USTRANSCOM, Republic of Korea sign mutual airlift support implementing arrangement

  • Published
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  U.S. Transportation Command, on behalf of the U.S. government, has signed an implementing arrangement with the Republic of Korea to streamline processes and allow quicker updates to the six-year old United States - Republic of Korea Mutual Airlift Support Agreement.

The original MASA, signed between USTRANSCOM and the ROK Air Force representing their respective governments, allows for the exchange of airlift support during a contingency on the Korean Peninsula. The MASA was extended last year through August, and by an exchange of diplomatic notes, the international partners revised and extended the MASA for another 10 years.

The revised agreement called for the creation of the implementing arrangement to provide specific steps for requesting airlift and procedures for command and control.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Michelle Johnson, USTRANSCOM's director of strategy, programs and logistics signed a copy of the arrangement on behalf of the United States on Sept. 2 at Scott Air Force Base. Brig.
Gen Hong On Kim, chief of staff for logistics, ROK Air Force, signed for his country in Korea.

Joe Lepanto, USTRANSCOM International Agreements Manager, said, "The new implementing arrangement has been in development for the last several years and was a team effort between USTRANSCOM, ROK Air Force and representatives from Korean Air."

Lepanto said, "The MASA increases airlift capability and flexibility during a contingency by using Korean Air aircraft to transport U.S.
troops and equipment to forward operating bases in or near the Korean Peninsula. And the new implementing arrangement allows for quicker updates at the command level instead of more lengthy state-to-state coordination and approval."

The MASA Implementing Arrangement has been in effect since September.
The generals signed duplicate copies, in both English and Hangul, so each country will have its own record.

The U.S. and ROK have exercised the MASA every year since 2007, most recently during exercise Foal Eagle 2010 in March; Korean Air aircraft completed seven missions, moving 843 passengers and 139 tons of cargo.