48th FW earns outstanding in CFE inspection exercise

  • Published
  • By Larry Walker
  • 48th Fighter Wing arms control treaty compliance office
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The 48th Fighter Wing earned an outstanding during a Conventional Armed Forces in Europe inspection exercise earlier this month.

The wing earned a rating of outstanding from Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe in each of the sub-areas of preparation: administrative, escort and execution.

The bilateral exercise, which used the U.K. Joint Arms Control Implementation Group as the foreign inspection team, demonstrated the wing's ability to account for all combat aircraft and provide immediate access to all facilities base-wide that are subject to inspection.

In addition to showing wing compliance, the training exercise also provided valuable training for the Defence Threat Reduction Agency-On Site Europe, who served as the National Escort Team.

"These types of training opportunities are not only important for the United States' legal obligations to support the CFE Treaty, but they also help train DTRA while building bilateral ties with our NATO allies," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Robert Peters, escort team chief. "In short, everyone wins."

During the inspection, several 48th FW organizations and individuals were highlighted as outstanding performers.
  • Staff Sgt. Jeremy Myers, 48th Maintenance Operation Squadron was recognized by HQ USAFE, DTRA-OSE and JACIG as the outstanding local escort.
  • The 48th Munitions Squadron was recognized as the outstanding unit for preparation and execution.
  • The Maintenance Operations Center was recognized for providing constant and accurate updates for aircraft tracking, enabling efficient tracking of Treaty Limited Equipment.
  • Master Sgt. Max Van Ausdal, 48th Security Forces Squadron, and Tech. Sgt. Steven Thomas, 48th MOS, were recognized for an outstanding job managing the local escort cadre.
  • Capt. Erik Brown, 48th FW Plans and Inspections, was recognized as outstanding in leading the Inspection Control Team ensuring timely issue resolution and consistent command and control.
Overall, the Wing demonstrated that it is prepared to host a short-notice CFE inspection by a foreign State Party. It also exhibited its ability to execute a key U.S. policy objective of enhancing military security and stability in Europe through openness and transparency in arms control while protecting national interests.

"Allowing the inspection team to exercise, in full, its rights under the CFE Treaty without making any compromise in unit operational security is a tricky business," said British Army Maj. Douglas Rule, "but the escorts from DTRA and the 48th Fighter Wing managed it with complete success."