Australia has officially joined the Movement Coordination Center – Europe (MCC-E), making the nation the organization’s first non-European and non-NATO member.
The MCC-E is a multinational group based at Eindhoven Airbase, the Netherlands, which promotes joint operations to streamline capabilities, explore common procedures, and maximize efficiency for military transport tasks.
By becoming the 29th MCC-E member, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will access a more convenient deployment approach for its personnel and tactical equipment across the world.
“Australia can now work with other member nations to load share, which will create significant interoperability efficiencies in how we move our major assets from place to place,” ADF Joint Capability Group 1st Joint Movement Unit Commander Capt. Alan Brown explained.
“Not only that, with the ADF becoming a member of the MCC-E, it has paved the way for other nations to sign up, meaning the network of support will potentially continue to grow in coming years.”
Financed Through Crypto Currency
The MCC-E offers access to a pool of strategic airlift, sealift, and movement support between international regions and employs a unique monetary system instead of traditional exchange to facilitate missions.
“As the MCC-E utilises a ‘virtual currency’ instead of financial exchanges for supporting tasks, Australia can grow its equity within MCC-E by supporting other nations during opportune missions and spend that credit to leverage support from other nations to achieve some of our tasks at a lower physical cost,” Brown explained.
‘Productive’ Membership
According to the Australian Department of Defence, ADF tested the operability of arrangements under MCC-E membership during this year’s Talisman Sabre, a bilateral exercise between Australia and the US.
“This sets the ADF up well for the future as we have now been established as an active contributor to the MCC-E organisation which knows how to broker with other member nations and is willing to support opportune tasks,” Brown said.
“This also provides an example for other nations who may be interested in joining the MCC-E organisation that membership is a viable and productive option.”