Induction into office of the new chief of the High Readiness Force Land Headquarters

On the 8th of January, in the ‘Santo Domingo’ barracks in Valencia, the Chief of Staff of the Army (JEME, to use the Spanish acronym), General Francisco J. Varela, presided over the inauguration of Lieutenant General Fernando García-Vaquero Pradal as the new chief of the High Readiness Force Land Headquarters. Previously, he assumed command as the head of NATO’s Rapid Deployable Spanish Corps Headquarters in Bétera, Valencia, in a ceremony which was also presided over by the JEME.

In the ‘Santo Domingo’ barracks, formerly the Captaincy General, he was sworn into office as the chief of the High Readiness Force Land Headquarters in the presence of Government delegate Juan Carlos Fulgencio, Justice Minister Gabriela Bravo, the president of the High Court of Justice in the Valencian Autonomous Community, Pilar de la Oliva, and other important figures.

In his speech he outlined the Unit’s work, which he classified as: “a unique Headquarters, prepared, at the highest operative level of the Army, capable of planning and carrying out operations, always available for deployment within the national framework or within NATO’s structure, and able to act with short notice.” He also highlighted his admiration for his predecessor, Lieutenant General Gan Pampols, who had led the Headquarters since 2017. During this time, a number of new commitments materialised, amongst which 2018’s Valiant Lynx exercise, the Army’s biggest NATO exercise, and the Trident Jackal exercise in 2019 stand out.

The new Lieutenant General’s postings

Before his promotion to Lieutenant General on 20 December, he held the role of Chief of Staff of the High Readiness Force Land Headquarters and Chief of Staff of NATO’s Rapid Deployable Corps Headquarters. During his extensive career, he has been in charge of the Legion’s Second Artillery Group and the 20th Field Artillery Regiment, from the then ‘Castillejos’ Calvary Regiment, amongst other postings.

 

The swearing-in ceremony in the Santo Domingo barracks