Azerbaijan inspection team takes a look at Spangdahlem Published Aug. 6, 2007 By Michael Mazur 52nd Fighter Wing Treaty Compliance Office SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The mission of the treaty compliance office is to support the 52nd Fighter Wing in meeting its international arms control requirements. Responsibilities include interpretation and compliance with all Arms Control treaties. The office is a one-person regional office with a base alternate. Treaty oversight includes all permanent and temporary Air Force installations in Central Europe. There are several arms control treaties in effect, and all are intended to foster a more stable environment in post-Cold War Europe. The Conventional Forces in Europe treaty most directly impacts Spangdahlem Air Base. The CFE treaty limits the number of personnel, tanks, artillery pieces, armored combat vehicles, combat aircraft and attack helicopters that each side can have. The F-16s and A-10s assigned to the wing are accountable under the treaty. The United States can be inspected four times this treaty year by the former Soviet Bloc countries. The Treaty year started March 16, 2007. Additionally, Spangdahlem AB is required to conduct an inspection exercise annually. Azerbaijan provides the inspection team this year. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency provides the official U.S. escort team as they would for an actual inspection. Inspection events start Aug. 6 with the arrival of the DTRA team. The exercise inspection occurs Aug. 7 at 8 a.m. DTRA also inspects the former Soviet countries to ensure their compliance with the treaties. Spangdahlem was inspected earlier this year by Ukraine under the Vienna Document Agreement which also allows member nations to observe each others' units ensuring no military buildups are taking place. The Open Skies Treaty was signed in Helsinki, Finland, March 24, 1992. The treaty establishes a regime of observation flights to verify member countries' compliance with other arms control treaties, which in turn, fosters trust and confidence. Unarmed observation aircraft, equipped with still and video cameras, infrared devices and side-looking radar are used for this mission. These are just a few examples of the arms control treaties which directly impact the wing daily. Professionalism with a sense of openness is the watch-word for any treaty inspection and the daily operating practice of the regional treaty office. For more information, contact the 52nd FW Treaty Compliance Office at 452-7415