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Chapter 10: Civilian Organisation and Structures NATO Headquarters Consultation, Command and Control Staff (NHQC3S) The NHQC3S combines elements of both the International Staff and the International Military Staff in a single integrated organisation. The Staff provides policy and standards guidance, analysis, products and services embracing interoperability and harmonisation of C3 systems. It directly contributes to the procurement and use of NATO-wide, cost efficient, interoperable and secure C3 capabilities. The NHQC3S provides support to the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Board and to its substructure. It also provides support to the North Atlantic Council, the Military Committee, the Conference of National Armaments Directors, the Senior Resource Board and other committees with responsibilities relating to C3 matters. The Staff is organised in six Branches: Requirements and Concepts Branch (RCB) which supports the review and harmonisation of operational requirements and concepts of operation for C3 systems, including navigation and identification, for use by NATO and appropriate national military forces. Additionally, it ensures effective C3 capabilities for exercising C3 at all levels from tactical to strategic across BI-SC and national boundaries: the Interoperability Branch (IOB), which provides staff support to all aspects of C3 interoperability and C3 related standardisation matters so that C3 systems used by Alliance Forces, and when appropriate, Forces of Partner and other nations may operate effectively together; the Frequency Management Branch (FMB), which provides staff support on all matters related to availability of and access to adequate radio-frequency spectrum resources for military purposes required by NATO forces or in support of NATO; the Information Security Branch (ISB), which provides support in achieving the fundamental security objectives of confidentiality, integrity and availability in relation to NATO information stored, processed or transmitted in C3 systems and , as appropriate, in relation to the supporting C3 systems infrastructure; the Information Systems and Technology Branch (ISTB), which provides staff support on all technical and procedural matters pertaining to information systems for C3 and pertaining to the development of policy, guidance and NATO C3 systems interoperability standards; and the Communication, Navigation and Identification Systems Branch (CNISB), which provides staff support on all matters pertaining to communications, networking, identification, navigation and associated technologies related to the development of policies, planning, guidance and standardisation on these systems. The NHQC3S operates under the co-ordinated management of the Assistant Secretary General for Defence Support and the Director of the International Military Staff. The Director of the NHQC3S is a co-Vice Chairman of the NC3 Board and Chairman of the National C3 Representatives (NC3 Reps).