Commodore Morang will lead SNMG1 for the second half of this year. "We will continue the great work of our predecessors by demonstrating unity and readiness and providing assurance." Morang said during the ceremony on board of flagship HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën. "We will be challenged by interoperability issues when integrating newcomers into the force and together we will succeed as we are NATO; stronger together."
We will be challenged by interoperability issues when integrating newcomers into the force and together we will succeed as we are NATO; stronger together
During the ceremony, Commodore Ad van de Sande thanked the crews for their performance during a challenging time in a changing environment. "SNMG1 contributed to strategic maritime assurance and presence, by being wherever NATO wanted us to be, ready for any tasking, including defence of our Allies." he said, "Together your ships form our task group. Thank you for delivering our capacity at sea. A job well done!"
In a ceremony on July 8, Commodore Jeanette Morang of the Royal Netherlands Navy assumed command of the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1).
Ad Van de Sande sent his best wishes to the new commander and underlined the importance of the strong Alliance of NATO. "I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to command this group of fine ships. What I take away is that NATO's slogan is spot on. We are NATO, stronger together."
NATO's maritime strength lies in the ability to rapidly join with highly ready, advanced capability national forces and task groups. By being present at sea, training and exercising abroad, and conducting operations with Allies, SNMG1 is a force multiplier and provides a collectively trained and interoperable capability that NATO can confidently deploy as necessary.