U.S. and Norway establish first fully integrated joint logistics command for NATO Exercise Cold Response 26

The new headquarters represents the first fully integrated joint logistics command between the Norwegian Armed Forces and the U.S. Marine Corps. It was activated in mid-January to support the live phase of Exercise Cold Response 26.

U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General Maura Hennigan, Commanding General of 2nd Marine Logistics Group, will assume command of the Combined Joint Logistics Support Group on 27 February 2026. She will take over from Brigadier General Nina S. Berg, Commander of the Joint Logistics Support Group, who will later resume command for the computer-assisted scenario in the second half of the exercise.

Exercise Cold Response 26 is a routine Norwegian-led winter military exercise held in Northern Norway and forms part of NATO’s enhanced vigilance activity, Arctic Sentry. U.S. forces are taking part as part of government efforts to support Norwegian and NATO total defence concepts.

The exercise is described as a significant milestone demonstrating the readiness of a U.S.-based Marine Air Ground Task Force to swiftly combine and rapidly deploy across the Atlantic. It also aims to show how forces can be received and supported by host nation units and conduct operations that contribute to wider NATO objectives.

Within the Combined Joint Logistics Support Group, U.S. Marine Corps and Norwegian Armed Forces personnel operate as a unified team. They manage the reception, staging and onward movement of all exercise equipment and personnel, as well as sustainment operations throughout the exercise.

Integrating U.S. Marine Corps and Norwegian military personnel at component headquarters level enables operations to function as a single, cohesive force. According to the U.S. Marine Corps, the ability to rapidly project combat power and prepare the Arctic theatre for follow-on forces is a fundamental prerequisite for conducting training on this scale in an austere environment and signals shared resolve and readiness.

As the exercise progresses, the headquarters will shift its focus to sustainment operations for a multinational force. It will support personnel from 12 nations, including the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

By maintaining a continuous flow of supplies, maintenance, engineering and health services, the Combined Joint Logistics Support Group will serve as the logistical backbone of the exercise. This structure is intended to allow participating forces to maintain a high operational tempo and concentrate on their training objectives.