard of the United States of America.
2. The exercise involves a combined force of 45,000 United States troops and 12,000 British forces from all three Services, the largest deployment of American and British forces together since the Gulf crisis. It has been designed to provide a challenging and testing environment for all those taking part. The scenario envisages a Combined Joint Task Force being deployed to provide assistance to a fictitious country invaded by a neighbouring aggressor. With forces operating as if under a United Nations mandate and appropriate United Nations Security Council Resolutions, the exercise includes amphibious and airborne assaults culminating in land operations on training areas in North Carolina, with supporting maritime and air operations in adjoining waters and airspace. One aspect of the exercise is the integration of American and British headquarters staffs aboard a United States' command ship, and the placing of elements of United States' and British forces under each other's control.
3. Exercise PURPLE STAR is providing the very first opportunity to practise and test the newly-formed permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), which is providing the core of the British Joint Headquarters in support of the exercise Joint Commander. Experience gained from the exercise will be invaluable in working up the PJHQ to become fully operational in the summer.
4. Equally importantly, the exercise will involve key components of the Joint Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF), which will become operational and provide a major new capability on 1 August. Forces taking part include 3 Commando Brigade, 5 Airborne Brigade, an aircraft carrier and an amphibious group together with Royal Air Force front-line aircraft and supporting units. Exercise PURPLE STAR will in this way contribute to the development of the JRDF concept and test the practical issues involved in the deployment of a rapid response force outside western Europe. It will also assist in the further development of initiatives involving the use of multinational joint forces and procedures in responding to the challenges of the new security environment.
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