Formerly Standing Naval Force Atlantic.
The Standing NATO 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 commanders while the staff public affairs officer is from the Commanders 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.