Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Oklahoma National Guard Hosts German Officers in Exchange By Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire,
                137th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
 OKLAHOMA CITY – This year might mark the “Longest Exchange Ever” of the Military Reserve Exchange Program. Two officers from the German Air Force, Lt. Col. Alex Frick, mission support squadron commander of Helicopter Wing 64, Laubheim, and Maj. Alex Schroth, troop driver with Air Command, Berlin, were on exchange to the 137th Special Operations Wing in Oklahoma City. The program supports reserve force exchanges between NATO nations. Reservists and Guardsmen from the U.S. visit and host personnel from a foreign country. However, the two-week duration of the exchange was not what made it the longest exchange ever: it was that this June 6-17 exchange had been planned since 2020. “I had never heard of MREP before the notice was sent out for applications,” said 2nd Lt. Ryan Andresen, operations officer with the 137th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron. “On their visit here, we showed them how we as the Air National Guard functioned, trained and deployed, as well as spoke about how our base operates in comparison to theirs. I’m looking forward to understanding more about that on their end during our visit to Germany.” The German officers got a comprehensive tour of the squadrons and missions supported over the two weeks of the exchange. They helped test MC-12W aircrew gear like night vision goggles and emergency oxygen systems with the 137th Special Operations Support Squadron, simulated calling in an airstrike using the Advanced Joint Terminal Attack Controller Training System with the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, and participated in active shooter response training with the 137th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron. “It’s very important to keep our militaries’ partnership as strong as possible,” said Frick. “We wanted to get an insight into the U.S. Air National Guard total structure — both in the sense of training and mindset. I personally am proud to be part of the program because I wanted to experience the U.S. military outside of what I have seen in movies, the news and things like magazines. The military community is about people, and my expectations for the experience after meeting people in Oklahoma have totally been met. ... It has been very exciting working and training here.” Frick and Schroth learned they were coming to Oklahoma only two weeks before their trip. “It is my first time to visit the U.S., so the friendly culture in Oklahoma was surprising, but the culture (and the food) was also my favorite part,” Schroth said. “I was also excited that the visit would be with a special operations force. There were no major differences when we were discussing the way our two different militaries operate, but I am very proud and overwhelmed by this visit because of the community.” Exchanges work both ways. Later this year, two Oklahoma Air National Guard officers will visit Germany to complete the “Longest Exchange Ever.” “I’ve never been to Germany except to transition during deployments and I want to learn how they as a reserve function meet their training requirements and discover if it would be possible for any of our wing to fit into their operations,” Andresen said. “This program is NATO-centric, but the ultimate relationship-building goal is from a perspective much like the State Partnership Program. I want to build relationships with our foreign counterparts so that if we are ever in a combined operations setting, we have an understanding of how we could more effectively and efficiently work together.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Oklahoma National Guard
 MREP
 Germany
 
 Oklahoma National Guard Helps with Sulphur Tornado Relief
 By Sgt. Haden Tolbert,
  Oklahoma Guardsmen Face New Adversary in Best Warrior Competition
 By Sgt. Haden Tolbert,
  Oklahoma Guard Explores Future of Drone Defense at Symposium
 By Leanna Maschino,
  More
 Idaho Medical Airmen Train in Field to Boost Readiness Guard News • 2 hours ago
 Alaska Air National Guard rescues 6 plane crash victims Guard News • 3 hours ago
 Wisconsin Guard Black Hawk Unit Conducts Mass Casualty Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 NC Guard Unit Tests NextGen Squad Weapons Guard News • yesterday
 Georgia 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Conducts Annual Training Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (186)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil