First I would like to thank Admiral Danish Fleet, the Danish Navy and the Danish Defence for the faith in me that has been shown by entrusting me the command over Danish Task Group and for the many kind words which have just been said about me.

As mentioned, I have had this honour before as the first Commander Danish Task Group in 2000-2002. Jokers will probably say that this is a classical example of the perpetrator returning to the crime scene. No matter what, I see myself as highly privilleged by being allowed to return to the operational part of the Navy at this late point in my carreer.

Because even though I have also had many good jobs ashore, not the least the the most recent 3½ years as chief of staff at Admiral Danish Fleet Headquarters, operations at sea have always been closest to my heart. It was the opportunity to lead naval forces at sea that was my main reason for becoming an officer in the Navy. The recent week as a guest on the flagship with acting Commander Danish Task Group, cheif of staff, has reminded me how much I in recent years have missed the sea as a workplace.

Even though standing here again as Commander Danish Task Group is like comming home, I must also admit that much has changed in the intervening period. When I on September 11, 2001, by the way together with present Admiral Danish Fleet, attended the first planning conference for a new and different type of DANEX, whose basic concept by the way also will be used in the exercise we start on Monday, I didn’t know that the world on that day would be changed forever. Even when we during the conference were told that a plane had hit Twin Towers in New York I couldn’t imagine that this was a deliberate, vicious and cowardly act of terrorism, but thought it was a tragic accident.

Not until we shortly thereafter got the information that another plane had crashed into the building, we realised what actually was at hand, but I don’t think that anybody on that day could imagine that Denmark later on would participate in combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq aimed at these terrorist organisations. Following this, equally cold and cynical killings of innocent people in Madrid, on Bali, in London, Egypt, Turkey and many other places have shown us that we in the western world are facing a new and asymmetric threat of hitherto unseen dimensions. And that the democratic ideals which we also in Denmark value highly are under attack to a degree we have not seen before.

The consequence of these events has been a change of NATO’s character, that Denmark with the defence agreement of 2004 has now a different and more internationally oriented defence based on addition of new kapacities. Following this thread, the Navy continues the transformation process which was already started with the previous defence agreement. ESBERN SNARE which we see here in the harbour represents the new Navy that we are building. But also the transformation of THETIS to a command ship and the many new initiatives being done on existing units bears witness of the fact that the Danish Navy is well on its way towards creating a capacity for international operations. This has by the way been demonstrated on several occations including not least the participation of OLFERT FISCHER and SÆLEN in the war against Sadam Hussein and the effort of the FLEX-units in the STROG-operation, and as we all know PETER TORDENSKIOLD and two FLYVEFISKEN-class supported by OPLOG are ready to sail to Lebanon in case of a political decision about Denmark participating in the UN operation.

Also Danish Task Group has been through major changes during the four years I’ve been away. Most obvious is of course the doubling of the staff from 10 to 20 persons, but also the increasing international engagement speaks for itself. At the moment one of my officers is a part of the German staff aboard SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN which has just taken command of Task Force 150 i.e. the maritime operation around Horn of Africa which is a part of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, the fight against the trans-national terror. Likewise with ultra-short warning one of the petty officers of the staff was seconded to the naval head quarters in Neaples i connection with Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR. And another officer is ready for soon being stationed at the coalition headquarters in Manamas. With respect to exercises, Danish Task Group has become permanent participant as CTG-staff in one of the most recognized types of exercise in our part of the world, namely the Joint Maritime Course or NEPTUNE WARRIER as it is now called. Likewise most of Danish Task Group once a year augments the MARFOR-staff which in its capacity as maritime NRF commander leads the new NATO exercises in the Mariner-series. Furthermore the staff has and will occationally have the opportunity to participate in the large American Joint Task Force Exercise just as we have started an exchange programme with the American 2nd Fleet and an even closer cooperation with UK MARFOR.

Despite that it may be expected, I will not present a grand and well phrased vision for Danish Task Group. Instead I will say a few words about issues which in my opinion are important, not just for the staff and I but for the entire Danish Task Group. They are professionalism, flexibility and security.

- Professionalism is the basis for everything we do. If we are not realy good at what we do the investments in our equipment is a total waste. We will only be top-professional if our motivation and dedication is at its highest. Also a craftsman will only become really good if he likes his job and has a burning desire to deliver the best possible result. My many years in international setting has convinced me that we in this respect have nothing to be ashamed of in the Danish Navy, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t improve ourselves.

- The importance of having a flexible and innovative approach towards handling tasks is nothing new, but is even more in focus with todays threat environment and diverse spectrum of tasks. We must be able to do everything from humanitarian aid to actual war and we must be able to change from one to another with very short notice. Yes, sometimes we have to do both at the same time. Especially the experiences of the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan are clear evidence of this, but also Danish Task Group has recently been confronted with this issue when the staff with ultra-short notice had to hand off first one and then two staff officers to coordinate the maritime part of the evacuation of Danish and foreign citizens from Lebanon. It is important to keep in mind that against an enemy that thinks in different ways, that doesn’t follow international rules and that has for us completely imcomprehensible goals which from their point of view justify the most cruel means, we must be extremely alert and constantly think unconventionally.

- Last, but not least, we have to manage our tasks in a safe and secure way. This goes both for everyday life and exercises where the security of personnel and equipment may not compromised. But it certainly also goes for live operations. Because even though security here must be balanced with completion of the assigned task minimizing the risk is of vital importance. A prerequisite for this is the professionalism and flexibility mentioned earlier but also one of the great strengths of the Danish Defence, namely that each individual, irrespective of rank, can think for himself. This has been clearly demonstrated by people from the Army not the least recently in the Helman province. Being in intense combat action for more than a month and then having only eight wounded, luckily most of them only lightly, can only be achieved with a high degree of professionalism and team work. That it is possible at the same time to inflict heavy losses on the enemy is even more praiseworthy, but also the collegues from the Danish Frogmen Corps, the Navy Military Police and others in international operations have amply demonstrated the value of professionalism. We must realize that our job is probably more dangerous than 15-20 years ago. But basically just being a citizen or a tourist has become more risky. Because today you don’t know whether a mad suicide bomber sits in the same train as you, or has chosen the bar where you relax during your holiday as his target.

Based on these issues it is my goal to sustain and further expand the respect that surrounds Danish Task Group both inside and outside Danish borders, and also contribute to optimizing the use of the new ships and the sophisticated equipment which we will get in the comming years, thereby making us an attractive participant and partner in international operations, so that we can make a difference in the world to the benefit of Denmark.

And here you have to help me, because even though it may be a worn-out phrase, the personnel is the most important resource, also for me as Commander Danish Task Group. When I look around both in my staff and amongst the ships crews there luckily is a fair share of familiar faces, both from my previous period as Commander Danish Task Group and from other relations. But there are also many new faces which I look forward to get to know better.

The Navy that is being built under the current defence agreement may be smaller in numbers but is on the other hand much larger in tonnage and fighting qualities than anything we have seen since 1807. We therefore have the ideal fundation to reestablish the Navy as the protector of Danish interests all over the world. The rest is up to you and me and I am convinced that you will prove yourselves as worthy representatives of former generations and carry on the proud traditions of the Danish Navy.

The only thing left to say is: I look very much forward to the job and the co-operation with all of you – we will see eachother at our common workplace – namely the sea!