Building Self-Sufficiency in On-site Inspection Operations

On-site inspection is the final component of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) verification regime. Once the Treaty enters into force, Member States can request inspections to gather evidence on the ground if the global monitoring system detects a potential nuclear explosion. To ensure surrogate inspectors are fully prepared for these complex operations, specialised training is essential.  

The IFOS course combined self-paced online learning with immersive, in-person training exercises. Prior to arriving in Seibersdorf, trainees completed mandatory e-learning modules and a pre-course assessment via the OSI Training Learning Management System (LMS). This ensured a consistent foundational knowledge base among participants. 

One of the highlights of the course was a series of hands-on exercises involving the constructions of a partial Base of Operations (BoO). This included the assembly of working tents, medical facilities, a communications tent, and a partial radionuclide laboratory—all integrated with power and climate control systems to simulate real OSI conditions. 

Trainees also engaged in scenario-based exercises simulating BoO layout planning using geographic information system (GIS) tools. These exercises challenged participants to apply their planning and coordination skills in a simulated operational environment.