(Source: Commander Allied Maritime Component Command Northwood)

The Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1 is a squadron of eight to ten destroyers and frigates. Today, the ships are usually attached to the force for up to six months on a rotating basis. Units of one nationality do not necessarily relieve units from the same nation. To provide continuity, the force commander and his staff are appointed on a more permanent basis, with the post of force commander rotating annually among the participating countries.

The tours of duty for his multinational staff are for one year. The Chief Staff Officer, Operations Officer, Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, Above Water Warfare Officer and Communications Officer are from nations other than the commander’s while the staff public affairs officer is from the Commander’s nation. These positions rotate over the year to maintain a balance of representation among member nations.

In peacetime, the force exercises primarily in the Eastern Atlantic. Thus, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) has operational command of the force, and the Commander Allied Maritime Component Command Northwood administers the force on SACEUR's behalf. SACEUR routinely delegates operational control to the area commander where the force is operating.

In terms of specific and continuing tasks, SNMG1 spends about 60% of its time under way, conducting squadron training exercises, cooperating with non-SNMG1 national forces to make the optimum use of available training and support facilities. In the course of this work, the force participates in major NATO and national exercises at sea and plays an important part in the evolution of new NATO naval warfare tactics. Also, the force is scheduled to visit various ports, including those of non- NATO countries, to show itself as a visible symbol of naval solidarity. Through its various social, sporting and community activities during in-port periods SNMG1 demonstrates the intangible qualities inherent in multinational co-operation.

Despite the fact that its ships have different capabilities and national roles, its officers and crewmembers come from different nations, speak many different languages, and follow a variety of customs, SNMG1 has developed into an effective integrated squadron with an identity of its own, at sea and ashore. The fact that all the ships fly the NATO flag and all the members of each ship’s company wear the SNMG1 badge on their uniforms both contributes to a sense of belonging.

Any alliance is subject to internal and external strains, but nearly all who have been closely connected with SNMG1 see it as a highly effective force and nucleus of NATO maritime power. Its continuous presence demonstrates the solidarity and vigilance of the NATO Alliance while constantly developing multinational maritime skills and tactics.