DTRA Blue-on-Blue exercise commences

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ronald Lafosse II
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Team McConnell is scheduled to participate in a Defense Threat Reduction Agency Blue-on-Blue exercise Dec. 3 through 7 as part if a Open Skies Treaty initiative.

The United States established the OST Jan. 1, 2002, to forge an agreement between itself and several countries concerning mutual permission for conducting aerial observation over the territories of treaty participants.

The goal of the OST is to strengthen peace, stability and cooperative measures between all 34 country treaty members, by promoting openness about military forces and activities. The treaty is designed to create a mutual understanding by allowing all signatories a direct role in observing military or other activities through observation flights.

In January 2004, McConnell was added as an Open Skies Refueling Airfield. An OSRA is tasked to refuel aircrafts while performing observation flights.

In March 2004, McConnell was added as an Open Skies Airfield. An OSA is an airfield that hosts a treaty party.

This means, McConnell will provide host base support for flight planning, billeting, logistics, refueling, minor maintenance, security and local escort support for up to 72 foreign nationals during the exercise.

A treaty team could arrive in as little as 72 hours following initial notification and may stay up to four days.

Currently, the Russian Federation received U.S. government approval to over-fly the United States four times in the upcoming 2008 calendar year.

All Air Force members and DOD civilians should be familiar with their unit and wing critical information. Critical information is not classified but still could be harmful if fallen into enemy hands. Critical information and practical training are available from each unit's operations security representative.

There are no prohibitions to friendly discussions with the foreign observing party, as long as these discussions do not disclose critical or classified information. Contact between the party and anyone who has not received Open Skies Treaty escort training should be kept to a minimum.

If you have any questions, please contact David Allee, 22nd Air Refueling Wing, international treaty compliance officer, at 759-6398.