The last shot fired from a howitzer officially marked the close down of NATO's only multinational airmobile division on the 25th October 02. Guests and veterans of the Multinational Division Central (MND(C)) gathered at Rheindahlen to set the scene for a close down ceremony best characterized as a demonstration of true multinationality. For the very last time COMARRC received the salute of the MND(C) contingents marching past the dais. The Acting Commander of MND(C) Air Commodore Dick Bos handed over the cased MND (C) flag to Lt Gen Sir Christopher Drewry at the church service that followed the march past.

Soldiers march past the commander during the closedown ceremony of MND(C)

MND(C)'s history began in 1992 with the NATO Defence Planning Committee´s decision to form a standing multinational airmobile division, consisting of troops from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The activation staff was initially built in Brunssum (NL) and moved to Rheindahlen in October 1993 where consequently the Division was officially declared operational and inaugurated in 1994. From 1994 onwards MND(C) was the only division under direct command of the ARRC, NATO's only rapid reaction force at this time.

A howitzer fires, officially marking the closedown of MND(C)

From that time MND(C) created a unique training opportunity at all levels for their assigned Brigades - Belgian Para Commando, 11 (NL) Airmanouevre Brigade, GE 31 Luftlandebrigade and 16 UK Air Assault Brigade. The Headquarters itself was tested in many NATO exercises as well as the HQ ARRC´s training programme. During COBRA 2001, the EUROCORPS' major annual exercise, the division proved its capabilty to deploy and operate under the command of other Headquarters other than NATO HQs. As NATO turned its focus towards Crisis Response Operation (CRO), MND(C) re-examined the role of the division and its potential future employment. The result was "Concept 2000", a comprehensive examination of the Division, its roles and its structure. Concept 2000 focussed on widening the Division's utility into the arena of CRO, early entry and operations beyond NATO's boundaries. The concept gained widespread support but was never ratified as it was overtaken by NATO's Force Structure Review (NFSR). The NFSR highlighted the need for NATO to commence CRO as early as possible in response to emerging crises. It was assessed that NATO might need forces able to pave the way for the main body of forces deploying to a crisis area. MND(C) was identified as a possible candidate for the Initial Entry Capability Force (IECF) role amongst other existing NATO assigned forces.

The casing of the guidon is a symbolic gesture of honour

In September 2001, the UK MOD notified Commander HQ MND(C) of its intent to reassign 16 Air Assault Brigade to HQ ARRC as part of Corps Troops. A jointly signed letter from the UK and NL Ministers of Defence in December 2001 explained that the strategic situation had changed in ways that had eroded the original reasons for MND(C)'s formation. Both Ministers felt that the time was now right to concentrate on building up respective contributions to the much-needed High Readiness Forces (HRF) Headquarters. In the light of this ministerial guidance, the way forward was agreed amongst all four nations. In March 2002 the Commander received SACEUR's formal direction, instructing him to declare MND(C) non-operational from 20th July and to close the HQ by the 31st December 2002. Regrettably the Division was never given an opportunity to test itself on operations. Nevertheless, from its inception MND(C) has proved to be an immensely valuable training vehicle for all four nations, both in learning to exploit the third dimension and in strengthening airmobile interoperability across four NATO nations.