JP 3-16, Multinational Operations - Defense Technical Information ...

Appendix C
oversight, and direction to the standing and directed multinational interoperability working
groups (MIWGs).
(2) The MIC consists of two standing MIWGs with different scopes; the operations
and the operations support working group. The operations MIWG focuses on issues
associated with current and future coalition operations from a cross-functional perspective.
The operations support MIWG is task oriented and focused on operational enablers in
support of coalition operations. Directed MIWGs are stood up on the direction of the
principals to address a specific or a group of specific tasks. A directed MIWG is time
limited with an expected duration of 12 months; continuation will be reviewed annually.
Each MIC nation provides at least one representative (O-6/O-5 - NATO OF-5/OF-4) to each
of the MIWGs. Through analysis of national positions with respect to concepts, policy,
experimentation, lessons learned, doctrine, and other relevant areas, the MIWG’s aim is to
inform and support coalition building and operations and influence the development of
operational practices to enable more effective coalition operations.
(3) The MIC Executive Secretariat (ES) staff is the only full-time MIC staff and
works in the US Joint Staff Operations Directorate in the Pentagon. The MIC ES staff is
responsible for managing and coordinating the day-to-day business activities for the MIC
while serving as the central point of contact for the MIC Principals, the SG, and the
functional MIWGs. In addition to permanently assigned US personnel, two non-US officers
from other MIC member nations are assigned full time to the MIC ES staff. The MIC ES
staff conducts all external coordination, correspondence, and communication with the staffs
of non-MIC nations and organizations as well as other combined multinational organizations
on matters of mutual interest to the MIC: ABCA Standardization Program, ASIC,
AUSCANNZUKUS, CCEB, NATO, Quadrilateral Logistics Forum, and the Technical
Cooperation Program.
d. Other nations and organizations can participate in MIC activities as affiliates or
observers to address common interoperability issues. Affiliates have an enduring, ongoing
relationship with the MIC. Observers are nations/organizations that attend MIC meetings on
a one-time or short-term basis to support a specific event or activity that addresses
interoperability challenges or leverages ongoing MIC activities. Currently New Zealand,
NATO Allied Command Transformation, and the Military Staff of the EU are MIC affiliates.
3. Accomplishments
MIC-developed documents represent a nonbinding consensus view among MIC nations.
These documents are reviewed and updated on a regular basis. The following are
representative examples of MIC-developed documents. Refer to the MIC community on the
All Partners Access Network (APAN) Web site for the most current version of all MIC
documents.
a. Coalition Building Guide (CBG)
(1) One of the MIC’s early actions was the development of the CBG. The purpose
of the CBG is to facilitate LNs, troop contributing nations, and participants in the
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