28 April 2017 NATO Skywatch 1 Volume 33, No. 4 • 28 April 2017 NATO AWACS part of Exercise Ramstein Alloy Photos by André Joosten NATO AWACS at Siauliai, Lithuania, during Exercise RAMSTEIN ALLOY 4, where Air Commodore Ian Teakle, NAEWF&C HQ Deputy Commander, answers question of journalists. RAMSTEIN ALLOY is a series of conducted by different NATO Allies the complexity of such drills, such exercise all these crucial standards of regular exercises that takes place in on a rotational basis. This provides as cross-border procedures. The same air safety and security with multiple the Baltics three times per year. the opportunity to exercise standard applies to Air Command and Control different assets and nations. procedures and interoperability that is practised during air-to-air During 25-27 April 2017, RAMSTEIN between various national assets during combat training, practise diversions Exercises like RAMSTEIN ALLOY ALLOY 4 served to exercise Baltic Air every exercise of the RAMSTEIN ALLOY and a simulated Search-And-Rescue demonstrate the readiness of the Policing alert aircraft and to enhance series. This time, flying assets included event. The RAMSTEIN ALLOY series Alliance and provides valuable training relations and interoperability amongst fighter jets from the Netherlands provides a vital opportunity to to the NAEW&C Force. allied Air Forces. To practice standard and Germany (presently executing procedures in the air, special training NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission) as zones had been reserved in the Baltic well as Polish and Norwegian fighter airspace, mainly over Lithuania. jets. Additionally a transport aircraft from Lithuania, and USA tanker NATO AWACS, the E-3A from participated. Geilenkirchen, Germany, and E-3D from Waddington, United Kingdom, It is important to train the drills were involved in RAMSTEIN ALLOY and routines that are required to 4. Overseen by NATO’s Combined Air handle standard situations, for Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany, example in which a civilian aircraft and mission control provided by the loses communication with ground AWACS and the Karmelava Control and controls and requires assistance. Reporting Centre, Lithuania. Besides the rotating Baltic Air Policing nations, RAMSTEIN ALLOY brings Air Policing over the Baltic States is together regional Allies to add to 28 April 2017 NATO Skywatch 3 COMMANDER’S CORNER With the Commander’s Corner, our NAEW&CF Commander and E-3A Commander give the opportunity to wing and squadron commanders, and branch and division heads to share their thoughts about current topics taking place at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen. Every month a different writer will highlight a specific topic concerning their discipline. NATO’s Financial Regulations: Everyone is accountable! This one goes mainly to the members organisations. Whether the reports Regarding the organisation of of the NAEW&C Force, but it should in the media in general or single Financial Management at NATO (FRP) which determine i.a in Article also be interesting for all our friends legal cases in particular, are always there is always the North Atlantic 3 NFR (see box beow) financial outside of NATO. It is about the justified, of course, I do not know. But Council (NAC) ultimately responsible responsibilities and accountability of Financial Control System here at NATO what I know is that the organisations for all resource decisions, either EVERYONE at NATO. and with this I want to draw your to a great extend lost their reputation for manpower (PE) or for financial attention to the long ago established, of being good stewards for the resources. The NAC is supported by Therefore, take care and keep yourself and recently reinforced, rules on the entrusted funds. a hierarchy of several boards and out of trouble but also help NATO responsibility and accountability for committees like the Resource Policy staying out of negative headlines, also commonly funded resources. And what about NATO, in this and Planning Board (RPPB), the in future! Boring stuff – you think? context? Investment Committee (IC) and the Budget Committee (BC). The BC again Art 3.3 NFR (RESPONSIBILITY AND Maybe not, when you are a member Well, NATO is also a very big and is supported by Financial Controllers ACCOUNTABILITY) of a sports club, a football (soccer) complex international organisation in each and every NATO organisation, player or just someone who is dealing with billions of Dollars so of course also at the NAEW&C All NATO staff, military and frequently watching sports either or Euros funded by millions of Force. To ensure this support most civilian, are obligated to comply on Pay-TV or live in a stadium. individuals paying taxes in the effectively the Financial Controllers with these NFRs, associated Financial Then you surely are very interested member countries. But NATO is having are directly accountable to the Rules and Procedures and internal what is going on currently in a good reputation and no serious Nations and therefore have reporting implementing directives. Any member the international well known top negative headlines regarding financial lines to the BC. of staff who contravenes the NFRs, organisations, being it FIFA, UEFA or or contractual management had to be Regarding the Internal Controls there associated Financial Rules and IOC etc. You all saw in the last couple published in the past. is mainly the International Board Procedures and internal implementing of years many negative headlines The reason for this is a very smart of Auditors at NATO (IBAN) which directives will be held accountable on their Financial Management, system of Financial Controls which is an independent organisation and may be financially liable for contracting practices or even a consist mainly of the following consulting the Nations at the NAC their actions. Serving military number of suspects for corruptions elements: and conducting audits every year in personnel may be referred to their within these organisations, which each and every NATO organisation. respective national authorities for at least left this awkward feeling in • Organisation (different governance, In addition, within ACO there is whatever disciplinary action is deem us whether we still can trust these approval and management bodies an Internal Audit team, reporting appropriate. All NATO international organisations and their leadership. with clear segregation of duties) directly to COS SHAPE which also civilian, temporary and consulting • Internal Controls (e.g. internal and audits the various ACO organisations staff shall be dealt with in accordance They are dealing with YOUR funds external audits, Risk Management) (to include NAEW&C Force) at least with the disciplinary procedures via your membership fees, ticket • Good Corporate Governance once a year. defined under the NATO Civilian prices paid or cost for watching (strict Rules & Regulations Personnel Regulations. sports on Pay-TV – which are billions i.a. for responsibilities and Last but not least, there are the NATO of Dollars, due to the sheer size and accountabilities) Financial Regulations (NFR) and the Dr. Karl Heinz Seekatz Head Finance Division complexity of those big international Financial Rules and Procedures HQ NAEW&C Force Commander Atlantic Treaty Organization. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including Maj. Gen. Dawn M. Dunlop inserts or supplements, does not constitute an endorsement by NATO of the products or services advertised. Submissions are due seven days before publication and may be edited Volume 33, No. 4 28 April 2017 Chief, Public Affairs for style and space. Email articles and classified advertisements to [email protected]. Maj. Johannes Glowka NATO Skywatch is an authorized, unofficial For paid advertisements call Hub Durlinger Media at +31 (0)46 4529292, commercial enterprise newspaper published Editor cellphone +31 (0)6 5472 6473, [email protected] or Houx Digiprint under exclusive written agreement with the Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow at +31 (0)46 4582111, [email protected] NAEW&CF E-3A Component by HOUX DIGIPRINT, Arendstraat 3, 6135 KT Sittard, +31 (0)46 4582111. 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