Greenland Command (Denmark)

Greenland Command (Danish: Grønlands Kommando), short "GLK", is a Level.II authority directly under the Defence Command. It is among other things, responsible for the military defence of Greenland, water and sovereignty maintenance and enforcement, as well as search and sea rescues. Personal with the Danish liaison officer at Thule Air Base (FOTAB) is also under the Greenland Command. The SIRIUS patrol (Danish: Slædepatruljen SIRIUS), is likewise under this command.

Short history

The Danish military can trace its activities in Greenland back to the time of Hans Egede. From the late 1700 hundred up to World War 2, personal from the Danish military, contributed very active to the exploration of Greenland, by land, sea and air.

Right after WW2 fishing inspections and Sea measuring began again and the first dictated Greenland command was erected, called "Greenland Maritime Command", located at Godthåb (Nuuk). August 1, 1951 it changed name to the now "Greenland Command", simultaneously moving from Godthåb to the Naval base Grønnedal (at that time is was only a Marine station), where it has been ever since.

Civilian duties

Denmark by signing international treaties has agreed to keep and maintain a SAR (Search And Rescue) response origination in the Greenlandic area of responsibility. This response origination is under the Greenland Command. The origination is 3-split (Air, Maritime and land) in order to define exactly who is in change, which is absolutely vital on SAR mission.

The Greenland Command is authorised to request additional support from Navy inspection ships and police cutters, the Royal Danish Air Force, civilian ships, aircrafts from Greenland air, SAR units of Iceland or US SAR units based at Keflavik base on Iceland, if need be.