It is capable of deploying a High Readiness Force (Land) Headquarters at short notice for operations and crisis response.

[2] It was originally created as the rapid reaction corps sized land force of the Reaction Forces Concept that emerged after the end of the Cold War, with a mission to redeploy and reinforce within Allied Command Europe (ACE) and to conduct Petersberg missions out of NATO territory.

[5] Since 2002 however the headquarters has been re-roled (with five other corps HQs of other NATO nations) as a High Readiness Force (Land) HQ (HRF(L)) with a broader mission.

The ARRC relinquished it responsibilities as the land component of the NRF on 10 January 2018 to NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy.

[18] The ARRC is composed of service members from 21 NATO troop contributing countries:[19] Commanders have included:[20]