This book builds on the six years of hands-on experience that the author had while working in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.  It provides an overview and history of NATO, looks at the political and military components of the Alliance, as well as the military command from the perspective of real-world contemporary NATO operations and planning. The author also looks at the military training, lessons, and exercise components and how it prepares forces to support upcoming NATO Response Force (NRF) rotations to ensure that NATO is a viable threat deterrent and responsive organization to both Article 5 and non-Article 5 operations. This book will serve as a primer into the worlds longest enduring Alliance and one that has made an impact on real world operations over the last 20 years in Europe (Bosnia and Kosovo), Africa (Libya), Asia (Afghanistan and Pakistan), and the Middle East (Iraq).

John Michael Weaver, DPA (University of Baltimore), is Associate Professor of Intelligence Analysis, York College of Pennsylvania (USA), a retired lieutenant colonel from the US Army, and a retired civilian from the Intelligence Community of the US.

Chapter 1. NATO a Brief History and Discussion on the Methodology. - Chapter 2. NATO Political Headquarters, Brussels Belgium. - Chapter 3. Allied Command Operations / Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (ACO / SHAPE). - Chapter 4. Allied Joint Force Commands Brunssum, and Naples. - Chapter 5. Allied Air Command. - Chapter 6. Allied Land Command. - Chapter 7. Allied Maritime Command. - Chapter 8. E3A/D Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) Component. - Chapter 9. NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). - Chapter 10. NATO Communications& Information Systems Group (NCISG). - Chapter 11. Chapter 11.  Allied Command Transformation (ACT). - Chapter 12. Joint Warfare Centre (JWC). - Chapter 13. Joint Analysis& Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC). - Chapter 14. Joint Forces Training Centre. - Chapter 15. Conclusion and the Way Forward.