The Commanding General and the Flag Officers

The Commander Eurocorps (COMEC) is a lieutenant general (3 stars). The Deputy Commander (DCOM) is a major general (2 stars). The staff is directed by the Chief of Staff (COS), also major general; he is supported by two Deputy Chiefs of Staff (DCOS) for Operations and Support, both of whom are brigadier generals (1 star).

The Legal Advisors, Public Information Office, Air Representation, Navy Representation and, in operations, a Political Advisor, directly support the Commanding General.  

The COMEC, the Legal Advisors, Public Information Office, Air Representation, Navy Representation and, in operations, a Political Advisor and the staff, together form the Headquarters, whose primary role is to plan and conduct operations ranging from humanitarian aid and crisis reactions to the defence of member countries and the Alliance. On operations, the COMEC commands subordinate major units and co-ordinates land operations supported by air and maritime forces.

The posts of Commanding General, DCOM and the other general officers as well as some key functions are filled by EC framework nations on a rotational basis. COMEC, DCOM and COS are always of diffe-rent nationalities. Their tour of duty lasts two years.
    

The Liaison Officers

When the decision was made in mid-1999 to transform the Eurocorps (EC) into a Rapid Reaction Corps, the EC nations invited NATO and the European Union (EU) nations to detach Liaison Officers (LNO) to the Headquarters (HQ).  

Initially it was throught that non-framework nations would be represented by LNOs. However most sending nations have preferred to integrate their personel into the staff. Currently only Italy is represented by a permanently assigned LNO. LNOs are tasked by and report to their respective Chief of Defence or Army Staff. They are not integrated into the Peace Establishment but maintain close liaisons with the Chief of Staff and staff branches. In exercises and operations, LNOs may man posts from the Crisis Establishment.
         

The Legal Advisors

The branch of Legal Advisors consists of civil and military personnel whose role is to give advice to the Commanding General as well as to the Staff on legal topics, particularly on:
The Legal Advisors (LEGAD) directly report to the Commanding General.

- provisions of law that are applicable in operations (Rules of Engagement, Law of Armed Conflict and
  other fields of international law),
- international treaties and agreements,
- legal topics related to host nation law and international law,
- contractual law,  
- tax and environmental law, and
- claims.

The Public Information Office

The Public Information Office is located in the "Aubert de Vincelles" compound. It is a team of twelve personnel, amongst them four press officers from four of the five Framework Nations: Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain.

The Chief PIO is a position held for two years based on to a rotational system. The chief has the same nationality as the Commanding General.  

The main missions of the PIO are:

- Contacts with the media
- Media monitoring and analysis
- Internal information
- Public relations (in peacetime only).

The Air Representation Eurocorps (AREC)

“Air warfare cannot be separated into little packets; it knows no boundaries on land and sea other than those imposed by the range of action of the aircraft; it is a unity and demands unity of command.”
      (Marshall of the RAF Lord Tedder)

Joint forces’ operations between land and air forces and, if appropriate, maritime forces, are crucial for a successful mission accomplishment. Joint forces’ operations supporting land forces are in direct connection with corps level operations.
The Air Operations Coordination Centres (AOCCs) co-ordinate the intents and operations of Army Corps and CAOC commanders. The AOCC is subordinated to the CAOC/AOC commander and co-located with Corps HQ.
In peacetime the Air Representation EC links Eurocorps to the air chain of command. The Air Representation is therefore involved in all Eurocorps air-related activities. The Air Representation also contributes to the corps mission, if an AOCC is required for Article V operations, for multinational crisis management, peacekeeping or humanitarian operations.

AOCC Mission

In times of crisis and conflict, the mission assigned to AOCC is to represent NATO’s air force intentions and capabilities in the corps headquarters by performing the following missions:
a. Provide air expertise and stay in contact with the corps commander on behalf of the CAOC Commander.
b. Coordinate CAOC air operations with the corps’ air and land operations.
c. Inform the CAOC on the corps commander’s intentions and the needs of air support to the land campaign.

The Naval  Representation (NAVREP)  

is a multinational advisory and liaison organisation working for the COMEC.  It is composed of representatives of the navies of the EC framework nations (Belgium, France, Germany and Spain).  They are points of contact in the Maritime Headquarters (MHQ) of the framework nations. Currently one assigned LNO is acting as Head NAVREP.

Neither the EC nor the NAVREP organisation own or command naval forces, naval air forces or amphibious forces. When not engaged in exercises or operations, the NAVREP advises the COMEC on maritime aspects related to EC activities.

The NAVREP represents the MHQs and/or national naval authorities at the HQ EC and advises the COMEC on naval forces, including aspects of interoperability between land, air and maritime components. The NAVREP informs the MHQs and/or national naval authorities responsible for conducting naval operations on current and planned EC activities. The NAVREP briefs the HQ EC on the concept of employment of naval forces including co-operation with the EC and, similarly, briefs naval authorities on the EC concept of employment. Finally, the NAVREP briefs the HQ EC on naval force organisation and operations, and liaises with the staffs responsible for maritime transport.