About SHAPE
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is more than a NATO Strategic Military Headquarters, it is an multi-national community made up of representatives from all the member nations of the NATO Alliance.
The SHAPE Headquarters
Allied Command Operations (SHQ ACO) International Staff is composed of
approximately 1,100 personnel of which 40% are officers, 45% are other ranks and 15% are civilians while the average length of a tour for military personnel is 3 to 4 years. National Military Representative (NMR) echelon and the NMR support elements at SHAPE contains 550 persons with an 80-20% balance between military and civilian. We also host staff elements of NATO Communication and Information Systems Services Agency (NCSA), NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force Command (NAEW&CFC) and Partner Coordination Cell (PCC) with about 500 persons collectively. Additionally, SHAPE
employs 700 local civilians (including contractors and free-lancers) and some 3,000 family members. In total the SHAPE community consists of over 6,000 people.
SHAPE is located about 5 kilometers from the town of Mons near the communities of Casteau, Maisières and Masnuy St. Jean. SHAPE contains of the headquarters, national support units, residential areas, shops, sports grounds and fitness facilities, a health facility, a chapel, library, cinema, bowling alley, schools, clubs, and a youth centre.